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| Welcome to Rhode Island Energy’s Tips of the Trade. We are committed to your safety, and these tips are intended to help you work safely near our natural gas pipelines. Please review these tips with your coworkers at your tailgate or toolbox meetings before work begins. |
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| Leave that damaged pipeline alone! |
Let’s face it, you’re a “fixer.” Making broken things right again is your job. So when your backhoe cuts a polyethylene natural gas pipeline, you might be tempted to fold that plastic pipe over and shut down the leak with duct tape before things can get any worse. Do NOT do it!
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| Attempting to stop the flow of natural gas in a damaged pipeline can have catastrophic consequences. |
| To order our FREE safety kit, visit the Rhode Island Energy e-SMARTworkers website. |
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| What's the big deal? |
You know that irritating jolt of static electricity that you get when you touch a doorknob after walking across a carpet? The normal flow of natural gas through a pipeline can generate static electricity too.
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If you try to move a damaged natural gas pipeline, it may discharge an electrical spark that could ignite leaking gas. Even a static spark from your touch could be enough to trigger an explosion.
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| So NEVER attempt to stop the flow of gas by plugging, bending, pinching, taping or crimping a broken gas pipeline. Leave it alone! |
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| If you suspect a natural gas leak |
Warn others and leave the area immediately. Do NOT use matches or lighters, start an engine or operate any electrical device—even a phone. From a safe location, call 911 immediately. Then call Rhode Island Energy at 1-800-640-1595 and report the leak to your supervisor.
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