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| Responding to Natural Gas Pipeline Leaks |
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| The greatest risk to natural gas pipelines is accidental damage during excavation. Protect yourself, your crew, and the public by learning what to do if you contact a natural gas pipeline or suspect a gas leak on your job site. |
| Order our FREE worker safety kit on the NW Natural e-SMARTworkers website. |
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| If You Contact a Gas Pipeline or You Suspect a Leak |
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Warn others and leave the area immediately. |
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Do NOT use matches, lighters, cigarettes (including e-cigarettes or vape pens), start an engine, or operate any electrical device—even a phone. Any tiny spark could ignite leaking gas, causing a fire or explosion. |
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Do NOT attempt to stop the flow of gas or fix the pipeline. Leave the excavation open. |
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When you have reached a safe distance away, report the incident: |
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Call 911 immediately if gas is escaping. Federal code requires this. |
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Call NW Natural at 800-882-3377 if you suspect a gas leak or contact a pipeline, even if damage is not apparent. |
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Stay far away from the area until safety officials say it is safe to return. |
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Report the incident to your supervisor. |
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There’s No Such Thing as Minor Damage
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Even a slight gouge, scrape, or dent to a pipeline or its coating may cause a break or leak. Damage to the tracer wire running alongside the pipeline may make the pipe difficult to locate. Report ALL gas line contacts to NW Natural at 800-882-3377 so that crews can inspect the line and make the necessary repairs.
Note: NW Natural does not charge for repairs to pipeline coating, casing, or wires.
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| Would You Like to Know More? |
| Additional utility safety tips, case studies, instructional videos, and educational tools can all be found, at no charge to you, on NW Natural e-SMARTworkers website. |
| Free Online Excavation Safety Training |
| Now being offered — Excavation Safety 101 |
| This online course will strengthen your understanding of common safety issues as well
as educate you on laws and best practices for safe excavation. The course is designed
to take a minimum of 60 minutes to complete, although there is no maximum time limit.
Successful completion of Excavation Safety 101 with a 100% grade will earn you a
certificate, proving that you've completed the course and giving you a way to earn
continuing education credits. |
| The course is available to anyone. Simply create an account,
enroll in the course, and complete the material at your own pace. |
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| Please help us improve our safety tips to meet your training needs. Take our two-minute survey.
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