Gas Safety

Gas Emergencies

If you smell gas, or are worried about gas safety, call 0800 111 999 at any time, day or night.

Just pick up the phone, dial the number and you will be put through to a trained operator who will take all the details.

If a gas main dug up or breached, contractors should call the same emergency helpline number on 0800 111 999.

Usually the main danger of gas is indoor escapes. There is no danger when gas leaks or escapes outdoors unless a significant local build-up is ignited. However, gas network companies are installing new gas mains and upgrading existing ones, requiring excavation which can present a public safety risk.

This, and the risk that contractors unaware of locations of main gas pipes dig up or breach the main, are the most common public safety issues.

Network companies are replacing aging cast iron mains with new yellow plastic pipes. These are more flexible, durable and less liable to leak. The work is targeted and takes into account previous leakage incidents. Holes dug in roads, pavements and fields mean people should approach works with caution and alert the gas network company concerned to any accidents or concerns about signage or the state of the works.

Each piece of work should have signs to say who is doing it and a contact telephone number. Contractors who may be excavating are asked to ‘dial before you dig’ and check with the network company where gas mains are.

If you have any questions about gas safety, please contact Peter Roberts, ENA Head of Safety, Health, & Environment (peter.roberts@energynetworks.org).