The main focus of any emergency response must be the safety of the public and all company personnel responding to the emergency.

These digital “tip cards” were developed to assist natural gas utility first responders determine the proper actions to consider when responding to emergencies involving natural gas.

Please use these tip cards in conjunction with your company’s policies, procedures and training practices.

• Park away from the site, preferably upwind.
• Immediately call dispatch to begin company Emergency Notification Procedure and request additional assistance from supervision, crews, fire department, company personnel and media response personnel.
• Report to Fire Chief or on-site Incident Commander. If house is on fire and there is still a strong odor of natural gas, think “gas migration” – there may be many other structures involved – implement additional evacuation measures.
• If there is no odor of natural gas, check surrounding buildings and available openings for the presence of natural gas and secure natural gas facilities while awaiting additional help and supervision.
• Remember, it is not history until it is over. Until ignition sources and the natural gas are eliminated, there is always a possibility of a second ignition; consider your safety.

• Turn off or leave cell phones and pagers in vehicle.
• Turn on and zero Combustible Gas Indicator (CGI) in a natural gas free atmosphere.
• Knock on the door – do not ring doorbell.
• Take CGI reading of atmosphere as you enter.
• 20% LEL (1% gas/air) or greater – Evacuate and move occupants a safe distance.
• Do not re-enter.
• Call dispatch to begin company Emergency Notification Procedure and for additional assistance from supervision, fire department and company personnel.
• Consider evacuating other structures in the vicinity – structures on both sides, front and back.
• Attempt to shut off natural gas at curb valve/meter (outside).
• Check available openings for the presence of natural gas/bar test.
• Attempt to eliminate ignition sources – shut off natural gas (outside), get power and telephone cut off at poles, transformers or pedestal a safe distance from the structure.
• Monitor area until qualified personnel relieve you or the condition no longer exists.

• Confirm correct address or location.
• Visibly inspect for evidence of construction activities.
• Visibly inspect for vegetation damage that may indicate possible natural gas leakage.
• Check available openings – sewer manholes, telephone manholes, catch basins, water meter pits.
• If % gas readings detected, vent structures if possible.
• Check additional structures and surrounding buildings – if natural gas readings detected in numerous underground structures, consider extreme emergency – take Makesafe Actions.
• If no natural gas readings detected in available openings, but underground natural gas readings are detected, bar test N,S,E,W until indications are “zeroed out”.
• Bar test at foundations of structures in vicinity.
• If readings are detected at the foundation, follow “Inside Leak” investigation procedures.
• If hazardous condition is found – natural gas readings in available openings or atmospheric natural gas readings inside a structure – call dispatch to begin company Emergency Notification Procedure and request additional assistance from supervision, fire department, and company personnel.
• Monitor area until qualified personnel relieve you or the hazardous condition no longer exists.

• Turn on CO detector and zero in a natural gas free atmosphere.
• Knock on the door. If no answer, check for CO readings around door jamb, keyhole, mailbox slot in door, windows, crawl spaces, etc. If CO readings detected, assume the customer is inside and call for assistance from dispatch or 911.
• If customer answers the door, take readings in atmosphere, if readings are in excess of 100 PPM, ask customer and anyone else in the house to evacuate.
• If customer exhibits CO poisoning symptoms – headache, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath – or they appear confused – call 911. Shut off meter and call for assistance to ventilate the building, do not re-enter until CO levels are below 35 PPM.
• If readings are between 36-100 PPM and customer is suffering CO poisoning symptoms, evacuate and call 911. Ventilate the structure and search for source of CO for no more than 15 minutes. If source of CO is not found, shut off meter and wait for CO levels to drop below 35 PPM before re-entering.
• If atmospheric readings are between 10-35 PPM, thoroughly inspect the entire structure to determine cause of the CO readings, take the necessary actions to correct the problem and ventilate, if necessary. If faulty appliance is shut off and red tagged, advise the customer of the findings and obtain the necessary signature.
• If readings are between 0-10 PPM, question the customer concerning activities prior to the visit – car running in the garage, smoking, cooking, etc. Inspect all appliances for proper operation and, if nothing is found, this is the base level of the structure. If the nature of the call was a detector alarm, check for proper placement and location, for example, near a bedroom not in the furnace room, kitchen or near the garage.

• Notify dispatch of your arrival on location. Quickly survey the scene and determine the nature of the emergency, including the extent of damage and whether natural gas is blowing or escaping. Advise dispatch of your findings. Also advise dispatch whether additional manpower and equipment are needed and if police and/or fire departments are on the scene. If police and/or firefighters are not on the scene, but are needed to assist with traffic control or other reasons, advise dispatch.
• If natural gas piping or equipment has been struck or otherwise damaged, eliminate sources of ignition such as smokers, vehicular traffic, etc. and direct bystanders to leave the area.
• If it appears that natural gas is migrating toward occupied structures or if the damaged facility is near occupied structures, ensure that the occupants of these structures are evacuated.
• If there is escaping natural gas, do not remove or direct the removal of motorized vehicles or equipment in the immediate vicinity of the damaged piping.
• If the leak is on a service that is not completely severed, immediately check the structure supplied by the service and other structures in the area for natural gas migration and try to determine if there may be secondary damage to the piping near the structure or at the main.
• Check available openings including sewer, telephone, electric, catch basins and available openings for the presence of natural gas. Bar test the area for indications of migrating natural gas.
• Continue monitoring the area for signs of migrating natural gas until you are relieved.