 |
 OSU EMERGENCY PLAN
FOR NATURAL GAS PIPELINE INCIDENTS
|
Emergency Procedures
Responding to Gas Leak Reports
Minimum
Operator Response Actions
|
Updated March 2007
Download
in doc or pdf format
This
Emergency Plan provides a guide for complying with the Federal and State requirements,
assuring safety for the public and maintaining facilities in satisfactory condition.
An
"emergency" condition exists when OSU management, or a responsible person, has
determined that extraordinary procedures, equipment, manpower and supplies must be
employed to protect the public safety or property from existing or potential hazard.
These
hazards will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Underpressure
in the gas system
- Overpressure
in the gas system
- Uncontrolled
escaping gas
- Fire
or explosion near or directly involving a pipeline facility
- Any
leak considered hazardous
- Danger
to major segment(s) of the system
The
hazards also include:
- Natural
disasters (floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.)
- Civil
disturbances (riots, etc.)
- Load
reduction conditions (result in voluntary or mandatory reduction of gas usage).
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES |
Emergency Procedures
Incident Notification
Incident Priorities
Incident
Responsibilities
Response Procedures
Post-Incident Management
Post-Incident Reporting
|
I.
INCIDENT NOTIFICATION Every event
that fits the definition of a natural gas pipeline system incident as identified on the
previous page shall be reported to the Physical Plant Work Control Center (see below).
(The caller will reach an answering service after normal working hours.)
Physical
Plant Work Control Center--(744-7154)
Monday
through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.;
[Action Desk is closed on University holidays. The Call Control System refers the caller
to Physical Plant standby employees during off hours.]
If
no one can be reached, call OSU Campus Police (911, 311 or 744-6153).
Work
Control personnel (or the answering service) will report to the following Oklahoma State
University authorities:
- Director
of Environmental Health & Safety
(744-7241).
The EHS
Director (or appointed representative) will report the incident, if necessary, to the
following:
- Director of Physical Plant Services (744-7147)
|
Emergency Procedures
Incident Notification
Incident Priorities
Incident
Responsibilities
Response Procedures
Post-Incident Management
Post-Incident Reporting
|
II. INCIDENT PRIORITIES AND CRITERIA FOR ACTION Priorities
The first priority of action for all incidents involving natural gas
will be directed toward life safety first followed by property. Immediate care shall be
given to any injured person(s).
The surrounding area will be evacuated to
reduce risk of additional casualties.
Level 1 Incidents
Definition:
A leak that represents an existing or probably hazard to persons or property.
Requires immediate repair or continuous action until the conditions are no longer
hazardous.
Action Criteria:
Requires prompt action to protect life and property, and continuous action until the
conditions are no longer hazardous. The prompt action in some instances may require
one or more of the following:
- Implementation
of OSU Emergency Plan
- Evacuating
premises
- Blocking
off an area
- Rerouting
traffic
- Eliminating
sources of ignition
- Venting
the area
- Stopping
the flow of gas by closing valves or other means
- Notifying
police and fire departments
Examples:
Any leak, which in the judgment of
operating personnel at the scene, is regarded as an immediate hazard.
Escaping gas that has ignited.
Any indication of gas that has
migrated into or under a building or into a tunnel.
Any reading at the outside wall of a
building or where gas would likely migrate to an outside wall of a building.
Any reading of 80% LEL or greater in a
confined space.
Any reading of 80% LEL or greater in
small substructures (other than gas-associated substructures) from which gas would likely
migrate to the outside wall of a building.
Any leak that can be seen, heard or felt,
and which is in a location that may endanger the general public or property.
|
Emergency Procedures
Incident Notification
Incident Priorities
Incident
Responsibilities
Response Procedures
Post-Incident Management
Post-Incident Reporting
|
Level 2 Incidents
Definition:
A leak that is recognized as being non-hazardous at the time of detection, but justifies
scheduled repair based on probable future hazard.
Action
Criteria:
Leaks should be repaired or cleared within one calendar year, but no later than 15 months
from the date the leak was reported. In determining the repair priority, criteria
such as the following should be considered:
- Amount
and migration of gas
- Proximity
of gas to buildings and sub-surface structures
- Extent
of pavement
- Soil
type and soil conditions (such as frost cap, moisture & natural venting)
Level
2 leaks should be reevaluated at least once every six months until cleared. The
frequency of reevaluation should be determined by the location and magnitude of the
leakage condition.
