Propane!Safety!Steps!and!Reminders!
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Carbon!Monoxide!
o Not$maintaining$all$of$your$appliances$in$good$repair$can$result$in$
potentially$fatal$carbon$monoxide$poisoning.$
o Improperly$vented$appliances$can$cause$carbon$monoxide$poisoning.$
Symptoms$of$carbon$monoxide$poisoning$may$include$one$or$more$of$
the$following$items:$eye$irritation,$headaches,$dizziness,$sleepiness$or$
excessive$moisture$buildup$on$the$inside$of$windows.$
o If$you$identify$any$of$the$above?noted$symptoms,$ventilate$
immediately$(i.e.$open$windows$and$doors)$and$call$a$qualified$service$
technician$for$help.$
o Never$use$camping$equipment$or$portable$heaters$that$are$not$
designed$for$recreational$vehicles.$
o Consider$installing$one$or$more$carbon$monoxide$detectors$inside$of$
your$home$or$recreational$vehicle,$which$may$sound$an$alarm$to$warn$
you$of$the$presence$of$carbon$monoxide$in$the$home.$
Know!The!Odor!Of!Propane!
o In$its$natural$state,$propane$is$odorless$and$colorless.$A$chemical$
odorant$has$been$added$to$give$a$distinct$smell$to$the$propane.$The$
purpose$of$the$odorant$is$to$help$people$detect$the$presence$of$
propane.$It$is$important$that$members$of$the$household$are$able$to$
distinguish$the$smell$of$odorized$propane.$Under$certain$conditions,$a$
person$may$be$prevented$from$smelling$the$odorant$such$as:$
! Colds,$allergies,$congestion,$or$other$similar$medical$
conditions.$
! Use$of$tobacco,$alcohol,$and/or$drugs.$
! Decline$in$a$person’s$sense$of$smell.$
! Olfactory$fatigue$from$being$exposed$to$the$odorant$for$a$
period$of$time.$
! Odor$masking$where$strong$odors$can$overpower$the$smell$of$
the$odorant.$
! Leaking$gas$passing$through$soil$may$reduce$the$smell$of$the$
odorant.$
! The$odorant$in$the$propane$may$not$awaken$a$sleeping$person$
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Maintaining!Your!Propane!System!
o The$propane$system$at$your$home$or$business$should$be$installed,$
maintained$and$repaired$only$by$qualified$personnel.$Call$a$qualified$
service$technician$to$light$or$re?light$pilot$lights$on$your$appliances.$
o DO$NOT$bleed$gas$lines$into$enclosed$areas.$
o DO$NOT$tamper$with$gas$controls$on$your$appliances.$
o DO$NOT$use$appliances$that$have$been$flooded$or$have$become$wet,$
since$the$controls$can$be$damaged$or$become$rusty$and$malfunction,$
causing$the$safety$feature$built$into$the$controls$to$permit$a$
dangerous$leak$of$propane;$DO$have$wet$or$flooded$appliances$and$
controls$serviced$immediately.$DO$NOT$let$your$propane$system$run$
out$of$propane.$If$it$happens,$turn$the$gas$valve$off$on$the$tank$or$
cylinder$and$call$your$propane$dealer.$
o DO$have$your$propane$system$and$all$appliances$periodically$checked$
by$a$qualified$service$technician$for$proper$operation$and$safety$
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Properties!And!Characteristics!Of!Propane!
o In$its$natural$state,$propane$is$an$odorless$and$colorless$gas.$
o A$chemical$odorant$has$been$added$to$propane$to$give$it$a$distinct$
smell.$
o Propane$is$stored$as$a$liquid$under$pressure$in$tanks$and$cylinders.$
o In$most$residential$applications,$propane$is$used$as$a$vapor.$
o If$propane$comes$in$contact$with$your$skin,$it$can$result$in$frost$burns.$
o Concentrations$of$propane$may$cause$flash$fires$or$explosions.$
o Propane$vapor$is$heavier$than$air,$and$it$may$collect$initially$at$floor$
levels$or$in$other$low$areas$before$it$begins$to$dissipate;$therefore,$to$
check$for$the$presence$of$propane,$carefully$smell$all$over$a$room,$
especially$in$low$spots.$
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Even$a$slight$gas$odor$may$signal$a$serious$propane$gas$leak,$and$you$should$
take$immediate$action$if$you$smell$gas$or$suspect$a$leak.$
Consult$your$propane$dealer$for$detailed$information$about$using$propane$
safely$
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Small!Cylinder!Safety!
