Gas Emergency Procedures: What Staff Should Be Trained to Do

Although gas is known as a safe energy, it can pose serious threats to the safety of the occupants. Generally, the risks associated with gas are leaks, fire, explosion, and carbon monoxide poisoning. It is a common saying that gas is safe if it remains confined within the pipework. Hence, the risks start when gas starts leaking. Unattended or prolonged leaks may lead to fire and explosion. On the other hand, faulty gas appliances may cause incomplete combustion, resulting in the emission of carbon monoxide, which tends to accumulate in confined places within the property. 

Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide may pose serious health issues for the occupants/employees. Any situation involving a gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning is generally referred to as a "gas emergency". Protection of employees in the event of a gas emergency is the responsibility of employers. They are legally bound to do so under different laws and regulations. 

These regulations and laws require employers to ensure that proper safety measures and gas emergency procedures are in place. The regulations further require that employees are provided with proper training on safety measures, understanding gas emergency situations, and how to react in such events. Additionally, employers should arrange periodic gas emergency drills to minimize losses and damage in the event of a real emergency. 

The Laws and Regulations – Gas Emergency Situation

Different health and safety regulations are in place in the UK, governing gas emergencies, the protection of employees/occupants, and the duties and responsibilities of the employers. 

Here’s a brief description of these regulations:

Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR)

The GSIUR applies to workplaces and domestic properties in terms of gas safety in the event of an emergency. It covers both natural gas and LPG. The properties covered under these regulations are:

• Domestic Properties
• Schools
• Restaurants
• Shops 
• Hospitals

Under the provisions of these regulations, the employers are required to ensure the following:

• All the gas appliances and allied fittings must be kept and maintained in a safe condition at all times. 
• Only a Gas Safe registered engineer should be hired to work on gas systems on the premises.
• Sufficient training should be imparted to the employees and occupants on how to react in the event of a gas emergency.
• Proper gas emergency procedures should be in place, all times.
• Take appropriate and timely action in the case of a gas leak or carbon monoxide emission. 

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA)

This act particularly covers the following types of properties:

• Factories
• Mines
• Quarries
• Agricultural Units
• Construction Site Huts
• Sewage Works
• Gas fitting testing sites

The act binds the employers to make sure the following:

• Ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the employees
• Employers must provide safe working conditions and proper training to deal with gas emergency situations.
• Employers must ensure that a workable and proper gas emergency plan is in place.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Under this law following is required by the employers: 

• Conduct Risk Assessments for hazards of gas.
• Ensure that an emergency evacuation plan is in place in case of a gas leak.
• Employees are provided with proper training to deal with gas emergencies.

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR)

These regulations are applicable to the premises where flammable gases are used. The employers are required to ensure the following under these regulations:

• Assess explosion risks in case of gas leaks.
• Ensure implementation of control measures, such as ventilation, installation of gas detectors, etc.
• Training of employees on how to handle a gas emergency.

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR)

These regulations deal with the reporting of injuries, diseases, and other instances of dangerous occurrences, deaths, etc. The employers are also required to report gas leak incidents that could have resulted in serious mishaps. Implementation of the above-referred laws and regulations is mandatory for the employers; failure of so may lead to fines and imprisonment. 

Gas Emergency Procedures - What Staff Should Be Trained To Do

A gas emergency procedure refers to a systematic and carefully crafted plan of action to tackle an emergency situation resulting from a gas leak or emission of carbon monoxide. It is a comprehensive procedure that marks the responsibilities of both employers and employees. 

Swift and immediate action in such an event may protect the commercial or domestic premises and the occupants from serious harm and injuries. Employers are therefore required, under the above-referred laws and regulations, to train their employees properly so that they can deal with such situations promptly. 

