HAZARDOUS ENERGY CONTROL TABLE OF CONTENTS

Transcription

1 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 1 of 19 HAZARDOUS ENERGY CONTROL TABLE OF CONTENTS LOCKOUT/TAGOUT FOR OCFD OPERATIONS SCOPE... 2 POTENTIALLY FATAL ENERGY SOURCES... 2 PURPOSE... 2 PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES... 2 ENERGY CONTROL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS... 3 GENERAL: LOCKOUT / TAGOUT... 3 PROTECTIVE MATERIALS AND HARDWARE... 4 GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR LOCKOUT/TAGOUT... 4 TESTING OR POSITIONING OF MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS... 5 RESTORING OF EQUIPMENT TO SERVICE AT THE CONCLUSION OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS... 5 RESTORING OF EQUIPMENT TO SERVICE AFTER TRAINING, OR OTHER NON-EMERGENCY OPERATIONS 5 ALTERNATE PROCEDURE FOR LOCKOUT/TAGOUT DEVICE REMOVAL... 5 PROCEDURE FOR GROUP LOCKOUT/TAGOUT... 6 PROCEDURE FOR SHIFT OR PERSONNEL CHANGES... 6 ANNUAL PROGRAM REVIEW... 6 LOCKOUT/TAGOUT GLOSSARY... 7 EXPERTS NEED EXPERIENCE... 8 EXPERTS NEED PROPER TOOLS... 8 A FIREFIGHTER S GUIDE FOR EMERGENCIES INVOLVING ELECTRICITY ELECTRICITY... 8 WATCH THE WIRES... 9 ELECTRIC WIRE HAZARDS RESCUE OF SHOCK VICTIMS * SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT CONDUCTIVITY OF EXTINGUISHING AGENTS FIRES IN BUILDINGS HANDLING POWER LINE EMERGENCIES EMERGENCY CONTROL OF NATURAL GAS OVERVIEW OF OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL GAS PROCEDURES DURING EMERGENCIES GAS ESCAPING OUTSIDE GAS BURNING OUTSIDE GAS ESCAPING INSIDE GAS BURNING INSIDE GAS DETECTION GAS IN MANHOLES, VAULTS, SEWERS WHEN NATURAL GAS IS INVOLVED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL METER AND REGULATOR SETTINGS RELIEF-VALVE INSTALLATIONS LOW-PRESSURE METER SETTINGS MEDIUM-PRESSURE METER SETTINGS MULTIPLE-DWELLING METER SETTINGS HIGH-PRESSURE METER SETTINGS REMEMBER-NATURAL GAS UNDER CONTROL IS HARMLESS OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS COMPANY LOCAL OFFICES... 19

2 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 2 of 19 LOCKOUT/TAGOUT FOR OCFD OPERATIONS (In accordance with O.S.H.A ) SCOPE There have been several near misses and one severe injury to OCFD firefighters due to hazardous energy exposures (electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, pneumatic..) at emergency scenes or during training. The O.S.H.A , Lockout/Tagout standard covers the shutoff of equipment, machines and various dangerous energy sources that will affect firefighters on emergency scenes, routine operations and training. Sources included in this program include, but are not limited to any unexpected energization or start up of processes that could affect the health and safety of OCFD responders, support and maintenance personnel. The standard establishes minimum performance requirements for the control of hazardous energy such as those listed below. POTENTIALLY FATAL ENERGY SOURCES ELECTRICAL MECHANICAL HYDRAULIC Electric Meters Generators Circuits Sub-Stations Electric Fixtures Batteries Breaker Boxes Mechanical Equipment Electro-magnetic (M.R.I.) Wreckers Winches Hoisting Systems City Equipment Fire Equipment Power Tools Water Systems Augers Shears Presses Lifts/Jacks Elevators Fluid Based Systems (Chemical, Piping, Valves) Dam and Reservoir water release conduits PNEUMATIC CHEMICAL THERMAL Air Compressors Air Tools/Vetter Bags & Plugs Heavy Equipment Fire Equipment, Wreckers Radiation Sources Tank Batteries Ammonia Systems Drug Lag Industrial facilities Chlorine cylinders (1 TON) Transport vessels Chemical Reactions O.N.G. Natural Gas Liquefied Petroleum Gas Refrigeration Units transport vessels Incinerators Laser Units Heat Treaters (Oil Fields) Cryogenic Liquids (Tanks, Lines, etc.) Sterilization Units Commercial Ovens PURPOSE This program establishes procedures for de-energizing, isolating, and ensuring the energy isolation of equipment and machinery. This program will be used to ensure that each firefighter is protected through deenergizing and isolation from unexpected start-ups by physically locking or tagging machinery, breaker boxes or other sources to a state of zero energy. In the absence of locking capabilities, tagout or OCFD responders supervising the device (Fire Fighter Stand by System) to prevent energization, the Incident Commander, or their designee, will consult with facility maintenance personnel or facility representatives, if available. If operations or tasks do not expose OCFD employees or others to the unexpected startup of machines, equipment, energization, or release of hazardous energy, the standard does not apply. PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES The Oklahoma City Fire Department Safety Officer will have the overall responsibility of the program to ensure that: 1. Authorized and affected employees receive adequate training and information. 2. The program is evaluated annually. 3. The Lockout/Tagout equipment is properly used. 4. The procedures in this program are followed. On emergency scenes, routine operations and training, the company officer and/or Incident Commander will have the responsibility to insure that all OCFD employees are complying with this program.

3 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 3 of 19 LOCKOUT/TAGOUT FOR OCFD OPERATIONS - continued ENERGY CONTROL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS The Lockout/Tagout standard requires that Oklahoma City Fire Department establish an energy control program that includes: 1. Documented energy control procedures 2. An employee training program 3. Periodic inspections of procedural use The standard requires the Oklahoma City Fire Department to establish a program to ensure machines, equipment and energy sources are isolated and inoperative before any employee performs any operations (including investigation, training, salvage and overhaul), when the unexpected energization, start up, or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury. GENERAL: LOCKOUT / TAGOUT UPDATED 7/1/05 The Incident Commander, or their designee, is responsible to ensure a zero energy state exists whenever OCFD employees may be exposed to hazardous energy sources such as electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic. 1. Affected employees (citizens and non-ocfd employees) will be made aware of the purpose and use of energy control procedures and the prohibition relating to attempts to remove OCFD lockout or tagout devices, or operate locked or tagged out equipment. 2. Authorized employees (all OCFD personnel operating at emergency scenes, routine operations and training) will be made aware of the purpose, the recognition of applicable hazardous energy source(s), the type and magnitude of energy available, and the policies and procedures of the energy control program. 3. Implementation of lockout/tagout shall be performed only by trained and authorized OCFD employees. 4. Before any employee performs any operation where unexpected start up or release can occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated, and rendered inoperative. 5. If an energy isolating device is capable of being locked out, then this policy requires that lockout and tagout be utilized. The facility s lockout/tagout policy for emergency responses shall be used if possible. In the event that a facility does not have a policy in place, the fire department s policy will be utilized. If an energy isolating device is not capable of being locked out, then a tagout and secondary control measures shall be used. Secondary control measures may include: Firefighter on standby Removal of an isolating circuit element Blocking of a controlling switch Removing fuses Blocking of switches Opening an extra disconnecting device 6. All tagout systems have limitations as a sole means of energy control. Initial training will be provided during energy control program implementation. These limitations are as follows: Tags are warning devices and do not provide the physical restraint that a lock would. Tags may provide a false sense of security. Tags may become detached during use. 7. The Incident Commander, or their designee, will provide the necessary devices to effectively lockout or tagout energy isolation devices. Locks and Tags are located in the Incident Safety Officer bag located on all suppression Chief s vehicles and Rescue 8 and HM5. 8. Lockout/tagout devices will indicate the identity of the employee or OCFD unit number who applied the device, and the tagout device will warn against the hazards if the equipment is energized. Lockout is the preferred method of energy isolation. When physical lockout is not possible, the energy isolation device will be tagged out of service with a warning tag attached in conjunction with a secondary control measures such as: A firefighter on standby The removal of an isolating circuit element Blocking of a controlling switch Removing fuses Blocking of switches or opening an extra disconnecting device In the case of plug-in power source, the tag will be attached to the plug. To ensure full employee protection using tagout instead of lockout, a secondary control measure shall be taken to guard against accidental or inadvertent energization.

