NationalGrid
Tips of the trade | Pipeline safety
Welcome to National Grid’s Tips of the Trade. National Grid is committed to your safety, and these tips are intended to help you work safely near our facilities. Please review these tips with your coworkers at your tailgate or toolbox meetings before work begins.
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Damaged gas pipeline repaired with tape
 
Let’s face it, you’re a “fixer.” Making broken things right again is your job. So when your backhoe cuts a yellow polyethylene natural gas pipeline, you might be tempted to jump right down in the hole, fold that plastic pipe over, and shut down the leak with duct tape before things can get any worse. DO NOT do it!
Attempting to stop the flow of natural gas in a damaged pipeline can have catastrophic consequences.
 
 
Excavator gas explosion
 
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 and build up static electricity, too.
If you try to move that damaged natural gas pipeline, it may discharge a spark of static electricity that can easily ignite the leaking gas. Even a static spark from your touch could be enough to trigger an explosion.
So NEVER attempt to stop the flow of gas by bending, pinching, taping or crimping a broken gas pipeline. Leave it alone!
 
 
811 Know what's below. 811 before you dig.
 
 
Call 811 or enter an online request at least 72 hours before digging in Massachusetts and Rhode Island (excluding weekends and legal holidays) and at least two full working days in New York (excluding the date of your call, weekends and legal holidays). It’s the law!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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