Pipeline Safety
 PIPELINES IN YOUR COMMUNITY  
There are over 200,000 miles of petroleum pipelines in the United States.  According to National Transportation Safety Board statistics, pipelines are the safest method of transporting petroleum products.  Pipelines transport two-thirds of all the crude oil and refined products in the United States.  Pipelines are made of steel, covered with a protective coating and buried underground.  They are tested and maintained through the use of cleaning devices, diagnostic tools, and cathodic protection.  Since Americans consume over 700 million gallons of petroleum products per day, pipelines are an essential component of our nation's infrastructure.  For more information about pipelines, visit www.pipeline101.com.   
   
 CALL BEFORE YOU DIG  
For your safety, always remember to call before you dig.  When digging in Illinois, contact JULIE by dialing 8-1-1 or 1-800-892-0123 two working days in advance of excavation activity.  If you prefer, you can enter your own request at illinois1call.com using E-request. 

JULIE will contact the pipelines in the excavation area allowing them to locate and mark their buried facilities.  Before excavating, ensure all buried utilities have been located and marked.  When excavation begins be sure to respect the marks and dig with care.  For additional information on JULIE, the Illinois One-Call System visit www.illinois1call.com. 

 LOOK FOR PIPELINE MARKERS
Pipeline markers are posted along the pipeline right-of-way to indicate the approximate location of a buried facility.  The markers display the following information:

  
The material transported in the pipeline.

The name of the pipeline operator.
A telephone number where the operator can be reached in the event of an emergency.
 
       

Examples of Pipeline Markers

  


Aerial Marker


Pipeline Casing Vents
Warning Sign
Test Station
 
       
A few things to remember about pipeline markers:  
Line markers are placed near the pipelines, but not necessarily directly on top to them.

A pipeline may not follow a straight line between markers.
Line markers cannot be relied on to provide information about the depth or number of pipelines in the area.
 
       
 HOW TO IDENTIFY A POSSIBLE LEAK  
Use your senses of smell, sight and hearing to detect a potential leak.   
SMELL Many petroleum products have a distinct smell.  "Sour" crude oil contains a toxic gas called hydrogen sulfide recognized by its rotten egg odor. 
SIGHT Look for brown patches of vegetation or a pool of liquid above the pipeline.  A low-lying fog around a pipeline could indicate a propane leak.  A rainbow sheen on water is another sign of a possible leak. 
SOUND There may be a hissing or roaring sound associated with some pipeline leaks.
 
       
IF YOU SEE, HEAR OR SMELL any of the warning signs you should IMMEDIATELY
 
1 Shut down any equipment you are operating on, or near, the pipeline right-of-way, or adjacent to a facility. 
2 Alert others who are nearby, then immediately leave the area. 
3 Extinguish cigarettes.  As you are leaving the area, avoid creating sparks or any heat source that might ignite the leaking vapor. 
4 Leave on foot.  Do not operate a motor vehicle or use cell phones. 
5 Avoid contact with natural gas and any associated products escaping from the pipeline. 
6 Move to a safe position upwind of the potential leak site. 
7 Phone the Emergency Number of the affected pipeline as soon as you're out of the area. 
8 Call 911 or your local emergency number if public safety is at risk. 
     
IF YOU SEE, HEAR OR SMELL any of the warning signs you should IMMEDIATELY
1 DON'T touch or go near the pipeline.
2 DON'T start your car or any equipment that could be a potential ignition source, including cell phones.  Cellular or portable phones should only be used once you have safely evacuated the area. 
3 DON'T turn lights or appliances powered by electricity, batteries or natural gas on or off. 
4 DON'T light a match.
       
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