Gas Awareness and Safety
Gas Awareness and Safety
This information contains important things and the properties of natural gas you need to know to
ensure you remain safe with your gas supply and appliances at home. Please read this information
carefully.
Gas hazards include:
- Fire
- Explosion
- Asphyxiation
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
Gas is Highly Flammable
- Natural gas leaks are dangerous
- Must take extreme care to prevent ignition hazards when a gas leak is detected
- It is highly volatile and has the potential to cause serious injury or death
- If a gas leak is exposed to any form or extreme heat or flame, a severe explosion may occur
Gas is lighter than air
- Gas tends to rise and dissipate into the air
- Finds a path and travels upward through any available space, crack or duct
- Gas can travel a considerable distance from the actual gas leak
- Gas will travel along-side utility lines or trenches until it finds an upward space to be released
Gas is colourless and odourless
- You cannot smell, see or feel natural gas
- A sulphur-based blend is artificially added to which creates gas to have an odour which can be detected through a smell
Gas is non-toxic
- Natural gas on its own is not toxic but can cause breathing issues if it displaces air in an enclosed space
Natural gas is used in many homes for heating, cooking, and electricity generation. It contains several
compounds including methane, propane, ethane, butane and other hydrocarbon gas liquids.
Natural gas is extracted from underground and then treated to remove some of its impurities. Most
gas processing facilities have steps to remove the acid gases Hydrogen sulphide and Carbon Dioxide
(CO2) before it’s piped into your home; an odorant is also added to natural gas to assist with leak
detection.
It is important to detect gas leaks because gas is both poisonous and flammable. It has no colour and
is therefore not easily visible to the naked eye. This is why reasonable safety precautions should be
taken when using gas. More information refer to the useful link section below.
Distributors responsible for the safe supply of gas in Victoria are:
Ausnet Services (VIC)
| General Enquiry Line | 1300 360 795 |
| Faults Line | 13 67 07 |
Australian Gas Networks
www.australiangasnetworks.com.au
| General Enquiry Line | 1300 001 001 |
| Faults Line | 1800 427 532 |
The distributor responsible for the safe supply of gas in South Australia is:
Australian Gas Networks (SA)
www.australiangasnetworks.com.au
| General Enquiry Line | 1300 001 001 |
| Faults Line | 1800 427 532 |
Distributors responsible for the safe supply of gas in New South Wales are:
Australian Gas Networks (NSW)
www.australiangasnetworks.com.au
| General Enquiry Line | 1300 001 001 |
| Faults Line | 1800 427 532 |
Wagga Wagga Gas Distribution Network
www.australiangasnetworks.com.au
| General Enquiry Line | 1300 001 001 |
| Faults Line | 1800 427 532 |
Distributors responsible for the safe supply of gas in Queensland are:
Australian Gas Networks (QLD)
www.australiangasnetworks.com.au
| General Enquiry Line | 1300 001 001 |
| Faults Line | 1800 427 532 |
The distributor responsible for the safe supply of gas in Australia Capital Territory is:
The distributor responsible for the safe supply of gas in Tasmania is:
Emergency action
In the event of an emergency call 000
What do I do if there’s a gas leak?
Outside the home:
If you smell gas outside your home, phone the national response centre on 03 9411 3138 immediately
and:
- Explain the situation to the trained professional as accurately as possible.
- Describe the location and details of the gas escape.
- If safe to do so, turn off or remove any ignition source (flames, cigarettes, electrical equipment).
- Turn off the gas supply at the gas meter if you can do so safely.
- If the gas has ignited, keep the area clear until emergency workers can attend.
- DO NOT try to fight the flames yourself
Inside your home:
If you smell gas inside your home, contact your licensed gas fitter to rectify the leak and:
- Turn off all gas appliances (cooker, oven, heaters, hot water service).
- Make sure to also extinguish any pilot light.
- Turn off your supply at the gas meter.
- Ventilate the area as much as possible by opening doors and windows
- Contact a gasfitter.
- Restart appliance safely after the licensed gas fitter gives the go ahead
Your gas distributor is responsible for maintaining the gas infrastructure up to the meter. The
homeowner is responsible for any gas leaks after the gas meter and ensuring gas equipment is
maintained and used safely.
Detecting, repairing, and maintaining gas infrastructure is a highly skilled job. Never attempt to tackle
this work yourself. Always use a professional licenced gas professional. Anyone who undertakes gas
fitting work must be licensed or registered under the Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995.
You can confirm the gasfitter’s identity card which includes a photo, license status and what work they are
qualified to perform.
Do not look for a gas leak with a naked flame or other ignition source. Never use electrical equipment in the vicinity of a gas leak, don’t switch on any lights or use even use a flashlight. Avoid any item that
could cause a potential spark or source of ignition. Never use a naked flame, lit cigarette, matches, or
a lighter anywhere near the gas leak.
How to turn the gas on / off at your property
Your gas meter has a valve controlling the flow of gas from the network to your property.
To turn the gas on – the valve handle should be in the vertical ‘ON’ position (green in image above).
To turn the gas off – the valve handle should be in the horizontal ‘OFF’ position (red in image above).
Appliances
It’s tempting to save money when buying appliances, but never risk buying or using an appliance that
is not correctly certified as safe. Australian safety standards are some of the best in the world.
Appliances must meet the approved standards of the AGA (Australian Gas Association) or Standards
Australia International Global. Look for a blue, green, or red ‘Maker’s Warranty’ label, or a white ‘Gas
Safety Certified’ label.
List of certification bodies can be found here.
Appliances must have a compliance plate with an AGA approval number. This confirms they are
designed to run specifically on natural gas.
Only use licensed installers
All work done on gas appliances or gas installation must be carried out by a registered licensed
gasfitter who will provide you with a gas certificate of compliance.
Gas Safety Tips
- Only ever use appliances for their designed purpose.
- Always get your gasfitter to provide you with a gas certificate of compliance when work is done.
- Never store flammable goods (liquids or fuels) or rubbish near the gas meter.
- Never modify or tamper with your gas meter, pipes, or infrastructure.
- Never block any purpose-built ventilation.
- Do not attempt to fix, repair, or alter gas equipment or appliances yourself.
- Keep a gas oven and hot plates clean and free of fat or oil build up.
- Turn gas heaters off when you leave the house or go to sleep.
- Regularly inspect and arrange for maintenance and servicing of gas equipment.
- If you suspect your heater or gas appliance is not operating properly, turn it off and call a licensed gasfitter.
Renovating or digging.
Remember, the gas pipes that feed into the meter, and from the meter could be anywhere. Be careful
of what’s buried or behind walls and fences – it could be a gas pipe. Before demolishing, digging or
breaking ground, check with the department of infrastructure. Info available at: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/publications/before-you-dig
Useful links
- Energy Safe Victoria – www.esv.vic.gov.au
- Office of the Technical Regulator – www.sa.gov.au
- Office of the Technical Regulator – www.sa.gov.au/topics/energy-and-environment
- Department of Planning and Environment – Energy and Resources – www.energy.nsw.gov.au/
- Queensland Emergency Services and Safety – www.qld.gov.au
- Australian Capital Territory Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate –Planning – www.planning.act.gov.au