Quincy council demands answers from National Grid and contractor after explosion that hospitalized a worker

Councilor Leang told the Quincy City Council on Nov. 10 that a recent utility contract job on Southern Artery and Broad Street resulted in an on-site explosion after a live line was struck. “The supervisor on-site told the employee, ‘Oh, that line isn't live. You're fine. Go ahead and keep doing the work,’” Leang said, according to the meeting transcript. The line was live and when struck caused an explosion that disrupted power in the area and left at least one worker hospitalized and fighting for his life weeks later.

Leang said the resolve calls for National Grid and its contractor, Riley Brothers, Inc., to appear before the council to explain safety and training procedures and for the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to undertake a comprehensive investigation. “We need to make sure our contractors are meeting [the standards]… a company as large as National Grid should not be one that we're concerned with,” Leang said.

Councilor Ashe asked what the council could do if company representatives did not appear; Leang said the resolve gives the companies an opportunity to come forward and that the second part of the measure relies on the state DPU to investigate if necessary. President King noted the council lacks subpoena power but confirmed the clerk will invite National Grid and DPU to appear and the matter was referred to the ordinance committee for further review and a possible hearing in December.

The clerk called the roll and the motion was recorded as approved; the transcript indicates affirmative responses were recorded by the clerk. The council will convene an ordinance-committee review to pursue the matter further.

Ending: The council referred the resolve to the ordinance committee and directed the clerk to seek appearances from National Grid and DPU; no company representatives spoke at the Nov. 10 meeting.