A Gas-Related Incident Means Legal Trouble
Brian O Sutter
Premises Liability
Natural gas may not be quite as high in public awareness or popularity as electricity, but it is still an incredibly valuable resource that modern society relies on quite a bit. When properly handled, natural gas can do everything from let us cook, dry our clothes, heat our homes and, at an industrial level, even allow companies to generate the electricity that we use. So in actuality, there’s quite a lot of natural gas that gets pumped around, even in a state like Florida that doesn’t necessarily use it extensively in furnaces for heating purposes.This also means that in a great many cases, the pipeline and other infrastructure components designed to deliver natural gas, and allow it be easily used, are all considered part of a property. And if the natural gas and delivery usage systems are part of the property, then that means that property owners—whether public or private—have a legal obligation to ensure that the gas is working safely and as intended. If they do not do this, it can mean that a personal injury lawyer may be able to step in if an accident occurs where improper gas usage is suspected to be involved.
Useful But Dangerous
Natural gas, like the liquid gasoline, is a useful source of energy, because it is easily combustible. That is to say, it burns very easily, and when it does, it yields up a useful amount of heat that can be put towards any number of purposes, such as cooking or even heating up water for warm showers. But because natural gas is so combustible that also means that, under the wrong circumstances, it can also prove be to be literally explosive.
This is why there are very strict regulations in place of the distribution and use of gas in buildings. Natural gas must be pumped in from a confirmed, certified source, and must be used within a commercial, industrial or residential structure with the appropriate equipment that is up to the building codes of the modern day. We’re fortunate that in the 21st century, the infrastructure for natural gas is quite robust and easy to use. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be neglected or misused. Gas is subjected to pressure in order to move it from one destination to another. It is also lethal to humans if inhaled in sufficient amounts, and of course, when exposed to flame, it burns. All of this means that gas must be sealed in air tight pipes and only allowed to flow into the appropriate hardware or appliances when needed. If it escapes from its air tight confines, it can contaminate air, making it unsafe to breathe, or, worse yet, ready to burn with exposure to something as small as a spark.
Inspections & Maintenance Are Mandatory
A gas explosion that “just happens” is incredibly rare. Usually when investigations are conducted, it’s clear that a gas explosion or injuries sustained through gas inhalation are preventable. Gas infrastructure like pipes and pilot lights and other components must always be inspected on a regular basis, and, if any possible problems are encountered, addressed and repaired.
If a gas leak occurs because of some outside intervention, such as an accident on the premises that results in a gas line being pierced, then the gas must be shut off, and the appropriate authorities notified. Ignoring a break in a gas pipe endangers everyone in a building. This is why if you find yourself injured in a gas explosion, you and all the other people affected in the area, should seek answers. You should also get legal help from personal injury attorney to see what approach to take for a premises liability case.