Important Safety Information

Transcription

1 Important Safety Information for Emergency Response Personnel 2016 Please do not discard. You are receiving this because we have a pipeline in your area.

2 Safe Operations Knowing where pipelines are located, recognizing unauthorized activity or abnormal conditions and knowing how to react in the event of a pipeline incident will help protect these integral parts of our country s energy infrastructure. Williams operates pipelines in your area. Across all Williams assets, we provide four key links to the energy value chain including: Gathering/Transportation Compressing/Pumping Processing Treating To ensure safe operations, we monitor our pipelines 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In addition, we treat corrosion threats, conduct regular patrols and perform regular inspections of our pipelines and related rights of way (ROW). For more information about pipeline safety visit Williams.com/Safety/Public-Outreach. You can also contact us at PipelineSafety@Williams.com Important Resource The Emergency Response Guide (ERG) can be viewed or purchased at Hazmat.dot.gov. 2

3 Use Your Senses Although pipeline leaks are uncommon, it is important to be able to recognize the warning signs using sight, smell and sound. Note: all of these signs may not be evident at the same time. Leaks could be in a liquid or gaseous state. Discolored or dead vegetation Flames coming from the ground A cloud of vapor, fog or mist A pool of liquid on the ground or bubbling in a wet, flooded area Dirt blowing in the air A rainbow or sheen on the water An unusual hissing or roaring noise coming from a pipeline An unusual odor or scent of gas, petroleum liquids or a slight hydrocarbon smell natural gas is primarily odorless in gathering and transmission pipelines Products transported through pipelines like those operated by Williams are typically unodorized and may carry a faint petroleum scent or no odor at all Hydrogen sulfide will carry a pungent rotten egg odor; if a Williams pipeline near you transports natural gas containing hydrogen sulfide you will receive an additional brochure specifically for hydrogen sulfide When Responding to a Pipeline Emergency Assess the Situation Approach with caution from an upwind location Do not park over manholes, storm drains or low areas Do not drive or walk into vapor clouds or puddles of liquid Eliminate ignition sources such as: Mechanized tools Vehicle engines Cell phones Matches/lighters Emergency radios Light switches Identify Pipeline product and the nature of the incident Possible exposures Environmental conditions Unique safety hazards and considerations Whether the pipeline can be isolated The potential for serious incidents Training Material Available The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), with funding from PHMSA, recently published the second edition of Pipeline Emergencies. This publication offers a comprehensive emergency response training program designed to teach emergency responders and pipeline industry personnel to safely respond to pipeline incidents. The electronic edition of Pipeline Emergencies is available free of charge on the internet at PipelineEmergencies.com. NASFM also has developed an iphone app which is available free of charge through the Apple Store. 3

4 Establish Site Control Employ the Incident Command System (ICS) approach that: Integrates facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures and communications operating within a common organizational structure Enables a coordinated response among various jurisdictions, public and private agencies, and the pipeline company Establishes common processes for planning and managing resources Expands into a Unified Command (UC) as the incident escalates Isolate and Secure the Area Identify and contact the pipeline operator, if not already contacted by dispatch Only allow entry to authorized pipeline personnel and emergency responders Stage apparatus and equipment based on atmospheric monitoring and weather conditions Determine: Is there a fire, spill or leak? Is there a vapor cloud? What are the weather conditions? What is the terrain like? What can be done immediately? What resources are available? 4 Who and what is at risk? People Environment Property What actions should be coordinated with the operator? Protect the Public Employ public protective action Secure the area Establish isolation zones Set barricades, as required Rescue and evacuate people quickly and cautiously, if necessary Control the Release In the event of a pipeline incident or emergency, contact the pipeline operator before taking action - there may be unknown conditions that could put you and others at risk. If the operator is unknown, look for a phone number on the nearest pipeline marker sign or call 811. Vapor Control Be aware of flammability and toxicity hazards Do not ignite a vapor cloud Only qualified pipeline personnel should operate their valves and equipment Be conscious of buildings or structures that are ventilated by force this type of ventilation can increase the amount of vapors in the air, resulting in higher concentrations of flammable gases Be aware of storm drains, grates or other belowground cavities or areas that may collect large amounts of migrated gases or vapors Fire Control Do not extinguish the primary fire as this can cause re-ignition Wait for the pipeline operator to shut off the product flow Protect secondary exposures and coordinate isolation operations with pipeline personnel to limit the spread of the fire CAUTION: Natural gas or hydrocarbon vapor may collect and could explode if re-ignited by a secondary fire.