4 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 4 of 19 LOCKOUT/TAGOUT FOR OCFD OPERATIONS - continued PROTECTIVE MATERIALS AND HARDWARE The Incident Commander, or their designee, must provide employees with the necessary protective materials and hardware to perform lockout/tagout. This may include locks, tags, chains, wedges, key blocks, adapter pins, selflocking fasteners, or other hardware. All devices used for lockout/tagout must be properly identified and must not be used for any other purposes. Lockout/tagout devices must also meet the following requirements: 1. Durable - OCFD lockout/tagout devices must be capable of withstanding the environment to which they are exposed for the entire period of time that they are used. Tagout devices must be constructed so that exposure to weather conditions or wet and damp locations will not cause the tag to deteriorate or the message on the tag to become illegible. Tags must not deteriorate when used in corrosive environments, such as areas where acid and alkali chemicals are used or stored. 2. Standardized - OCFD lockout/tagout devices must be standardized within the OCFD. The following criteria will be: color; shape, size; and in the case of tagout devices, print and format. 3. Substantial - OCFD lockout devices must be substantial enough to prevent removal without the use of excessive force or unusual techniques, such as with the use of bolt cutters or other metal cutting tools. Tagout devices must be substantial enough to prevent inadvertent or accidental removal. Tagout devices must be attached with nylon cable ties that are non-reusable, self-locking, and non-releasable with a minimum unlocking strength of no less than 50 pounds. 4. Identifiable - OCFD lockout/tagout devices must identify the employee or OCFD unit I.D. number (E6, RL14, etc.) applying them. 5. Wording - OCFD tagout devices must warn against hazardous conditions if the machine or equipment is energized and include a wording such as the following: Do Not Start, Do Not Open, Do Not Close, Do Not Energize, Do Not Operate GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR LOCKOUT/TAGOUT 1. The Incident Commander, or their designee, will notify appropriate affected employees that emergency operations, training or routine operations will occur on a machine or equipment and that the machine or equipment must be shut down and locked. 2. If the machine or equipment is operating, shut it down by the normal stopping procedure (depress the stop button, open switch, close valve, etc.). 3. De-activate the energy isolating device(s) (such as switches, valves, circuit breakers, etc.) so that the machine or equipment is isolated from the energy source(s). 4. Lock or tag out the energy isolating device(s) with assigned individual lockout/tagout device(s). Note: If a tag is used without a lockout device to isolate an electrical circuit, then it must be supplemented by one additional safety measure such as a firefighter on standby, the removal of an isolating circuit element, blocking of a controlling switch, or opening an extra disconnecting device. 5. Dissipate or restrain stored or residual energy (such as that in capacitors, springs, elevated machine members, rotating flywheels, hydraulic systems, and air, gas, steam, or water pressure, etc.) by methods such as grounding, repositioning, blocking, shoring bleeding down, etc. 6. Ensure that the equipment is disconnected from the energy source(s) by first checking that no personnel are exposed, then verify the isolation of the equipment by operating the push button or other normal operating control(s) or by testing to make certain the equipment will not operate. Caution: Return operating control(s) to neutral or off position after verifying the isolation of the equipment. Note: An authorized OCFD employee must verify that all electrical circuit parts to which employees must be exposed during emergency operations, training or routine operations are de-energized through the use of test equipment. This test must also determine if any energized condition exist due to inadvertently induced voltage or unrelated voltage feedback even in circuits that have been deenergized and presumed safe. 7. The machine or equipment is now locked or, tagged out. ** For Non-Emergency personnel refer to the Support SOP Book, Fleet Maintenance

5 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 5 of 19 LOCKOUT/TAGOUT FOR OCFD OPERATIONS - continued TESTING OR POSITIONING OF MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS The Incident Commander, or their designee, must use the following procedure where lockout/tagout devices must be temporarily removed from the energy isolation devices so that the equipment or machine may be energized. 1. Check the machine or equipment and the immediate area around the machine to ensure that nonessential items have been removed and that the machine or equipment components are operationally intact. 2. Check the work area to ensure that all employees have been safely positioned or removed from the area. 3. Verify that the controls are in neutral. 4. Remove the lockout/tagout devices and re-energize the machine or equipment for testing or positioning. 5. When testing or positioning is complete, de-energize machine or equipment and reapply control measures. 6. In the event OCFD presence is no longer required on scene and the energy isolating devices are left in place (shoring, blocks, wedges, locks, etc.), the occupant of the facility must be notified of the proper procedures to reenergize the machine. RESTORING OF EQUIPMENT TO SERVICE AT THE CONCLUSION OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS The Incident Commander, or their designee, or other OCFD personnel shall not restore any equipment back to service or re-energize any energy sources (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, natural gas ). Start up or re-energizing the equipment is the responsibility of the business owner or occupant. The Incident Commander, or their designee, will release the property or occupancy back to the owner/manager with instruction that they are responsible for restoring the equipment in accordance with their hazardous energy control procedures (Lockout/Tagout) and/or contact competent professionals to assist them in returning the equipment or energy sources to normal operation. RESTORING OF EQUIPMENT TO SERVICE AFTER TRAINING, OR OTHER NON-EMERGENCY OPERATIONS The Incident Commander, or their designee, will ensure that when OCFD operations are completed and the machine or equipment is ready to return to normal operating condition, the following steps are employed by the authorized employee(s) who applied the lockout/tagout or other energy controlling devices. If that employee(s) is not available and the energy control device(s) must be removed, follow the procedure outlined in the Alternate Procedure for Lockout/Tagout Device Removal section of this document. 1. Check the machine or equipment and the immediate area around the machine to ensure that nonessential items have been removed and that the machine or equipment components are operationally intact. 2. Check the work area to ensure that all employees have been safely positioned or removed from the area. 3. Verify that the controls are in neutral. 4. Remove the lockout/tagout devices and reenergize the machine or equipment. Note: The removal of some forms of blocking may require re-energizing the machine before safe removal. 5. Notify affected employees or civilians that the OCFD has competed their operations. 6. The Incident Commander, or their designee, will be responsible for disposal of used OCFD tags. ALTERNATE PROCEDURE FOR LOCKOUT/TAGOUT DEVICE REMOVAL Lockout/tagout devices must be removed only by the authorized employee who applied the devices. However, when that employee is not available and the device must be removed, the following procedure must be used. 1. An Incident Commander, or their designee, must verify that the employee has left the scene or the facility. 2. The lockout/tagout device must be removed by an authorized employee (OCFD responder) through the use of bolt cutters or some other safety measure. 3. All reasonable efforts must be made to contact the employee and inform him/her that the lockout/tagout device has been removed. 4. The Incident Commander, or their designee, must ensure that the employee has been informed that his/her lockout/tagout device has been removed before he/she resumes work or training.

