Natural Gas Safety You Need to Know

Hazard Awareness and Prevention

The U.S. natural gas transmission and distribution system has the best safety record of any type of transportation system in the country. Natural gas is clean, convenient, and efficient, which makes it the popular energy choice.

Like all forms of energy, however, it must be handled properly. Despite an excellent safety record, a natural gas leak caused by damage to a pipeline may pose a hazard and has the potential to ignite. Richmond Gas Works works diligently to ensure pipeline safety through a variety of measures, including the one-call Miss Utility and Dig Safe programs, inspections, design and construction practices, workforce qualifications, public education, industry safety practices and government oversight, pipeline markers and facility mapping, natural gas leak surveys, and patrols of critical natural gas facilities.

Leak Response

A natural gas leak is usually recognized by the smell, sight, or sound.

Smell: Natural gas is colorless and odorless. Before it reaches you, a distinctive, pungent odor -- a rotten eggs smell -- is added so that you will recognize it quickly.

Sight: You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, or bubbles in standing water, or vegetation that appears to be dead or dying for no apparent reason.

Sound: You may hear an unusual noise like roaring, hissing or whistling.

What should you do if you suspect a leak? Protect life first. Go to a location where the smell is no longer present and call 911 or the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities at 646-4646.

Do not strike a match, use telephones, switch on or off appliances, lights or even a flashlight in the area where you smell natural gas. In very specific circumstances, those actions could produce sparks that might ignite and cause an explosion.


How to Get Additional Information

City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities -- 804-646-4646.

Web -- www.richmondgov.com/PublicUtilities/NaturalGasSafety.aspx

Call Before You Dig (Virginia) -- 811 or 800-552-7001

Web -- www.va811.com Office of Pipeline Safety -- www.ops.dot.gov