5 9-1-1 Dispatch Safety Tips dispatch plays a critical role in effective response to pipeline incidents. When taking an emergency call related to a suspected pipeline incident, the dispatcher should: Ask for the pipeline company information, if known product, phone number and characteristics of any product being released Take the caller s name and callback number, with area code Gather as much information as possible on the incident location Determine if the caller is in immediate danger Warn the caller of any potential ignition sources Advise the caller to warn others to stay away Notify emergency responders, if possible, of the: Appropriate response to the product Wind direction and speed Current and future environmental conditions Contact information for the pipeline company For more detailed information, visit Nena.org. Working Together When pipeline representatives arrive, they should identify themselves, establish contact with the incident commander and may request continued assistance with evacuation, traffic control and area security. The pipeline representatives will ensure the safety of people and the environment by: Shutting down the pipeline Closing valves to isolate the product Identifying hazardous areas Dispatching additional company personnel to the scene Making provisions to repair the damaged pipeline Call 811 for Emergencies Wildland Fires Before cutting or digging a fire line, call 811 to put pipeline operators in the vicinity on standby. Buried pipelines, and aboveground facilities and equipment could be in the path of the fire. Train Derailment When a train derailment incident occurs there is potential for damage to aboveground valve sites and buried pipelines. If a derailment incident occurs, please contact the operator and 811 immediately. Natural Disaster Response Before removing debris caused by a natural disaster, such as a flood, tornado or ice storm, contact 811 to identify the location of pipelines or other underground utilities that may have been impacted, or could be during clean-up. 5

6 CALL ACCESS MIDSTREAM BEFORE EXCAVATING OR IN AN EMERGENCY CALL CALL ACCESS MIDSTREAM CALL ACCESS MIDSTREAM BEFORE EXCAVATING OR IN AN EMERGENCY CALL CALL ACCESS MIDSTREAM Pipeline Markers Since pipelines are generally buried underground, pipeline markers and warning signs are used aboveground to indicate their general location. These markers are placed wherever needed to indicate the presence of a pipeline, including at river, railroad and street crossings and in other heavily congested areas. These markers do not, however, show the exact location, depth, pressure or number of pipelines. Pipelines also do not always follow a straight path. Be familiar with these permanent markers that indicate the: Material transported in the pipeline Name of the pipeline operator Telephone number where the operator can be reached 24/7 in an emergency Permanent Marker Signs WARNING WARNING Pipeline Encroachments A ROW is a defined clearing above and on either side of a pipeline. It is typically identified by pipeline marker signs and allows operators access in an emergency and to conduct regular inspections. An encroachment is a structure or object that overlaps the ROW that might impede access or pose a significant risk to the pipeline and should not be installed without permission from the pipeline company. Heavy equipment not permitted on ROW as this could cause damage to underground utilities. Examples include: Residential Encroachments: Ponds Swimming pools Fences Sheds Decks Trees Commercial Encroachments: Utility lines (overhead or buried) Other pipelines Highways or public roadways Parking lots Sidewalks Buildings or structures Compressor and Pumping Stations Products are transported through pipelines at high pressures using compression and pumping stations. These stations typically use large motors or turbines to pressurize the product and move it through the pipeline. The number, size and spacing of either of these stations depends on the length and diameter of the pipeline as well as elevation differences in the area. 6

7 Protecting our Communities Williams also communicates with public officials who impact community growth, land use planning and development activities near natural gas pipelines to improve the safety of the affected communities. The Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA) assists communities in becoming risk-informed about transmission pipelines and making better land use planning and development decisions related to pipelines. PIPA has developed recommended practices for protecting communities, protecting transmission pipelines and communicating among stakeholders. See: Integrity Management An Integrity Management Plan (IMP) provides a process of assessing and mitigating risks along transmission pipelines. Williams has developed and implemented an IMP that provides a process for monitoring, managing and mitigating risks along transmission pipelines. For a copy of our IMP, visit Williams.com/Safety. High Consequence Areas High Consequence Areas (HCAs) are part of the Williams IMP and apply to transmission piping only. Enhanced protection for highly populated areas, an outside area or open structure, or a facility occupied by persons who are confined, are of impaired mobility, or would be difficult to evacuate. Examples of HCAs include beaches, playgrounds, recreational facilities, camping grounds, outdoor theaters, stadiums, recreational areas near a body of water, religious facilities, office buildings, community centers, general stores, 4-H facilities, roller-skating rinks, hospitals, prisons, schools, day-care facilities, retirement facilities or assisted-living facilities. Unusually Sensitive Areas Unusually Sensitive Areas (USAs) are similar to HCAs, but rather than a focus on high population or other populated areas, USAs focus on liquid pipelines near commercially navigable waterways, primary or alternative drinking water sources, ecological resources, wetlands or areas inhabited by threatened and endangered species. To report an existing HCA, contact PipelineSafety@Williams.com and provide the site name, type of site and location. 7

8 How You Can Help Become familiar with pipelines and facilities in your area. Look for pipeline marker signs and fence signs at gated entrances. Keep a record of the operator name, contact information and any pipeline information from marker and facility signs near you. Keep this information in a permanent location near a telephone or as a contact on your mobile phone so that it s readily available in the event of an emergency. Be aware of people acting suspiciously near pipeline facilities. Report unusual or suspicious activity, including: People or vehicles loitering in the vicinity of pipelines or facilities People taking photos, video or showing other unusual interest in pipelines or facilities A strong odor or fluid leaking from a vehicle located near a pipeline or facility For more information about pipeline safety and response guides, to request additional information or training, or to request our emergency response plan, integrity management plan or maps showing pipeline assets in your area, contact PipelineSafety@Williams.com or WILLIAMS. The National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) includes information on hazardous liquid pipelines and natural gas transmission pipelines. To view the transmission pipelines in your area, visit npms.phmsa.dot.gov. Please note, this site does not map gas gathering or distribution pipelines. We make energy happen WILLIAMS 8