6 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 6 of 19 LOCKOUT/TAGOUT FOR OCFD OPERATIONS - continued PROCEDURE FOR GROUP LOCKOUT/TAGOUT When emergency operations, training or routine operations are performed by more than one person, the following procedure must be used. This procedure has been designed to provide an equivalent level of protection as that provided by individual lockout/tagout devices. 1. One authorized employee (usually the Company Officer) must be designated as responsible for a set number of employees working under the protection of a group lockout/tagout device. 2. Each employee in the group must review the lockout/tagout procedure to be used. 3. If more than one Company, shift, etc. is involved, the Incident Commander, or their designee, will ensure that all control methods are applied and that there is continuity of protection for the group. 4. Each authorized employee must affix a personal lockout/tagout device to the group lockout device, group lockbox, or comparable device before beginning work, and must remove it upon completion of their work. PROCEDURE FOR SHIFT OR PERSONNEL CHANGES This procedure must be used during shift or personnel changes to ensure the continuity of lockout/tagout protection, for individual and group lockout/tagout. The Incident Commander shall ensure that 1. The on-coming authorized employee(s) (OCFD responder) must exchange lockout or tagout devices with the off-going authorized employee (OCFD responder) or designated facility authorized employee. 2. Re-testing must be done to ensure the de-energized state of the equipment. 3. Employees must discuss the status of maintenance or servicing and any notification of start-up or testing to be performed. ANNUAL PROGRAM REVIEW Each year an authorized employee, who is not involved in the procedure being inspected (possibly OKC Risk Management or another OKC Department), must conduct an inspection of the lockout/tagout procedure. The inspection procedure must include the following elements. 1. Where lockout or tagout is used, a discussion of the authorized employee s responsibility under the lockout/tagout program with the inspector. 2. Where tagout is used, a discussion of the authorized employee s responsibility under the lockout/tagout program and the limitations of the tagout system or the firefighter standby system. 3. If deficiencies are noted during the inspection of the program, corrective actions and retraining of employees, as necessary, must be done immediately.

7 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 7 of 19 LOCKOUT/TAGOUT FOR OCFD OPERATIONS - continued LOCKOUT/TAGOUT GLOSSARY Affected Employee Authorized Employee Capable of Being Locked Out Energized Energy-isolating Device Energy Control Procedure Energy Control Program Energy Source Firefighter Stand-by System Lockout Lockout Device Tagout Tagout Device (All OCFD emergency responders and support personnel) An employee who performs the duties of his or her job in an area in which the energy control procedure is implemented. An authorized employee and an affected employee may be the same person when the affected employee s duties also involve performing operations on a machine or equipment that must be locked or a tagout system implemented. An affected employee does not perform operations on machines or equipment and, consequently, is not responsible for implementing the energy control procedure. An affected employee becomes an authorized employee whenever he or she performs emergency operations, training or routine functions on machines or equipment that must be locked or tagged. An employee who performs emergency operations, training or routine functions on machines and equipment. Lockout or tagout is used by these employees for their self protection An energy-isolating device is considered capable of being locked out if it meets one of the following requirements: It is designed with a hasp to which a lock can be attached; It is designed with any other integral part through which a lock can be affixed; It has a locking mechanism built into it; or It can be locked without dismantling, rebuilding, or replacing the energy isolating device or permanently altering its energy control capability. Machines and equipment are energized when (1) they are connected to an energy source or (2) they contain residual or stored energy. Any mechanical device that physically prevents the transmission or release of energy. These include, but are not limited to, manually operated electrical circuit breakers, disconnect switches, line valves, and blocks. A written document that contains those items of information an authorized employee needs to know in order to safely control hazardous energy during emergency operations, training or routine functions. A program intended to prevent the unexpected energizing or the release of stored energy in machines or equipment. The program consists of energy control procedure(s), an employee-training program, and periodic inspections. Any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other energy. A system where an OCFD designated authorized employee will stand by an energized source to assure that authorized and affected employees are not affected by any unexpected start-up or energization of equipment. The placement of a lockout device on an energy-isolating device, in accordance with an established procedure, ensures that the energy-isolating device and the equipment being controlled cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed. Any device that uses positive means such as a lock, either key or combination type, to hold an energy-isolating device in a safe position, thereby preventing the energizing of machinery or equipment. When properly installed, a blank flange or slip blind are considered equivalent to lockout devices. The placement of a tagout device on an energizing-isolating device and the equipment being controlled may not be operated until the tagout device is removed. Any prominent warning device, such as tag and a means of attachment that can be securely fastened to an energy-isolating device in accordance with an established procedure. The tag indicates that the machine or equipment to which it is attached is not to be operated until the tagout device is removed in accordance with the energy control procedure.