Level
2 leaks may vary greatly in degree of potential hazard. Some Level 2 leaks, when
evaluated by the above criteria, may justify scheduled repair within the next 5 working
days. Others will justify repair within 30 days. During the working day on
which the leak is discovered, these situations should be brought to the attention of the
individual responsible for scheduling leak repair.
On
the other hand, may Level 2 leaks, because of their location and magnitude, can be
scheduled for repair on a normal routine basis with periodic re-inspection as necessary.
Examples:
- Leaks
requiring action ahead of ground freezing or other adverse changes in venting conditions
Any leak,
which under frozen or other adverse soil conditions, would likely migrate tothe outside
wall of a building.
- Leaks
requiring action within six months
- Any
reading of 40% LEL, or greater, under a sidewalk in a wall-to-wall paved area that does
not qualify as a Level 1 leak.
- Any
reading of 100% LEL, or greater, under a street in a wall-to-wall paved area that has
significant gas migration and does not qualify as a Level 1 leak.
- Any
reading less than 80% LEL in small substructures (other than gas-associated substructures)
from which gas would likely migrate, creating a probable future hazard.
- Any
reading between 20% LEL and 80% LEL in a confined space.
- Any
reading on a pipeline operating at 30% SMYS, or greater, in a class 3 or 4 location, which
does not qualify as a Level 1 leak.
- Any
reading of 80% LEL, or greater, in gas-associated substructures
- Any
leak, which in the iudgment of operating personnel at the scene, is of sufficient
magniture to justify scheduled repair.
|
Emergency Procedures
Incident Notification
Incident Priorities
Incident
Responsibilities
Response Procedures
Post-Incident Management
Post-Incident Reporting
|
Level 3 Incidents
Definition:
A leak that is non-hazardous at the time of detection and can be reasonably expected to
remain non-hazardous.
Action
Criteria:
These leaks should be re-evaluated during the next scheduled survey, or within 15 months
of the date reported, whichever occurs first, until the leak is regraded or no longer
results in a reading.
Examples:
Leaks requiring re-evaluation at periodic intervals--
- Any
reading of less than 80% LEL in small gas-associated substructures.
- Any
reading under a street in areas without wall-to-wall paving where it is unlikely the gas
could migrate tothe outside wall of a building.
- Any
reading of less than 20% LEL in a confined space.
|
Emergency Procedures
Incident Notification
Incident Priorities
Incident Responsibilities
Response Procedures
Post-Incident Management
Post-Incident Reporting
|
III. INCIDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
The 1st Responder, then OSU's
Environmental Health & Safety Department, shall establish a command post (utilizing
the Incident Command System) near the scene, when necessary or required, to coordinate the
incident.
On-scene emergency personnel from Stillwater Fire Department and
OSU's Environmental Health & Safety Department shall provide immediate first aid to
injured persons when it is safe to do so.
OSU's Environmental Health & Safety Department, OSU Campus
Police, and Stillwater Fire Department shall conduct evacuations in the event of fire,
explosion, natural disaster or other incident, when necessary, as directed by the Incident
Commander.
OSU Campus Police, in conjunction with other supporting agencies,
shall establish, maintain, and man all necessary incident perimeters and barricades as
directed by the Incident Commander.
-
OSU Physical Plant Mechanical Maintenance and/or Utilities personnel, in cooperation
with the Oklahoma Natural Gas Company, shall isolate the incident area by shutting off the
flow of any gas from feed lines into the impacted area.
The City of Stillwater Fire Department shall manage any fire
suppression needs as well as provide advanced emergency medical care and transportation of
patients.
OSU's Environmental Health & Safety Department shall monitor the
atmospheric conditions around the site and shall have the appropriate PPE ready to utilize
in penetrating affected areas upwind of the incident for monitoring and rescue purposes if
needed.
Manpower and equipment shall be provided by OSU's Physical Plant.
