Little General Store Propane Explosion - US Chemical Safety and ...

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Little General Store September 2008 propane release and treat it as a hazardous materials incident. It emphasizes the importance of evacuating the incident area and evaluating the hazards from a safe distance prior to taking other actions. Additionally, it addresses incident command structure implementation and the advisory role of propane service technicians. None of the Ghent Volunteer Firefighters had participated in this program. 5.5 911 Emergency Call Center Response At many 911 call centers around the United States, operators use quick-reference guide cards to help them evaluate caller emergencies, gather pertinent incident details, and convey life-saving information to callers. Several organizations in the United States produce pre-written guide cards for 911 centers to purchase. 46 These guide cards provide easy-to-access information for operators, including questions relevant to the emergency and instructions to be given to the caller prior to emergency services’ arrival. Specific sets of guide cards exist for health and injury, fire service, and police response emergencies. Raleigh County 911 uses guide cards for health emergencies and injuries only. At 10:40 am on the day of the incident, the propane service technician called Raleigh County 911 to report the release and summon emergency services. The operator who received the call did not have a guide card or protocol to help evaluate the situation, collect pertinent information, and provide guidance to the caller. 46 Guide cards are available as printed or electronic references and kept at each operator’s station. 44
Little General Store September 2008 The propane industry developed a model questionnaire and script to use in situations where customers report propane emergencies such as leaks or releases. The questionnaire prompts personnel answering calls to ask questions such as • Where is the leak? • Do you hear gas escaping? • Is the leak near any building? • Is there an odor of gas in the building? An affirmative answer to these and other questions prompts the gas company operator to read a script that instructs the caller to eliminate ignition sources, evacuate the building to a safe distance, and wait for gas professionals or fire service personnel. Equipping 911 operators with such a prewritten guide can potentially improve safety by initiating important first response actions such as evacuation. 45
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Little General Store Propane Explosion - US Chemical Safety and ...

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