8 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 8 of 19 A FIREFIGHTER S GUIDE FOR EMERGENCIES INVOLVING ELECTRICITY This booklet is designed as a guide for firefighters who are called upon to handle fires or other emergencies where electric company facilities are involved. It clarifies why the electric company believes it vitally important to have its own specially trained employees on the scene of such emergencies as soon as possible. EXPERTS NEED EXPERIENCE Electric company employees are not firefighting experts; but because of their day-to-day working knowledge of electricity, they can impart vital helpful information that can be utilized to make the firefighter s job easier. The electric company would not consider assigning one of its own employees to perform work on energized facilities until he has served an apprenticeship under close supervision of a foreman with many years of experience. Only experienced employees who have proven their ability to think quickly and clearly are given assignments to work on emergency cases. EXPERTS NEED PROPER TOOLS However, even tools that would be considered perfectly satisfactory for use on energized facilities by electric company employees may be worse than useless, they may even be dangerous - in the hands of an electrically inexperienced individual, and especially so under the adverse conditions of fighting fire with water chemicals. Electric company employees stand ready to de-energize or make safe those situations involving electric facilities. They have the know-how to decide what needs to be done and they have the tools to do it. These employees are available 24 hours every day, and two-way radios provide instant communication. Firefighters that arrive at the scene of an emergency before electric company employees must know how to deal with the potential hazards of energized facilities. In addition, some knowledge is needed to avoid injury from energized facilities. In addition, some knowledge is needed to avoid injury from energized facilities in the vicinity of the firefighting operation. This booklet strives to provide that knowledge. REQUEST ELECTRIC COMPANY ASSISTANCE THROUGH YOUR DISPATCHER. O G & E COMPANY HAS DIRECT PHONE LINES FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO THEIR SERVICE DESK. ELECTRICITY ELECTRICITY (noun) 1. The flow of electric charge through a conductor placed between two objects having a difference in voltage. There you have a dictionary-style definition. Electricity is the flow of electric charge through a light bulb element ( a conductor ) placed between an energized wire and a grounded wire. Electricity is also the flow of electrical charge - lightning - through air ( a conductor) placed between a charged thundercloud and the earth s ground. Electricity is also the flow of electric charge through a man ( a conductor ) placed between an energized object and ground. CAUTION #1 - NEVER MAKE DIRECT CONTACT WITH ANY ENERGIZED OBJECT. What is energized? Electricity, whether from a powerline or from a thundercloud, is always trying to get to the earth, which is at ground voltage - also called zero voltage. Voltage is a measure of the pressure that pushes electric charge through a conductor. An object with any voltage above zero is called energized. Any energized object will produce a flow of electric charge through a conductor. An object with any voltage above zero is called energized. Any energized object will produce a flow of electric charge through a conductor placed between it and the earth or any other object at ground voltage, such as a grounded wire. Since nearly all common materials, including the human body, are conductors to some extent, the only way to keep the electricity where it belongs is to place some sort of insulator (non-conductor) between the energized object and the earth. Bare wires are supported on utility poles by such insulators. BEWARE LOW VOLTAGE! You can get just as shocked from your 120-volt house current as you can from a 500,000-volt powerline! In fact, a high voltage shock, because of the clamping action it has on the heart (cardiac arrest), may prevent the deadly irregular beating of the heart (fibrillation) often associated with lower-voltage shocks. Cardiac-arrest victims often respond readily to artificial respiration and external heart massage; whereas a fibrillation victim may only respond to an electrical defibrillator device. Also with the lower-voltage shock, instead of enough current to knock you out, you may get just enough to set your muscles so you can t let go.

9 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 9 of 19 A FIREFIGHTER S GUIDE FOR EMERGENCIES INVOLVING ELECTRICITY - continued CAUTION #2 - STAY CLEAR OF VICINITY OF ANY FAULTY ENERGIZED OBJECT. BEWARE SPARKING! You can be injured without touching an energized object. When an energized object is sparking, it emits excessive heat and ultraviolet rays. Such sparking occurs while trying to interrupt the flow of electric charge, such as when an energized wire is cut or when a fallen energized wire is lifted away from the earth. The electrical charge tries to maintain its flow through the air - this results in a flash, an electric arc. The excessive heat from such a flash can burn human flesh several feet away. PROTECT THE EYES! The heat of an electric arc has been known to fuse contact lenses to the cornea of a man s eyes. Ultraviolet rays emitted from an electric flash may also damage unprotected eyes. Eye injuries may not be immediately apparent, there may be no noticeable eye irritation for several hours after exposure. If your eyes are exposed to an electric arc, consult a doctor for proper treatment without delay. WATCH THE WIRES CAUTION #3 - BE ALERT IN VICINITY OF ANY ENERGIZED OBJECT. We have already emphasized the danger from contacting an energized object, or even getting in the vicinity of a faulty energized object, such as a fallen wire. It is just as important to be cautious in the vicinity of energized facilities that are operating properly. Most firefighting is performing without de-energizing all electric facilities in the vicinity. In many cases, it is even advantageous to leave power on as long as possible.* However, all firefighters must continuously be alert. Don t let the quiet, harmless appearance lull you into a false sense of security. Never allow anyone on the ground to touch a rescue ladder while ladder is being maneuvered in vicinity of overhead wires. If the ladder of a rescue ladder should contact an overhead wire while being maneuvered, a firefighter who is entirely on the rescue ladder may be in a relatively safe position, (like a bird on a wire). But, there may be some hazardous sparking, (see CAUTION #2) or the wire may break and fall, or electricity may flow through anyone who simultaneously touches both the rescue ladder and the ground. The operator should immediately attempt to swing the ladder clear - everyone in the area must be at a safe distance, in case the wire breaks as the ladder moves away. If the ladder remains in contact with the wire, the entire rescue ladder may be dangerously energized. There is no completely effective way to ground a rescue ladder - even with metal outriggers in firm contact with the earth, a human body may provide an easier path for electricity to reach the ground. Keep everyone away until an electric company employee arrives and clears the contact or de-energizes the wire. BEWARE COVERED WIRES! Many overhead wires are covered, but that covering is often designed to protect the wire from the weather or tree contact, not to protect you from the wire. Never consider a covered wire any safer than a bare wire. Remember, most wires on utility poles are bare, even though they may appear to be covered when viewed from the ground. BEWARE TELEPHONE CABLES! Telephone cables are rarely dangerous when accidentally contacted. But, are you so sure you can tell the difference between telephone cables and electric power cables, that you d stake your life on it - and the lives of others? Although higher voltage facilities are generally installed higher up on utility poles, this is not always true, electric power cables operating at 34,000 volts maybe attached below telephone cables on the same pole. And a fallen telephone cable may be contacting a powerline! NEVER REST LADDERS ON WIRES OR ON ANY OTHER ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT! NEVER DRAG HOSES OVER WIRES! NEVER COME TOO CLOSE TO WIRES - BRUSHING AGAINST ONE CAN BE FATAL!

