EUSDSG3.16 Respond to reported downstream gas emergencies
Overview
This standard is about identifying, controlling, monitoring and rectifying reported downstream gas emergencies. This standard applies to gas escapes that take place between the emergency control valve/ meter and appliances within industrial, commercial or domestic premises. Gas systems can:
be low pressure up to 75mbar
medium pressure from 75mbar to 2bar (4bar in Northern Ireland).
This standard does not imply that there is one sequential method of responding to reported gas emergencies. The nature of gas escapes are unpredictable and need to be dealt with on an individual basis. These activities are carried out to protect life and property, secure the escape and leave the site safe.
This standard is for emergency first responders in the gas industry.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Proceed to reported emergency situations without delay to meet minimum response standards, reporting arrival on site to appropriate people
Confirm received job information with emergency dispatch control centre and the person reporting emergencies to ensure you have complete, accurate and up-to-date information to assist in effective location and isolation of emergencies
Check all work and personal protective equipment and tools necessary for all stages of the work is available, in date, correctly calibrated, safe to use and fit for purpose
Carry out site-specific risk assessments, establish and maintain a safe working area and work safely at all times in accordance with health, safety, environmental and other regulations and requirements, approved industry practices and procedures and organisational policies
Survey work sites and building fabric for any existing damage or defects and protect them against any further damage being caused during emergency work, recording findings and advising property owners of any defects in line with company procedures
Liaise with and update emergency dispatch control centre, emergency services, HSE, property occupiers and other people affected at key stages throughout gas emergencies
Respond to reports of asphyxiation, gassing or fumes and carry out necessary test and checks to industry requirements, summoning assistance in the event of incidents and fatalities
Summon additional resources and support from services and authorities when required in response to incidents
Establish positions and locations of gas supplies and other services and utilities, accessing maps of gas systems where applicable
Force entry to locked or unoccupied properties in line with company and industry procedures
Check for, and record, visual signs, smells, and gas ingress from internal spaces, voids, and around properties and from incoming services and utilities in accordance with industry standards and procedures
Take and record appropriate internal and external gas and atmosphere samples in all adventitious openings in accordance with industry standards and procedures
Undertake site surveys to determine the location, extent and levels of gas escape and assess and record the severity of hazards and emergency implications for people and property
Categorise outcomes of site surveys and agree actions required for escape prioritisation of any unsafe situations in consultation with senior person on site in accordance with industry standards and procedures
Take prompt action to evacuate people, create safety zones, isolate gas and electricity supplies, eliminate actual and potential sources of ignition, place fire extinguishers ready and ventilate properties as appropriate in line with findings and industry procedures
Take precautionary steps to prevent unauthorised re-entry to evacuated areas by using barriers, tape and warning signs
Hand over all job information and evidence gathered from worksites to engineering repair teams when escapes are found to be upstream emergencies
Monitor, recheck and record levels of gas concentration both inside and externally around properties or work sites at regular intervals during and after the repairs have been carried out, before leaving the site and before authorising re-occupation
Carry out permanent repairs where practicable and achievable within a thirty minute job duration in line with industry procedures
Leave faults in a safe condition and hand over to engineering repair teams in line with industry procedures when it has not been possible for you to make permanent repairs
Use designated safe isolation methods, tests, and procedures to disconnect and label unsafe gas appliances, gas systems and components and cap off gas supply using the correct fittings
Use tightness testing and purging, safe isolation and electrical testing procedures to confirm the integrity of systems and appliances
Check gas system operating pressures meet industry standards
Use industry standard visual checks and flue gas analysis to confirm combustion performance
Use industry standard checks and testing procedures to confirm ventilation is present and free from blockage
Check appliance operating pressure and gas rate meet industry standards and manufacturers’ requirements
Check gas appliances, systems and components function safely and operate in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions
Resolve problems within own area of responsibility and competence in accordance with approved procedures
Complete and submit all relevant documentation and paperwork of test results and actions taken using company reporting systems and documentation, and in accordance with statutory requirements in line with industry standards
Report any interruptions to gas supplies, poor pressures, delays to the work, unresolved problems, unsafe situations and required remedial actions to those who require the information
Establish and confirm that work sites are safe to leave following repair or when no leak was detected in line with industry procedures
Knowledge and understanding
You need to know and understand:
Regulations and guidance governing health and safety in the workplace, environmental protection and the use of risk assessments including safe access, working at height, lone working and working in confined spaces
Legislation covering your general responsibilities for your own safety and that of others and the limits of your own autonomy and responsibility
Gas industry unsafe situations procedures including concern for safety, at risk, immediately dangerous and reporting of injuries and dangerous occurrences and how to isolate unsafe gas appliances, gas systems and components
Your health and safety obligations including assessing and prioritising hazards, taking action to minimise risks in order of priority, monitoring effectiveness of risk control measures, re-assessing risk on a regular basis and recording hazards
Information to be included in site-specific risk assessments including gas emergency, access to the work site, movement of the workforce, members of the public, and the movement and safe storage of materials, tools and equipment for the job
