RMGA Emergency Response Procedures 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the first action a gas utility employee should take upon arriving at a reported gas leak inside a building?
- Enter the building and search for the leak source
- Evacuate the building and call 911 before entering (Correct answer)
- Call the customer to confirm the smell
- Shut off the gas at the meter and then enter
Correct answer: Evacuate the building and call 911 before entering
The first priority is life safety: evacuate all occupants and call 911 before entering any structure where a gas leak is suspected.
Question 2: What is the 'isolation zone' in a gas emergency response?
- The area inside the pipeline where gas flow is blocked
- The area around a gas incident from which non-essential personnel are excluded (Correct answer)
- The storage tank where recovered gas is held
- The regulatory buffer zone around a compressor station
Correct answer: The area around a gas incident from which non-essential personnel are excluded
An isolation zone is established around a gas emergency to keep non-essential personnel at a safe distance and prevent ignition sources from entering the hazard area.
Question 3: When should a gas utility worker eliminate ignition sources near a gas leak?
- Only after the leak is repaired
- Immediately upon detecting or suspecting a gas leak (Correct answer)
- After ventilating the area for at least one hour
- Only when gas concentration exceeds 25% LEL
Correct answer: Immediately upon detecting or suspecting a gas leak
Ignition sources must be eliminated immediately upon detecting or suspecting a gas leak to prevent ignition of any gas-air mixture that may be present.
Question 4: What does the PHMSA National Response Center phone number allow pipeline operators to do?
- Order emergency pipeline repair equipment
- Report significant incidents as required by federal regulation (Correct answer)
- Request additional pipeline inspectors
- File annual safety reports
Correct answer: Report significant incidents as required by federal regulation
Pipeline operators are required by 49 CFR Part 191 to report significant incidents to the PHMSA National Response Center by telephone as soon as practicable.
Question 5: What is the purpose of an 'emergency response plan' (ERP) for a gas distribution operator?
- To document customer billing procedures during service outages
- To provide written procedures for responding to gas emergencies to protect life and property (Correct answer)
- To outline annual capital improvement priorities
- To record employee emergency contact information
Correct answer: To provide written procedures for responding to gas emergencies to protect life and property
An ERP documents the procedures, responsibilities, and resources required to respond effectively to gas emergencies and is required by 49 CFR Part 192.
Question 6: What is 'blowing down' a gas line in the context of emergency response?
- Using compressed air to test pipe integrity
- Venting gas from a pipeline segment to atmosphere to allow safe repair work (Correct answer)
- Increasing pipeline pressure to clear a blockage
- Purging air from a pipeline before introducing gas
Correct answer: Venting gas from a pipeline segment to atmosphere to allow safe repair work
Blowing down a gas line means safely venting residual gas from a pipeline segment to atmosphere so that maintenance or repair work can proceed safely.
RMGA Emergency Response Procedures 1
What is the first action a gas utility employee should take upon arriving at a reported gas leak inside a building?