10 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 10 of 19 A FIREFIGHTER S GUIDE FOR EMERGENCIES INVOLVING ELECTRICITY - continued NO ENCORES, PLEASE! You may have some experience where you were able to contact energized facilities without incident. But, just because you got away with it before doesn t guarantee you will get away with it again. Remember, higher voltage facilities have much greater pressure behind the electricity. Something you got away with on 120- volt facilities can bring disaster if attempted on 34,000-volt facilities. And since normal water is a conductor of electricity, even slightly damp objects become much more hazardous. ELECTRIC WIRE HAZARDS UPDATED 7/1/05 CAUTION #4 - ASSUME EVERY FALLEN WIRE IS ENERGIZED AND DANGEROUS WIRE ON GROUND! Some fallen wires snap and twist - bursting warning sparks. Others lie quietly - no sparks, no warning rattles like a snake. Both types are equally deadly. It is impossible to determine from the appearance of a wire whether or not it is energized. Also, automatic switching equipment may re-energize fallen wires. Always stay clear and keep everyone else clear until an electric company employee arrives and clears the wire or deenergizes it. WIRE ON OBJECT! If a wire is in contact with any object, fence, tree, car, or person that object in turn may be energized and deadly. Keep yourself and others away from metal highway dividers and metal fences that may be in contact with fallen wires. A fallen wire draped over such dividers and fences can energize them for their entire length. WIRE ON VEHICLE! If anyone is in a vehicle that is in contact with a wire, the safest thing he can do is stay inside. If possible, he should drive the vehicle away from the contact. If the vehicle is on fire, tell the victim to jump free with both hands and feet clear of the vehicle before reaching the ground. At no time can the person simultaneously touch both the vehicle and the ground or any other object that is touching the ground, as it will result in a path for the electricity to flow to ground. A spray or fog nozzle should be used to direct water onto a burning vehicle. The water stream should be kept back at least 6 feet from the vehicle. CAUTION #5 - NEVER CUT WIRES EXCEPT TO PROTECT LIFE And even then, only thoroughly trained persons, such as electric company employees, using approved procedures and equipment can cut wires. Otherwise, cutting wires can create more hazards than leaving them alone. When taut wires are cut, the change in tension may cause utility poles to fall or wires to slack off and sag to the ground some distance from where the wires are cut. Wire which retains some of its original reelcurl may coil up when cut and get out of control with resultant hazards. TAKE CARE AFTER CUTTING! Cutting a wire at one place does not necessarily ensure that the wire on either side of the cut is de-energized because: 1. Wires are frequently energized from both directions. 2. Wires may be in accidental contact with other energized wires. 3. Wires may be energized from a privately-owned generator within a building. CUTTING SERVICE WIRES! When protection of life requires de-energizing a building, cutting service wires should be considered only when it is not practicable to remove fuses, open circuit breakers, open the main switch, or wait for an electric company representative. Specialized equipment must be used to cut each wire individually and then bend each one back, to prevent short-circuiting the wires together. All wires must be cut. Never assume that one wire is a ground wire and is therefore safe. Even a ground wire can be contacting an energized wire at some unseen location. If the service wires can be cut on the supply side of where they connect to the building s wires, it will be possible to restore the service more quickly when required. However, far more important, service wires should always be cut on the building side of where they are first attached to the building - this avoids having wires fall on the ground.

11 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 11 of 19 A FIREFIGHTER S GUIDE FOR EMERGENCIES INVOLVING ELECTRICITY - continued RESCUE OF SHOCK VICTIMS CAUTION #6 - USE APPROVED PROCEDURES & EQUIPMENT IF YOU MUST WORK NEAR ENERGIZED FACILITIES This rule certainly applies whether or not there is any victim to be rescued. However, the presence of a victim requires you to be even more conscientious. NOTIFY ELECTRIC COMPANY! If you see no safe way of separating a victim from an energized object, request electric company assistance. Your first consideration must be your own protection, you cannot help by becoming a victim yourself. MOVING THE VICTIM! Electric company employees have specialized equipment* that they can use to drag a victim clear of electric equipment. They can use other specialized equipment* to keep the wire in contact with the ground while the victim is being dragged clear. This reduces the amount of electricity flowing through the victim and minimizes further injury from additional burns. MOVING THE WIRE! Electric company employees have specialized equipment* that they can use to remove a wire from a victim. They can control the wire to prevent it from recontacting the victim. Electric company employees will pull the wire toward themselves while walking away, rather than pushing and walking toward it, to reduce the danger to themselves in case the wire gets out of control. And again, they can use other specialized equipment* to keep the wire in contact with the ground while moving it. This reduces the amount of electricity flowing through the victim and minimizes further injury from additional burns. CUTTING THE WIRE! If a victim is entangled with an electric wire, the wire on both sides of the victim must be cut to be certain that no source of electricity remains. Wires should only be cut by an individual who is thoroughly trained to cut wires safely and who uses specialized equipment.* FIRST AID! A victim who has been separated from energized electric facilities does not retain an electric charge. Therefore, there is no danger in handling the victim, administering first aid, or applying artificial respiration. Electric burns, even if insignificant on the surface, may involve serious destruction of tissues and must receive expert medical treatment as soon as possible. RESCUING PETS! A fire company is the first organization considered by many persons in any emergency, and frequent calls are received to rescue cats or other pets. However, an electrically - inexperienced individual endangers his own life if he attempts to rescue an animal that has climbed a utility pole or gotten into any electric company facility. Forward pet rescue requests to the electric company. * SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT To separate a victim from electric facilities, a rescuer must use tools that are rated for use on the voltage level involved. The tools must be clean and dry, and they must provide adequate distance between the rescuer and the energized facilities. Specially treated goggles that prevent eye damage from electric arcs should be worn. Such specialized equipment is routinely used by electric company employees. Any other equipment can be extremely hazardous if used in vicinity of energized electric facilities. In particular, the use of rubber gloves should be left to electric company employees who use them daily. Severe injury can result from using rubber gloves that have deteriorated - even a tiny pinhole is enough to permit a fatal charge to pass through to the wearer. Rubber gloves must be electrically tested periodically, and must be carefully stored and protected from damage, dirt, and excessive heat. Never stake your life on borrowed rubber gloves. And remember, your running gear and rubber boots are designed to protect you against getting wet, not against getting electrocuted!

12 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 12 of 19 A FIREFIGHTER S GUIDE FOR EMERGENCIES INVOLVING ELECTRICITY - continued CONDUCTIVITY OF EXTINGUISHING AGENTS CAUTION #7 - AVOID USING HOSE STREAMS ON ENERGIZED FACILITIES WATER CONDUCTS ELECTRICITY! The application of water on electric facilities by hand-held hoses may carry the electricity back to the nozzle. Tabularized safe distances can be misleading, since water conductivity and nozzle design vary widely. The National Board of Fire Underwriters Special Interest Bulletin No. 91 advises that for 120-volt facilities there is no danger unless the nozzle is brought within a few inches. However, we urge firefighters to consider all electric facilities to be high voltage, because even low voltage wires may inadvertently be crossed with highvoltage wires. TYPE OF HOSE STREAM RECOMMENDED AND MINIMUM OPERATING DISTANCES SOLID 40 ft (for voltages up to 34 KV) SPRAY (OR FOG) 6 ft (for voltages up to 34 KV) 11 ft (for voltages up to 220 KV) FARTHER BACK IF POSSIBLE! Fire companies are most likely to be involved with electric facilities on utility poles, rather than on transmission towers. Pole mounted facilities generally have nominal voltages ranging from 120 volts up to 34,000 volts (34KV). The wires for the highest voltage in this range are generally mounted 30 feet or more above the ground. A solid stream directed from the street through these wires, onto a burning building, should be the recommended minimum distance of 40 feet from the wires. Nevertheless, firefighters should always stand back as far as the range of the stream permits. Extreme caution should be exercised with hoses used from ladders. At least 40 feet of separation should be maintained to ensure a safe operation when using a solid water stream on electric facilities that may be energized. SPRAY OR FOG PREFERRED! For maximum safety to the firefighter when either intentional or unintentional application of water on energized facilities may occur, a spray or fog nozzle should be used. DE-ENERGIZE WHEN NECESSARY! Never direct water onto energized facilities closer than the recommended minimum operating distances listed on previous page. Never use a solid stream of water from the ground on electric transmission tower facilities energized above 34,000 volts (34KV). When required in such cases, the electric company will deenergize the facilities before firefighting commences. BEWARE RUN-OFF WATER! Take care not to damage uninvolved electric facilities nearby. A porcelain insulator supporting energized facilities may flashover (arc), and even explode, if hit by a straight stream (even spray or fog) directed onto it. Wires may swing together, short-circuit, and burn down if hit by the force of a straight stream. OTHER EXTINGUISHING AGENTS! Dry chemical and carbon dioxide are nonconductive and may be used around energized facilities. These may be used to extinguish a surface-type utility pole fire. Foam, soda acid, and the loaded-stream type are conductive and should not be used on fires around energized facilities.

