This summer, Southern California Gas Company has partnered with Adopt A Beach to work together in not only keeping Southern California Beaches clean, but also in making sure the public is informed on how to recognize and respond to a natural gas leak. Public safety is a priority for SoCal Gas and what better way to get the message out there in front of millions of people to see!
Most commonly, a natural gas leak will come from a pipe or other form of containment and will disperse gas into a living area or any other area where gas should not be. Natural gas may explode at any moment if exposed to flame or sparks. Not knowing how to recognize a natural gas leak can leave individuals in a very dangerous situation!
According to SoCal Gas, spotting a dry patch of grass in your yard is one of the many signs of a potential gas leak, and you should immediately rely on all of your senses to determine if it is in fact, natural gas.
Now, first things first:
LOOK!
• Look for a damaged connection to a gas appliance
• Look for dirt or water being blown into the air
• Look for dead or dying vegetation (in an otherwise moist area) over or near pipeline areas
• Look for a fire or explosion near a pipeline
• Look for exposed pipelines after an earthquake, fire, flood, or other disaster
LISTEN!
Listen for an unusual sound, such as a hissing, whistling, or roaring sound near a gas line or appliance, which could indicate a gas leak.
SMELL!
Smell for the distinctive odor of natural gas! Some people may not be able to smell the odor because they have a diminished sense of smell, olfactory fatigue (regular, temporary inability to distinguish an odor after prolonged exposure to it), or because the scent is being masked or hidden by other odors that are present, such as cooking, damp, musty or chemical odors. In addition, certain conditions in pipes and soil can cause odor fade – the loss of odorant so that it is not detectable by smell.
Look out for the Southern California Gas Company’s beach campaign this summer on Dockweiler Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Huntington Beach. Be sure to spread the word about the safety hazards of a natural gas leak with others!
Thank you to the Southern California Gas Company for bringing awareness to the public and helping to keep SoCal Beaches clean and looking beautiful for beach-goers year-round!