Play It Safe Around Natural Gas
Digging Safely
Digging causes most natural gas leaks and safety concerns.
If you dig before finding out where underground cables and pipelines are located, you risk hitting and damaging them.
Visit www.811now.com to learn more!
- Every state has a system of marking property with colored flags or paint to show the location of underground cables or pipelines.
- These flags are color-coded for the type of pipelines they mark.
- Natural gas pipelines are marked with yellow flags.
- All marker flags have an important job to do, such as marking the underground cables and pipelines that bring us natural gas, water, cable TV, etc.
- We should never move them, take them out or dig near them.
- Call 811 before you dig!
How to Recognize a Natural Gas Leak
Smell:
To help you SMELL a leak, natural gas companies add a chemical (mercaptan) that smells like rotten eggs.
See:
Outside near a gas leak, you might SEE blowing dirt, bubbling water or a small area of dead plants.
Hear:
A leaking natural gas pipe might make a hissing sound you can HEAR.
If You Suspect a Natural Gas Leak
DO NOT use any device that might cause a spark (using the phone, turning off/on the light switch, opening/closing the garage door).
DO NOT light a match, turn on your car or any motor.
DO NOT try to repair the leak, leave that to the professionals.
Finally, DO NOT return until the professionals tell you it is safe to return.
Natural Gas Safety Online Poster
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