Industry practices, procedures, precautionary measures and actions to make safe identified hazards within a potentially gaseous environment including; minimising risk of ignition, minimising escapes, evacuation of property and adjacent property, forced entry, minimising escapes, creating safety zones, positioning of vehicles and equipment, use of temporary continuity bonds, preventing smoking, having fire extinguishers ready, utilising all appropriate PPE and safety equipment, wetting the work area and maximising ventilation in all voids, ducts, drains, cellars
Information to include in a site survey including type of gas, controlled or uncontrolled, spread and level of gas concentrations and readings, whether the escape is external to properties or tracking internally into them, location of nearest properties, location of confined spaces, presence of other utilities where gas can track, presence of ignition sources, the level of ventilation, any electrical concerns, availability and access to isolation method, gas pipe material, any escape history, any visual signs of previous work, no trace results
The range of places from where gas samples should be collected, both high and low, including in voids, drains, ducts, sewers, cellars, telecommunication ducts, in or around plant and street furniture, in or around governor housings and chambers
Industry practices, work standards routines and sequences for dealing with gas escapes, gas incident investigations and other emergencies
Methods of working which protect the building, customer property and existing gas systems, appliances and components
The range of tools, equipment and materials required, procedures for ordering, supplying, checking and delivery and steps to take if they are not available including gas detection equipment, personal protective equipment, electric detection equipment and equipment for installation and repair
Care, maintenance and storage requirements of tools and equipment, and checks for safe condition including the purpose of PAT testing
The characteristics and properties of LPG and other gases
The company standards of service for attending uncontrolled and controlled gas escapes and faulty meter jobs
Industry standards, safety schemes, regulations, practices and procedures for carrying out downstream gas emergency activities including reported gas escapes, reporting injuries and dangerous occurrences, emissions of fumes from gas appliances, fire or explosion, loss or interruption to gas supply, poor pressure reports at non domestic properties, suspected theft of gas, no trace situations including re-checks, birds and animals behind appliances, lack of access or no access to properties
Regulations and their implementation related to rights of entry and its implementation including; accessing properties, notification to emergency dispatch control centre and line manager and the implications
The industry practices and procedures for escalation of gas escapes including when, how and who to report to, re-occupation of properties following evacuations, identifying and responding to gas clouds, responding to interruptions to gas supplies and poor pressure reports, assessing emergency implications, undertaking hazard assessments and agreeing action to be taken
The industry practices and procedures for supplying alternative heating and cooking appliances where the conveyance of gas to a property is discontinued
How to interpret building regulations and plans for domestic and small commercial properties including types of foundations, walls, floors, ceilings, roofs and other services entering properties
How and where to access and interpret normative documents, guidance documents, industry standards and company procedures for downstream gas emergency activities
Potential sources of ignition including street lighting, electric street signs, motor vehicles, balanced flue chimneys, electric switches, mobile phones, overhead power lines, doorbells, entry systems
Procedures, precautionary measures and actions to be taken within a potentially carbon monoxide environment including short term and long term carbon monoxide exposure limits, effects and symptoms of carbon monoxide, key advice to be given to people affected by fumes, CO alarm operations; evacuation, forced entry and maximisation of ventilation
Safe isolation methods, tests, and procedures for temporary and permanent de-commissioning of gas and electricity systems, components and appliances including use of temporary continuity bonds, voltage sticks, voltage indicators, proving units, multimeters
Measures to prevent un-commissioned and de-commissioned appliances or systems being brought into operation
Key information to communicate with emergency dispatch control centre including to confirm job information on receipt of job, if unable to attend reported emergencies in sufficient time, to keep informed of situation on site and all ongoing information, both during and after location of gas emergencies
Points in the downstream gas emergency activities where co- operation and liaison with emergency services, other trades and property occupiers may be required
The procedures, routines, sequences and work methods for exchanging emergency control valves (ECV’s) and meter inlet control valves (MIV’s), installing Natural Gas meters and gas meter housings and compartments, installing and jointing of open-flues chimney systems and room-sealed appliances, re-connecting to gas input services, connecting components to gas systems, re-commissioning gas systems and appliances, tightness testing and purging of gas systems and components
How to record the results of testing activities and actions taken using company reporting systems and documentation, in accordance with statutory requirements for all downstream gas emergency activities
Tests and checks to confirm the integrity, suitability and performance of chimneys and ventilation systems
Tests and checks to confirm the suitability of gas combustion performance and operating pressure of gas systems and components
Industry practices, procedures and criteria for site handover and to establish and confirm that the site is safe to leave after the repair work has been carried out
The statutory requirements for recording the results of testing activities and actions taken and, using company reporting systems and documentation
Job management structures and methods of reporting and recording job progress or problems delaying
How to safely collect and dispose of system contents that may be hazardous to health or the environment
EUSDSG3.16 Respond to reported downstream gas emergencies
Overview
This standard is about identifying, controlling, monitoring and rectifying reported downstream gas emergencies. This standard applies to gas escapes that take place between the emergency control valve/ meter and appliances within industrial, commercial or domestic premises. Gas systems can:
This standard does not imply that there is one sequential method of responding to reported gas emergencies. The nature of gas escapes are unpredictable and need to be dealt with on an individual basis. These activities are carried out to protect life and property, secure the escape and leave the site safe.
This standard is for emergency first responders in the gas industry.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
You need to know and understand: