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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 Dominion Energy 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 or 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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| 4. |
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 Dominion Energy at 800-815-0083 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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| 6. |
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 Dominion Energy at 800-815-0083 so that crews can inspect the line and make the necessary repairs.
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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 Dominion Energy’s e-SMARTworkers website. |
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