13 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 13 of 19 A FIREFIGHTER S GUIDE FOR EMERGENCIES INVOLVING ELECTRICITY - continued FIRES IN BUILDINGS CAUTION #8 - BE EQUALLY ALERT INDOORS AS OUTDOORS. HIGH-VOLTAGE INSTALLATION (600 volts to 13,000 volts or even higher do exist in many larger buildings - commercial, institutional, and industrial) Do not enter any transformer room or open any electric switch without advice of an authorized individual. Besides the obvious electric hazard, privately-owned transformers may be filled with flammable oil or with a non-flammable liquid such as askarel. Some askarel-filled equipment is not required to be isolated outdoors or in a fire resistant room, and therefore, may be located anywhere on the premises. The non-flammable liquid, while safe from a fire standpoint, may be caustic and may generate poisonous fumes. Call the plant electrician to identify specific hazards and to de-energize facilities as needed. LOW-VOLTAGE INSTALLATIONS (below 600 volts) exist in practically every building a fire fighter may enter, and can be as dangerous as highvoltage facilities. LEAVE POWER ON AS LONG AS POSSIBLE The power may be needed to operate pumps or other equipment that, if stopped, would cause additional damage to the building or to any materials being produced in it. Also, fire fighters may be aided by having lights available as well as having any elevators operating for firefighting and evacuation purposes. Once a fire company shuts off any power, the electric company may require the Fire Marshal s approval and an inspection certificate from an authorized Electrical Inspection Agency before turning the power back on. Nevertheless, whenever safe fire fighting requires the power to be shut off, use whichever of the following actions is appropriate and necessary. 1. REMOVE FUSES OR OPEN CIRCUIT BREAKERS to shut off the affected section. 2. OPEN MAIN SWITCH to shut off entire building when electric service is no longer useful. If you must stand in water or if the switch is wet, do not grasp the switch handle in the palm of your hand. Use dry equipment such as a piece of rope, pike pole, or handle of fire ax to open the switch. Then attach a warning tag indicating that the power has been intentionally shut off. 3. CUT WIRES ONLY TO PROTECT LIFE - for example, when a fire fighter s life would be endangered by leaving a building energized, or when a victim must be rescued. However, cutting electric wires should only be considered when it is not practicable to remove fuses, open circuit breakers, open the main switch, or wait for an electric company representative. 4. PULL ELECTRIC METER ONLY AS A LAST RESORT and then only to protect life when no other method is practicable. Wear buttoned running coat, gloves, and face shield or goggles to protect against electric arcing. HANDLING POWER LINE EMERGENCIES 1. The Dispatch Center will use their discretion based on information received as to either sending a company out of service or on the radio to a power line emergency. 2. The Dispatch Center will automatically give O G & E the information. The only time that it will be necessary for a company to radio the Dispatch Center for OG&E is in a dire emergency. If this is the situation, the Dispatch Center can request a priority in getting a trouble shooter to the scene. 3. O G & E, like the Oklahoma City Fire Department, is over taxed during a storm and cannot possibly give its normal fast service. When a company arrives on the scene the company officer must make a decision. Is the emergency such that they must remain out of service and stand by or can they be available for another response.

14 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 14 of 19 EMERGENCY CONTROL OF NATURAL GAS This booklet has been prepared by Oklahoma Natural Gas Company as part of its public safety program. The information included is intended to help fire fighters deal with natural gas in an emergency. While fire fighters may be the first to arrive at the scene of a natural gas emergency, Oklahoma Natural representatives are available and ready to assist in controlling or eliminating any gas-related hazard. Upon the first indication that gas might be involved in an emergency, call the gas company. Oklahoma Natural personnel will make known their arrival on the scene to the fire officer in charge. Oklahoma Natural maintains around-the-clock service throughout its service area. Customer service technicians are available 24-hours-a-day in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. In other areas of the state, company representatives are available for call-out through answering services and paging. OVERVIEW OF OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Oklahoma Natural Gas uses natural gas that comes from gas fields scattered across the state of Oklahoma. This gas is tapped from vast reservoirs of underground deposits made by nature millions of years ago. After impurities have been removed from the gas, it is transported by underground pipelines across prairies, hills, and rivers to city border stations. From city border stations, it is distributed through underground systems of mains to the outlets of meters serving our customers. One method of distributing gas to a city or town is through a pressure system, carrying approximately 5.3 ounces of pressure. In this instance, the gas goes directly through a meter located on the customer s premises and is then utilized by appliances for the customer s needs. The most common method of distributing gas is through a medium-pressure line. In this case, the pressure range is from 1 pound to 60 pounds of pressure. Because of this higher pressure, the gas in most cases is reduced to 5.3 ounces of pressure by a service regulator located ahead of the meter. There are also intermediate-pressure and high-pressure distribution systems. Meter settings on these systems contain two regulators ahead of the meter. These regulators step down the intermediate or high pressure to utilization pressure. Oklahoma Natural Gas safety programs and procedures include, among other things, leak detection and correction. Such programs are part of our daily operational activities. Part of these programs deal with leakage survey on cross-country transmission lines as well as town or city distribution lines. In towns and cities, street openings and manholes in the business areas are surveyed and tested for gas leakage. Leakage surveys are conducted annually at public, private, and vocational schools. ONG also utilizes bar-hole surveys where possible. Some of the other methods used in our surveys include flame-ionization equipment, soap suds testing of exposed pipes and fittings on meter settings and customer appliance piping, and vegetation and pressure drop observations. Installation of gas mains, services, and related facilities must conform to rigid requirements. Presently we follow the Department of Transportation Title 49, CFR Part 191 and CFR Part 192, titled The Transportation of Natural Gas and Other Gases by Pipeline. ONG encourages municipalities to adopt one of the Model Codes (BOCA, SBCCI, or the ICBO UNIFORM CODE) as a standard for the safe installation of gas appliances and gas piping on customer premises. In areas not covered by a city code BOCA should be followed.