Said manpower and equipment shall work jointly upon direction by the Incident Commander.
|
Emergency Procedures
Incident Notification
Incident Priorities
Incident
Responsibilities
Response Procedures
Post-Incident Management
Post-Incident Reporting
|
IV. RESPONSE PROCEDURES In case of
fire located near or directly involving a pipeline facility, explosion occurring near or
directly involving a pipeline facility, natural disaster, or other emergency incident, the
following response procedures will be followed:
Notification will proceed as designated in Section
I.
The first responder(s) from OSU's Environmental Health and Safety
Department shall designate an incident commander and activate the incident command system
(ICS). When necessary, an on-scene incident command post shall also be established.
The on-scene incident command post shall be located upwind and as
close as practical to the incident site so that continual visual observations may be
maintained of the incident area, and immediate response to changing conditions may be
possible. The on-scene command post shall stay in communication with all responding
agencies.
Responding agencies shall provide designated responsibilities as
listed in Section V, under the direction of the incident
commander.
First
aid and medical care will be provided by OSU EHS and Stillwater Fire Department to
injured persons as soon as possible.
Firefighting
and fire suppression operations will be initiated and conducted by Stillwater Fire
Department.
Gas
valve shut off will be conducted as quickly as possible by OSU Physical Plant and ONG
personnel.
- Perimeter zone(s) around the effected area shall
be established as directed by the incident commander in accordance with standard emergency
scene practices.
Hazard
Zone - The Hazard Zone is the area in which personnel are potentially in immediate
danger from the hazardous situation. This zone shall be established by the incident
commander. Access to this area will be rigidly controlled and only authorized personnel
with proper protective equipment and an assigned activity approved by the on-site incident
command post shall be allowed to enter the incident area. OSU Campus Police personnel will
be assigned to monitor entry and exit of all personnel from the Hazard Zone.
Evacuation
Zone - The Evacuation Zone is the larger area surrounding the Hazard Zone, in which a
lesser degree of risk to emergency personnel exists, but from which all civilians will be
removed. The limits of this zone will be enforced by the OSU Campus Police and other
agencies based upon distances and directions established by the incident commander. The
area to be evacuated depends upon the nature and extent of the fire, explosion, natural
disaster or other emergency. All evacuations shall be ordered by the incident commander
and shall be conducted in an orderly, expedient fashion by OSU's Environmental Health
& Safety Department, OSU Campus Police, and Stillwater Fire Department.
Additional
Perimeter Zones may be established as necessary. These may include Hot Zone, Warm
Zone, and Cold Zone for gas incidents that may also involve hazardous chemicals, as
well as a Staging Area for any major incident that may require large numbers of
personnel and equipment.
- Incident-specific
circumstances will dictate other procedures that will be used to bring the emergency under
control in accordance with the priorities of life safety first, followed by the protection
and salvage of property.
|
Emergency Procedures
Incident Notification
Incident Priorities
Incident
Responsibilities
Response Procedures
Post-Incident Management
Post-Incident Reporting
|
V. POST-INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
Upon declaration of the Incident Commander that the incident is
under control and the incident area is safe, EHS and SFD personnel shall sweep the
incident area searching for any additional casualties. Upon completion of the sweep,
responsible personnel shall begin the cause and origin procedures. Upon completion of the
investigation, repairs may be initiated.
Barriers shall remain intact and any area vacated due to the
incident shall remain vacated until repairs and any required tests are completed before
restoring all systems back to normal operating conditions.
Repairs shall be initiated immediately and shall be expedited to
restore normal service and to place OSU's gas distribution system into a normal and safe
mode of operation.
Normal procedures shall apply to the emergency repairs:
Upon completion of repairs, and after the gas system has been
successfully tested and restored to operation, the incident area may be released for
normal operation.
|
Emergency Procedures
Incident Notification
Incident Priorities
Incident
Responsibilities
Response Procedures
Post-Incident Management
Post-Incident Reporting
|
VI. POST-INCIDENT REPORTING
The Manager of Environmental Health & Safety shall, within 72
hours of the closure of the incident, schedule a debriefing with all agencies concerned,
i.e., University, City, State, ONG, and National participants. This debriefing shall
include, but not be limited to:
Upon completion of the debriefing, open discussion for questions and
answers.
The Director of Environmental Health
& Safety issues the final report.
|
|
 Responding to Reports of Gas Leaks
|
| |
|
