RECOMMENDATIONS
The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) recommends that fire departments ensure all firefighters responding to natural gas or propane incidents:
- use gas detection equipment and do not rely upon their sense of smell to determine if propane or natural gas is present
- understand that the odorant in natural gas or propane can fade
- are trained on the proper calibration, maintenance, and use of gas detection equipment to determine if a potentially explosive atmosphere is present
- recognize that the lack of odor can result from the natural gas or propane contacting the soil, concrete, and a wide variety of building materials such as drywall, wood, and new piping storage tanks