15 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 15 of 19 EMERGENCY CONTROL OF NATURAL GAS - continued CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL GAS One of the purposes of this booklet is to acquaint you with some useful information about natural gas. 1. Natural gas is not toxic or poisonous. Tests have shown that persons breathing concentrations of 25 percent natural gas mixed with air have suffered no ill effects. However, if natural gas displaces that air in an enclosed space, asphyxiation can occur because of the lack of oxygen. 2. Natural gas is only about 65 percent as heavy as air. This means that it will rise and diffuse rapidly when it escapes in an open area. When confined, the gas will tend to rise, displacing the air from the top downward. So remember this when you ventilate a room: open windows from the top. If you are using a gas detector in a confined area, put the sensing element of the device at the highest point in the enclosed area and around openings in the floor, because this is where the lighter-than-air natural gas will tend to concentrate. High humidity may prevent gas from rising or dissipating quickly, so caution should be taken when working in this type of atmosphere. 3. As natural gas is produced, it is usually odorless. Oklahoma Natural adds chemicals to give it a pungent odor. This odorant is noticeable when there is less than 1 percent gas present in a given volume of air. This percentage is enough below the lower limit of flammability to provide a margin of safety in case of a gas leak. 4. The limits of flammability for natural gas are approximately 5 percent to 15 percent a gas-in-air mixture. This means there must be at least 5 percent, but no more than 15 percent, of natural gas present in air to support combustion. Burning natural gas produces little smoke, but does produce a very high radiant heat. Combustibles must be wetted down with water spray to keep this radiating heat from igniting them. 5. The ignition point of natural gas is quite high, around degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is reached by ignition sources such as pilot lights; flint sparks; matches; or sparks from electrical switches, thermostats, static electricity, or motors. PROCEDURES DURING EMERGENCIES Another purpose of this booklet is to emphasize that Oklahoma Natural representatives and the fire fighter have the same goals when they are brought together at an emergency situation involving gas. Fire fighters, by supplementing their overall knowledge of protective measures with helpful information provided by gas company representatives, can more effectively protect the public which they both serve. Upon the first indication that gas is present in an uncontrolled situation call the gas company immediately. Give the address/location, your name, the fire fighting organization, and the details-including whether the leak is inside or outside the building. When they arrive, Oklahoma Natural personnel will report to the fire officer in charge at the scene. Oklahoma Natural employees are happy to cooperate with fire fighters and other emergency personnel when they are brought together in any emergency situation involving natural gas. GAS ESCAPING OUTSIDE If unignited gas is escaping from the ground, an excavation, an open pipe, a manhole, a sewer, or a vault outside a building, you should clear and rope or barricade a safe area around the location. If possible, police and fire fighters should check with the gas company employee before advising the public in the immediate vicinity of the emergency what to do. Call Oklahoma Natural as soon as possible. The gas company employee may help avoid undue alarm and unnecessary action by the public. If the situation warrants, Oklahoma Natural personnel will cut off the gas to adjoining properties and advise the customers of safety precautions to be taken. These precautions may include extinguishing all open flames, prohibiting smoking, and making certain that electrical switches and other similar possible ignition sources, including motor vehicles, are not operated. Check surrounding buildings, basements in particular, for any presence of gas odors. Manholes or vaults can usually be vented by temporarily removing their covers. It may be necessary to restrict or reroute all traffic until Oklahoma Natural can bring the gas flow under control.

16 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 16 of 19 EMERGENCY CONTROL OF NATURAL GAS - continued GAS BURNING OUTSIDE The best method of controlling an outdoor gas fire is to shut off the gas flow. In most cases, the fire fighter should not try to put out the fire while gas is still escaping. Burning gas will not explode. But, it will ignite surrounding combustibles. Clear the danger area and barricade or rope it off. Spray the surrounding combustibles with water mist if there is a danger of ignition. Do not use water on burning natural gas at its point of escape. If it is absolutely necessary to extinguish the gas flame before the gas flow can be shut off, use dry chemical at the base of the flame and wet the surrounding area with fog to prevent reignition. Notify the gas company immediately when gas is burning. Do not operate gas valves in the street: have Oklahoma Natural employees do it. Turning the wrong valve could create another emergency. Oklahoma Natural employees with their knowledge of the gas distribution system can keep this from happening. GAS ESCAPING INSIDE If natural gas is escaping inside a building, ventilate the area, starting where the gas concentration is strongest. If gas is escaping in quantity, clear the building of its occupants. Shut off open flame devices by operating manual controls, but do not operate electrical switches. The fire officer in charge may determine that it is necessary to shut off the gas to the building at the service valve. The necessity of such action should be weighed against the fact that turning off the gas to commercial or industrial buildings might interrupt production processes and create further hazards. Again, your gas company employee can give you specific information to help you evaluate the situation. If the fire fighter or any other emergency person turns off a valve, leave it off. Then immediately tell the gas company employee. After a valve has been shut off, only gas company employees should turn it on again, because they know how to evaluate the condition and determine when this action is advisable. GAS BURNING INSIDE If uncontrolled natural gas is burning inside a building, shut off the gas at the meter or, if one is available, at an outside valve. If the gas supply cannot be safely shut off, keep the surrounding combustibles wet with spray stream until the gas company emergency crew can control the flowing gas. If it appears that inside piping or meter installations are going to be endangered by a non-gas fire in a building, the fire officer in charge can determine if it is necessary to turn off the gas. Again, the gas company employee can help evaluate the situation. If a fire is caused by a gas appliance that is burning out of control, it is usually enough to shut off the gas at the appliance s valve. When this is not practical, or the valve cannot be located, shut off the gas at the meter supplying the building. GAS DETECTION Odors sometimes mistaken for natural gas can come from many sources, such as petroleum products (especially gasoline), marsh gas, sewer gas, industrial gases and the like. There are many types of gas detection instruments. Since gas company employees are trained in their use, they will be glad to assist you. Natural gas has its odor regulated by the gas company in order to give it a distinctive, pungent smell. In its natural state, natural gas is usually odorless. We suggest that emergency personnel familiarize themselves with the odor of the gas distributed in their area. Figure 1 illustrates a typical odorization station where large quantities of odorant are stored and injected into the distribution piping system. The odorant that Oklahoma Natural uses has a distinctive and strong smell. Small, insignificant leaks of odorant at these stations may cause undue concern because the smell of the chemical is so strong. F I G U R E 1

