National Grid recognizes local first responders with award
The Cazenovia Police Department today was recognized as the first police department in New York state to have every member of its department complete an online program to train first responders in natural gas emergencies. All 16 members of the Cazenovia police department received certification from the company’s free, web-based First Responder Utility Safety program.
National Grid officials presented the Cazenovia Police Department with an award plaque for their commitment to gas safety during a ceremony on Tuesday, April 25.
“It was our pleasure to take advantage of National Grid’s online training, which was an excellent, excellent site,” said Cazenovia Chief of Police Michael Hayes. “We’ll make it a part of the field training for our officers.”
“Safety is our number one priority,” said Susan Fleck, National Grid vice president of Pipeline Safety and Compliance. “Every year National Grid offers training materials to thousands of first responders across our service area and we partner with them in drills to test emergency response and coordinate plans. This state-of-the-art e-learning tool is an opportunity to train and prepare every law enforcement officer across our service area, enhancing our ongoing efforts to ensure their safety and the safety of our customers.”
The free, online program (firstresponder.ngridsafety.com) includes a series of interactive modules that offer emergency personnel information on how to safely identify and respond to incidents that involve natural gas pipelines and other natural gas facilities. The modules provide an overview of the natural gas system, including the properties of natural gas, protocols for responding to natural gas leaks and fires, carbon monoxide safety and more.
The program takes four hours to complete, and requires an 80 percent passing grade for certification to be given.
Chiefs from numerous local fire departments and local training academies assisted National Grid in creating the training. This includes a 12-member advisory panel of emergency responders from the three states — Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island — served by National Grid.
The program received a “Best in Class” interactive media award from the Interactive Media Council in 2014, and also won the Northeast Gas Association’s Safety Award in 2015.
The company also has modules to help emergencies crews be safe when working around electric and liquid natural gas facilities.
“This is a huge deal for all these guys to complete this,” said Rick Macheda, National Grid pipeline public safety liaison for public awareness, as well as the current Cazenovia Fire Department rescue captain. “Ninety percent of the time, the police department arrives first on the scene.”
Chris Gorman, National Grid manager for customer and community management, said that while the general public correctly runs away from the scene of a natural gas emergency, first responders run into the danger. “So proper training is very important,” he said. “We thank Cazenovia for latching onto this safety program.”
With the month of April being designated as National Dig Safely Month, National Grid urges the public to call Dig Safely New York, Inc., (by dialing 811) in order to prevent serious personal injury, property damage and service interruptions caused by accidentally digging into electric, gas, telephone, water, sewer or cable facilities.
A phone call to 811 several days before digging connects callers to an operator at a local One Call Center who will provide information on when participating utilities must clearly mark their underground equipment. The call is simple and the service is free of charge.
