Records raise questions about gas leak response before blast at Bristol rehab center

BRISTOL, Pa. (WPVI) -- Three thousand pages of newly released documents from the National Transportation Safety Board detail events leading up to the explosion at Bristol Health and Rehab Center late last year, and raise questions about the response to a reported gas leak before the blast that killed three people and injured 20.

The explosion occurred two days before Christmas at the Bristol nursing home and the facility remains visibly damaged.

Attorneys representing families affected by the tragedy say the newly released records outline what they describe as significant failures by both PECO and the nursing home's operators.

"They have released what we consider to be damming findings about PECO's responsibility for the blast as well as Saber, the nursing home operators," said Aidan Carickhoff, a partner at Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesk.

According to the documents, PECO was called to investigate a gas leak at Bristol Health and Rehab Center before the explosion.

"We learned in the report the manager of the nursing home was notified of the gas leak around 8 in the morning. Doesn't call Peco until 11:00," Carickhoff said.

Attorneys say the report also details concerns about a PECO employee who was sent to investigate the leak.

"The NTSB interviews and dockets say it appears PECO acknowledges he had a lack of training and he was honest with the NTSB about his lack of experience training," Carickhoff said.

The president of IBEW Local 614 said the union had raised concerns about training before the explosion.

"I told those guys, you tell them the truth, and they did. This is what happens when you tell the truth - the information gets out about what happened, how there was no training," said Larry Anastasi, president of IBEW Local 614.

In a statement responding to the release of the documents, PECO said: "We continue to take steps to enhance the safety and reliability of our system, and the safety and performance of our dedicated and highly skilled employees and contractors."

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The documents also raise questions about why immediate evacuations were not ordered after the gas leak was reported, according to attorneys representing affected families.

"When the manager at the nursing home called Peco to report the gas leak, the automated line told him, 'Please make sure everyone is evacuated from the property.' That's as basic as it gets, and it resulted in a loss of life that's inexcusable," Carickhoff said.

Saber Healthcare Group, which owns the facility, also released a statement following the document release.

The company said it promptly reported the odor to PECO and noted the failures identified in the report regarding the dispatching technician's training. The company also said its thoughts remain with those who lost loved ones and those who were injured in the explosion.

PECO Statement:

The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the incident in Bristol is governed by clear rules and regulations. Those rules exist to protect the integrity of the investigation process and to make sure the NTSB can establish the facts independently and completely. Every party to the investigation is expected to follow them, including IBEW and Saber Health. Commenting publicly on the investigation before it is complete is irresponsible. Speculation and premature conclusions undermine the process, distract from the facts, and do a disservice to those affected. PECO is following the NTSB's rules completely, and we expect all other participating parties to do the same. We remain committed to cooperating fully and to a thorough, fact-based investigation that determines what happened and why.

We are one company, and safety is a responsibility we all share. When the NTSB completes its work, PECO will address its findings head-on, together with IBEW and our workforce, and we will continue to implement enhancements to make our company and our communities safer.