 |
| Responding to Natural Gas Pipeline Leaks |
|
| 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 Xcel Energy
e-SMARTworkers website. |
|
|
|
|
| If You Contact a Gas Pipeline or You Suspect a Leak |
| 1. |
Warn others and leave the area immediately. |
|
| 2. |
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. |
|
| 3. |
Do NOT attempt to stop the flow of gas or fix the pipeline. Leave the excavation open. |
|
| 4. |
When you have reached a safe distance away, report the incident: |
|
| |
◦ |
Call 911 immediately if gas is escaping. Federal code requires this. |
|
| |
◦ |
Call Xcel Energy at 800-895-2999 if you suspect a gas leak or contact a pipeline, even if damage is not apparent. |
|
|
| 5. |
Stay far away from the area until safety officials say it is safe to return. |
|
| 6. |
Report the incident to your supervisor. |
|
|
There’s No Such Thing as Minor Damage
|
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 Xcel Energy at 800-895-2999 so that crews can inspect the line and make the necessary repairs.
|
| Would You Like to Know More? |
| Additional overhead and digging guidelines, emergency procedures, case studies, instructional videos and training tools can all be found, at no charge to you, on Xcel Energy’s e-SMARTworkers website. |
|
| To reach your state’s underground utility locate service/one-call center, call 811 or visit their online site by clicking on your state’s name below. |
| The required “business day” wait time for each state is as follows (excludes weekends and legal holidays): |
|
|
|
|
| In case of emergency, call 911 and then Xcel Energy: |
| Electrical Emergencies: 800-895-1999 |
| Natural Gas Emergencies: 800-895-2999 |
| CO and TX only: Gas Transmission Pipeline |
| Emergencies: 800-698-7811 |
|
|
|
|
