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Welcome to Rhode Island Energy’s Tips of the Trade for first responders. These tips are intended to help you respond safely and effectively to incidents involving natural gas and electricity. Please review them with your team.
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| Natural gas safety during snow and ice events |
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| Heavy snow and ice storms can compromise natural gas facilities, both aboveground and underground. Learning to recognize and prevent storm-related gas infrastructure damage can help you protect your community from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and natural gas leaks, fires and explosions during major snow and ice events. |
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| To order our FREE safety materials, visit the Rhode Island Energy e‑SMARTresponders website. |
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| Be on the lookout for the problems below as you help your community during and after major winter storms. |
| Blocked exhaust or combustion air vents |
| Encourage the public to keep all gas appliance vents clear of snow and ice. Blockage of gas appliance exhaust and combustion vents can lead to CO poisoning. CO is formed when natural gas cannot burn completely because there isn’t enough air for proper combustion to occur. If you suspect CO poisoning, get the victims outside into the open air. Have them breathe deeply and seek medical help for them immediately. |
| Damage to gas service meters and other equipment |
| Natural gas meters, piping and regulators can be damaged by accumulated ice and snow, dripping or standing water that freezes and refreezes, and snow and ice falling from roofs. Moisture that accumulates and freezes can prevent natural gas regulators, relief valves and other equipment from functioning properly, thereby impeding or interrupting the flow of gas to appliances and furnaces. Gas meters and piping can also be damaged by snow-removal equipment. |
| Urge the public to protect their meters from winter weather, to mark their meter's location to prevent damage by snow removal equipment and to be vigilant about removing accumulations of ice and snow. Remind them never to hit or kick the meter, but to use a broom to brush away the snow instead. |
| Pipelines damaged by frost heave |
| In sustained subfreezing conditions or during spring freeze and thaw cycles, ice can expand underground and affect susceptible soils, pushing them upward in an effect called frost heave. Frost heave causes roads to develop humps and dips and can damage underground natural gas distribution pipelines in the same fashion. Neighborhoods with older natural gas infrastructure, such as cast-iron mains, are more likely to be affected. Transmission pipelines can also be damaged by frost heave. |
| Gas leaking from heave-damaged pipelines can be trapped by ice and snow and migrate some distance before entering buildings, utility vaults or sewer systems. When you are called to a gas leak, fire or explosion, use your natural gas monitor to check around nearby manholes for the presence of migrating leaking gas. Remember, DO NOT open or enter manholes or vaults where natural gas is present until Rhode Island Energy personnel say it is safe to do so. |
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