Here’s a brief summary of what staff should be trained to do in a gas emergency:

Identify and Understand the Gas Emergency

Employees/staff should be trained to identify and understand the conditions and signs that indicate a gas emergency. Staff should be well-trained to identify the following indications:

• Hissing/whistling sound emerging from the gas appliances, joints, connections, or directly from a gas pipe. 
• Smell, similar to that of rotten eggs. Natural gas itself is colorless and odorless. To make it detectable, a chemical known as mercaptan is added in small quantities in the natural gas, which gives a smell of rotten eggs. 
• Symptoms of emission and accumulation of carbon monoxide poisoning can be identified by individuals experiencing dizziness, headaches, and nausea. 
• In case of an outdoor gas leak, nearby plants and vegetation might be discolored, which is a clear indication of a gas leak. 

Immediate Action Required in Gas Emergency

The staff must be sufficiently trained to identify and recognize if there is a gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning within the premises. Once identified, the staff have to act swiftly per the following action plan:

1. Call the Gas Emergency Helpline: A designated and responsible person should immediately call the gas emergency helpline. This helpline contact number should be available to the concerned individual as well as displayed in a prominent place so everyone can see it. Provide complete details about the location, address, contact person, and details of the gas emergency.
2. Evacuate the Premises: All the employees are required to immediately vacate the property. If possible, nearby properties and people should also be informed of the gas emergency situation in your premises, so they can also follow their safety plans. While evacuating the building, staff should be strictly advised not to switch on or off any electrical equipment. In any such emergency, elevators and lifts should never be used. Everyone needs to use the stairs. 
3. Turn off the main gas supply valve: The main gas supply valve is mostly installed near the gas meter. Staff should be well aware of its location. They should also be trained on how to shut off the main gas supplies. To better understand whether the valve is shut or open, remember the position of the handle of the valve should be at a right angle to the direction of the pipes, which indicates that the valve is shut. Once the gas supply is cut off, don't turn it on, till the arrival of the gas engineers. 
4. Ventilate the Area: If possible without any risk, open the doors and windows so that fresh air may flow and the leaked gas may dilute in the air. 
5. Don't try to fix the leak on your own: Staff should be strictly advised not to try to fix the leak on their own. Leave it to the Gas Safe registered engineer.
6. Don’t Re-enter the Building: Once the building is evacuated, don’t try to enter again. Wait for the problem to be resolved by the engineers. Once they declare the building safe, only then can the employees return to their workplaces. 

Handling the Emission of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide poisoning emergency is a separate issue, which is not related to the general gas leak emergency. Carbon monoxide is generated due to incomplete combustion in a faulty gas appliance. It is a colorless and odorless gas; hence cannot be detected instantly, unless a CO detector is installed. Staff must be well-trained to handle this eventuality without panic:

• Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide may reflect symptoms such as nausea, headaches, and dizziness in the affected individuals. Staff should be well-trained to identify these symptoms to establish that the building is being affected by carbon monoxide accumulation.
• Move the affected individuals to an open place having ample fresh air. 
• Call for medical help immediately.
• Shut off the gas appliances.
• Call the gas emergency helpline.
• Wait for the engineers to remove the fault. 
• As a precautionary measure, the building should be equipped with CO detectors. The concerned persons should test the performance of these detectors randomly.

IMPORTANT

• Once the gas emergency is resolved, the matter needs to be documented for future reference. Staff should be trained to assist the management in preparing the required documentation. 
• Training of staff should continue, regardless of any such incident. The periodic drill should also be continued so that all employees are well trained to handle any such incident in the future.

Conclusion

Gas emergencies can occur at any time in any business or workplace or even on domestic premises. The employees and residents of the properties should be able to identify, recognize, and handle any such situation. Employers are required to impart necessary training to their employees on how to identify gas emergencies and how to react to protect themselves from any potential risks. 

The risks associated with gas emergencies might be serious if not tackled prudently and swiftly. Everyone should be aware of the action plan in such cases. They should also be aware of their responsibilities and role in handling a gas emergency. Key to success in such situations is proper training of staff, periodic practice of the action plan, and implementation of the gas emergency procedures in, timely manner. 

The training process is not a one-time exercise; it is an ongoing process. The action plan also needs to be updated periodically to reflect current and future requirements and scenarios. Employers and employees should work together to protect themselves and their businesses from the potential risks of gas emergencies.