Western Regional Gas Conference Emergency Response Situational Awareness In Responding to Gas Emergencies (Table Top Discussions) Ron Six AEGIS Insurance Services 201/

A E G I S A ssociated E EE E lectric G GG G as I II I nsurance S SS S ervices

Utility Mutual Insurance Company (member owned) Formed in 1975 by 22 gas utilities Electric Utilities began joining in members – 95% utilities and related energy AEGIS Background Information

You arrive and get a 20% LEL (1% Gas/Air reading) in the atmosphere, just as you enter the front door. What would you do? Gas Meter 1% Gas In Air

#682#686 Dead Cast Iron Gas Main Water Main 4” Plastic Main 45 PSI ASH ST

Our main job is not finding & fixing leaks Our main job is public safety

A contractor has snagged the 11/4” steel service and bowed it in the ditch. A small hole was made in the line and gas is blowing in the ditch. What would be your actions? Figure # 1 Gas Meter #6 Sewer Ditch 4” Steel Main 45 PSI ASH STREET

A contractor working on a highway reconstruction project struck the service line to a house, causing the service line to separate from a compression coupling near the gas main. The gas company was called at 11:15 am; a serviceman arrived on the scene at 11:45 and immediately called for a crew. Thinking the gas was venting out into the street, he sat in his truck for 20 minutes until the crew arrived. Although the damage location was only 32 feet from the incident site, no attempt was made to check nearby buildings with a combustible gas indicator for the presence of migrating gas. Incident (1998) Company Retention $5M

Cont’d. The leaking gas migrated to the house where an explosion occurred killing an elderly woman and severely burning 3 children, the explosion occurred at 1:00 pm. The children received burns to over 45% of their bodies with most of the burns occurring in the facial areas. In the settlement the contractor also paid more than $15,000, in claims. AEGIS Incurred $15 Million Incident (1998) Company Retention $5M

First Responder failed to recognize the gravity of the situation and made the assumption that the pulled line was leaking in only one place.  The First Responder’s main job on a reported gas leak is to determine “Where is the gas?” and “Is it affecting people or property?” The appropriate way of determining this is with a combustible gas indicator (CGI) – Test Don’t Guess! Our first priority must always be focused on Public Safety What Happened?

Dispatch reported to you that the homeowner has damaged a fuel line while moving the gas stove. You arrive and smell a very strong odor of gas as you approach the house. What would be your actions? Figure # 2 Gas Meter 6 PINE STREET

30% Foundation Wall 90% Curb Concrete Sidewalk 8” Steel 45 PSI OLD MAIN STREET #400#402#404

#400 #404 30% Foundation Wall 90% Curb Concrete Sidewalk 8” Steel 45 PSI Old Main Street PURGE AWAY FROM FOUNDATION This will draw the gas away from the building and block the gas from migrating to the foundation wall NEVER PURGE NEAR FOUNDATION!!!!

20% Gas In Telephone Manhole 6” Steel UP ASH STREET CURB LINE

” GAS MAIN 45 PSI Water Meter Pit Sewer Manhole Electric Manhole ASH STREET You are the first on the scene of an apparent gas explosion at #112 Ash Street. very The fire department is fighting the fire and there is a very strong odor of gas. What would you do?

After An Incident Actions to Consider Prevention of related incidents Calling for additional assistance Coordination of efforts with civil authorities Preliminary search for gas by testing adjacent structures, barhole testing available openings…use good judgement Record results of tests positive or negative Focus only on the immediate area of concern “It is not over until it’s over…don’t be part of history”

Time Is Critical Remember Public Safety! Makesafe Actions to Consider Implement emergency plan Call for additional help Notify police/fire departments Evacuate premises Block off the area Stop the flow of gas Eliminate ignition sources Vent area

After An Incident Other Actions to Consider Have a skilled photographer on the scene ASAP, photographic documentation Sniff tests, odorant tests, witness and document Names and addresses of witnesses Verify equipment calibration/document Pressure testing -- only when skilled employees and proper equipment are at the scene and only according to your standards Develop an event timeline After the area is secured After the area is secured

Do’s and Don’ts When Dealing With the Media Do be honest and accurate, the credibility of the company depends on it. Do assume that everything you say is on the record Do avoid using jargon i.e. CGI refer to it as a Gas Detector. Do have an initial statement “The incident is being investigated and we will get back to you when we have more information” Do be aware of your surroundings and your audience i.e. credentials

Do’s and Don’ts When Dealing With the Media Don’t lie - EVER Don’t say “No Comment” – EVER Don’t improvise, don’t speculate and don’t guess Don’t give specifics unless you can verify/document with facts Don’t share information with outside parties unless directed to do so Don’t place blame

Gas Company Spokesperson Statements should be prepared in advance with input from upper management and legal. Statements should be in writing and read verbatim If questions are to be answered, make sure the appropriate personnel are available to answer technical questions and they must be briefed in advance Make sure that statements are consistent with fire or police

Helpful Tip Develop a rapport with your local Fire and Police departments in advance. Your worst nightmare is to be on the incident scene and the Incident Commander will not give you access to the scene. Remember once the Fire Department is on the scene they are in charge. Develop the rapport so that they trust you to secure the gas and you rely on them to secure the area and you both worked towards the common goal of PUBLIC SAFETY.

Statements that Gas Companies wish they had not made A person was killed, while in her home, in a natural gas explosion. The gas company was on the scene for 4 hours prior to the incident. Statement 3 days later by the gas company: “We did nothing wrong as we followed our procedures”. (The gas companies procedures stated that “if gas readings are detected near the foundation an inside investigation must be performed”. No one had checked inside with a CGI.)

Statements that Gas Companies wish they had not made A person was killed in a natural gas explosion due to an underground coupling that had separated. Statement issued 2 days later by the gas company: “This was the first such failure that we have had with this particular coupling”. (Due to pressure by the media the gas company researched and found that they had over 2 dozen failures with this type of coupling).

Statements that Gas Companies wish they had not made Statement made by gas company spokesperson 4 hours after a contractor dug into a gas service and pulled it out of a Coupling, near the house, causing the explosion and injuries to 2 people: “We have had trouble with this contractor before, he just rips and tears”. (The investigation the following day revealed that the contractor had called for a locate and the service was miss- located by the gas company’s locating contractor.)

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