17 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 17 of 19 EMERGENCY CONTROL OF NATURAL GAS - continued GAS IN MANHOLES, VAULTS, SEWERS 1. Notify the gas company immediately to help identify the type of gas involved, such as gasoline vapors, sewer gases, cable-burnout gases, etc., and to trace its source. 2. Do not try to extinguish flames if gas ignites. 3. Spray burning or combustible materials around the vault. 4. Rope off or barricade a safe area around a vault. Keep bystanders away. Prohibit smoking, or other activities that might ignite the gas. 5. Always test the atmosphere of a manhole, vault, or sewer with a gas detector first. Then test for oxygen deficiency before entering. 6. Do not enter manholes, vaults, or sewers if dangerous concentrations of gases are thought to be present. 7. Do not enter manholes, vaults, or sewers under any condition without standby assistance. 8. Temporarily vent a manhole by removing its cover and the manhole covers on either side until you reach manholes free of gas. To prevent sparks, wet the manhole cover and rim before removing the cover. 9. When fire personnel must enter manholes, vaults, or sewers for rescue operations, follow these safety precautions: a) Use a self-contained breathing apparatus, safety harness, and lifeline. b) Work in pairs. c) Maintain a similarly equipped standby group at the scene on the alert. d) Place charged hose lines equipped with fog nozzles on standby alert at the scene. 10. Check basements of adjoining buildings for gas seepage. If found, open windows and doors to ventilate. Shut off open flames. Do not operate electrical switches. if natural gas is involved, handle as suggested in Gas Escaping Inside. WHEN NATURAL GAS IS INVOLVED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION DON T forget to notify the gas company immediately. DON T allow open flames, smoking, or spark-producing devices in either open or closed areas if the presence of combustible gases is suspected. DON T ring doorbells, operate electrical switches, or use the telephone in areas where the presence of combustible gases is suspected. DON T under any condition use canister-type gas masks. Use self contained breathing equipment. DON T make any effort to extinguish flames of escaping burning gas. Use spray only to protect surrounding area. EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL METER AND REGULATOR SETTINGS The following diagrams illustrate the types of meter and regulator installations that are most common to our company. Please pay particular attention to the location of shutoff valves. There are rural and suburban areas in the state where companies other than Oklahoma Natural distribute natural gas. Here the gas service may be bottled gas, such as liquid propane gas. The information contained in this booklet is not applicable to this service. Fire fighters in these areas should follow the instructions that are furnished by the National Fire Protection Association.

18 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 18 of 19 EMERGENCY CONTROL OF NATURAL GAS - continued RELIEF-VALVE INSTALLATIONS Relief valves protect gas systems from over-pressuring. Relief valves are used in conjunction with regulators. Regulators throttle down gas pressure and, at the same time, maintain this lower pressure within certain limits. Each pressure-reducing regulator setting has a gas regulator set to maintain a fixed downstream pressure. If a regulator malfunctions and fails to properly limit downstream pressure, the relief valve opens to vent the excess gas to the atmosphere. This venting is usually accompanied by a loud, high-pitched noise. Since it is much lighter than air, natural gas diffuses upward into the atmosphere. A relief valve venting gas to the atmosphere is functioning properly. Never cut off or restrict a relief valve. If you see or hear a relief valve venting gas to the atmosphere, call the gas company at once. Do nothing to keep the relief valve from venting gas. The gas company employee will make necessary corrections. Figure 2 shows a typical relief valve installation. A relief valve is a device connected to a discharge pipe which extends upward. The pipe usually has a rain cap on the end. Most companies install a standard cutoff valve below the relief valve. This cutoff valve should never be turned off except by gas company personnel. A relief valve venting gas to the atmosphere is performing its proper function. Regulator settings and relief valves are common in gas distribution systems such as Oklahoma Natural s. Major gas control points with relief valves are sometimes referred to as district regulating stations, city gate stations, or town border stations. FIGURE 2 LOW-PRESSURE METER SETTINGS Figures 3 and 4 are typical meter facilities on a low-pressure system. The pressure to the meters in Figures 3 and 4 is the same pressure used by the appliances in your home and is called utilization pressure. The pressure in the piping on both sides of the meter is approximately 5.3 ounces per square inch gauge. These types of meter settings are sometimes used for singledwelling homes or small commercial buildings and are usually located outside, in basements, under house. In underground meter boxes. FIGURE 3 CUTOFF VALVE FIGURE 4 Typical cutoff valves such as the ones indicated on these settings can be opened or closed by turning them one-quarter turn or 90 degrees. MEDIUM-PRESSURE METER SETTINGS Figure 5 is a typical meter facility on a medium-pressure system. The inlet pressure to this meter is greater than that used by house appliances and is called medium pressure (1 pound to 60 pounds per square inch gauge). Gas under this higher pressure is reduced to 5.3 ounces of pressure before it is introduced into the customer s piping system. A regulator located on the inlet side of the meter reduces the gas pressure before it goes through the meter and into the customer s piping system. The cutoff valve such as the one noted in the picture can be opened or closed by turning it one-quarter turn or 90 degrees. FIGURE 5 Cutoff Valve

19 BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Hazardous Energy Control Pg 19 of 19 MULTIPLE-DWELLING METER SETTINGS Figure 6 shows a meter facility for multiple dwelling buildings. There is a master control valve that shuts off the gas to all the meters in the manifold. There is also a valve on the inlet side of each meter. This makes it possible to shut off gas to an apartment or other area in a building where an emergency situation exists without interrupting service to other parts of the building. The number of the apartment or office served is noted either on the front of each meter or on a tag attached to the meter. Individual Cutoff Valves Master Control Valve F I G U R E 6 HIGH-PRESSURE METER SETTINGS The inlet pressure to the meter setting shown in Figure 7 is much higher than that used by house appliances and is called high pressure (60 pounds or more per square inch gauge). The meter setting for these systems contains two regulators in front of the meter. These regulators step down the intermediate or high pressure to utilization pressure. FIGURE 7 REMEMBER-NATURAL GAS UNDER CONTROL IS HARMLESS This booklet does not attempt to cover problems that might arise from the facilities of other gas companies in the state of Oklahoma. These companies welcome coordination with fire fighting units and place their own equipment and services at the disposal of the fire company. Material for this pamphlet has been excerpted from Control of Natural Gas in an Emergency, published by the Southern Gas Association. OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS COMPANY LOCAL OFFICES Alex (405) Guthrie (405) Prague (405) Alva (405) Healdton (405) Purcell (405) Anadarko (405) Helena (405) Quinton (918) Ardmore (405) Hennessey (405) Ringling (405) Bixby (918) ' Henryetta (918) Ringwood (405) Blanchard (405) Hobart (405) Rush Springs (405) Boley (918) Holdenville (405) Sand Springs (918) Bradley (405) Hugo (405) Sapulpa (918) Broken Arrow (918) Idabel (405) Shattuck (405) Buffalo (405) Jenks (918) (405) Shawnee Carnegie (405) Kingfisher (405) (405) Catoosa (918) Konawa (405) Stigler (918) Chandler (405) Laverne (405) (405) Stillwater Checotah (918) Lindsay (405) Cherokee (405) Madill (405) Stroud (405) Claremore (918) Midwest City (405) (405) Clinton (405) Mooreland (405) Sulphur (405) Cordell (405) Mountain View (405) Tecumseh (405) Coweta (918) Muskogee (918) (405) Tishomingo Crescent (405) (405) (405) Newkirk Cushing (405) (405) Tulsa (918) Depew (918) Norman (405) (918) Tulsa Ser. Cntr (918) Okeene (405) (918) Durant (405) Okemah (918) Verden (405) Edmond (405) (405) Wagoner (918) Oklahoma City EI Reno (405) (405) Waurika (405) Elk City (405) Okmulgee (918) Waynoka (405) Enid (405) Owasso (918) Wewoka (405) (405) Pauls Valley (405) Wilson (405) Erick Eufaula (405) (918) Pawnee Perry (918) (405) Woodward (405) (405) Fort Cobb (405) Ponca City (405) Yukon (405) Frederick (405) (405) Gotebo (405) After Working Hours Consult Your Telephone Directory