Gas supply incidents

There were 211 gas supply incidents recorded during the reporting period from 2005/06 to 2014/15. In contrast to gas utilisation incidents, the majority of gas supply incidents occurred within the workplace. Figure 15 displays the number of workplace and non-workplace incidents, with workplace incidents amounting to 82% of all recorded supply incidents.

Figure 15

Gas supply incidents – Workplace and non-workplace

Figure 16 illustrates that supply workers were involved in just 3% of the incidents and gas workers in 5%. Workers from other occupations were found to be involved in 75% of incidents and approximately 13% affected the general public.

Figure 16

Gas supply incidents – Workers and general public

 
Gas supply incidents – by type of gas

Analysis of the type of gas found in recorded supply incidents reveals 94% of incidents involved NG. In comparison, incidents involving LPG accounted for 6% as displayed in Figure 17 below. This may be reflective of the market size of each category. Figure 17A shows the percentage of consumers for NG and LPG.

Figure 17

Gas supply incidents – Type of gas

Figure 17A

Gas supply incidents – Percentage of consumers by type of gas

Figure 18 below indicates that 80% of incidents resulted in a gas leak or release and 14% resulted in a fire.

Figure 18

Gas supply incidents – Type of incidents resulting from NG

Figure 19 below provides an overview of the types of incidents resulting from LPG but they are minimal in number when compared to natural gas.

Figure 19

Gas supply incidents – Type of incidents resulting from LPG

Figure 20 below is an analysis of the type of equipment found in gas supply incidents. It was found that gas piping was a factor in 84% of the incidents. These incidents largely related to accidentally damaging piping when excavating.

Figure 20

Gas supply incidents – Equipment type

Figure 21 below is an indication of the injury types sustained in supply incidents. There were no fatalities recorded in gas supply incidents until 2012/13 when there was one fatality.

Of all gas supply incidents, 1.9% resulted in hospitalisation and 1.4% in minor injuries. The large majority of 96% of incidents have resulted in no injury. 11% of incidents resulted in damage to property.

Figure 21

Gas supply incidents – Incidents resulting in fatality, injury, hospitalisation or property damage

Figure 21A

Gas supply incidents – Incidents resulting in property damage