o Use$only$DOT$approved$cylinders$that$are$in$good$condition.$
o When$using$a$new$cylinder$for$the$first$time,$insist$that$your$propane$
dealer$purges$the$cylinder$to$remove$air$and$moisture$in$the$tank.$
o Propane$will$expand$and$contract$depending$on$the$temperature.$
o Cylinders$should$only$be$filled$to$80%$of$capacity.$
o Propane$is$a$flammable$gas$that$has$been$odorized.$
o Know$the$odor$of$the$gas.$The$odor$is$for$leak$detection.$
o Leaking$propane$may$cause$fires$and$explosions.$
o Before$lighting$propane$gas$appliances,$check$all$connections$for$
tightness$using$a$leak$detection$solution.$
o Be$sure$to$read$the$manufacturer’s$instructions$before$operating$gas$
appliances.$
o NEVER$use$propane$from$a$cylinder$without$a$regulator.$
o DO$NOT$use$matches$or$lighter$to$check$for$leaks.$
o Turn$off$the$valves$on$the$cylinder$when$not$using.$
o NEVER$store$a$cylinder$indoors$or$in$an$enclosed$vehicle.$
o When$transporting$a$cylinder,$make$sure$that$it$is$secured$and$in$the$
upright$position,$so$that$the$valves$are$in$the$vapor$space.$
o NEVER$smoke$or$have$open$flames$near$propane$cylinders.$
o When$filling$cylinders$attached$to$your$vehicle,$be$sure$that$all$
sources$of$ignition$are$shut$off;$this$includes$pilot$lights$and$vehicle$
engines.$
o Call$your$propane$dealer$for$more$cylinder$safety$information.$
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What!Is!Propane!
o In$its$natural$state,$propane$is$an$odorless$and$colorless$gas$that$is$
widely$used$to$fuel$appliances$for$heating,$cooking,$and$other$uses.$
While$propane$is$used$as$a$gas$for$fueling$appliances,$it$is$transported$
and$stored$as$a$liquid$under$high$pressure$in$specially$designed$
containers$referred$to$either$as$tanks$or$cylinders.$When$liquid$
propane$changes$into$a$gas$vapor,$it$expands$in$volume$by$about$270$
times,$meaning$that$propane$is$very$economical$to$store$and$transport$
as$a$liquid$rather$than$as$a$gas$vapor.$However,$this$characteristic$also$
means$that$even$a$small$leak$of$liquid$propane$can$result$in$a$much$
larger$quantity$of$propane$vapor,$which$can$be$especially$dangerous$
in$a$confined$space.$
o Similar$to$any$other$flammable$gas$or$flammable$liquid,$propane$is$
very$safe$when$stored$and$handled$properly.$However,$if$propane$is$
not$properly$and$safely$stored$and$handled,$it$can$cause$property$
damage,$injuries,$or$even$death.$For$this$reason,$it$is$important$for$the$
safety$of$the$members$of$your$household$that$they$have$a$thorough$
understanding$of$the$properties$and$characteristics$of$propane,$and$
the$hazards$and$risks$associated$with$its$use.$Contact$your$local$
propane$dealer$with$questions$that$you$have$about$propane.$
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If!You!Smell!Propane!Gas!
o Put$out$smoking$materials$and$other$open$flames.$
o DO$NOT$operate$electric$switches.$
o DO$NOT$light$matches.$
o DO$NOT$use$your$phone.$
o Any$spark$or$flame$in$the$area$where$propane$gas$is$present$may$
ignite$the$gas.$This$could$include$the$spark$in$a$light$switch,$telephone,$
appliance$motor,$and$even$static$electricity$from$walking$around$the$
room.$
o Immediately$get$everyone$out$of$the$building,$vehicle,$RV$trailer,$or$
area.$
o Close$all$gas$tank$or$cylinder$supply$valves.$
o DO$NOT$re?enter$the$building,$vehicle,$RV$trailer,$or$area.$Use$your$
neighbor's$phone$and$call$a$trained$LP?Gas$service$person$and$the$fire$
department.$Even$though$you$may$not$continue$to$smell$gas,$DO$NOT$
turn$the$gas$on$again.$
o Let$the$service$person$and$firefighters$check$for$any$propane$gas$
leaks.$Have$them$air$out$the$area$before$you$return.$
o Have$properly$trained$LP?Gas$service$people$repair$the$leak,$then$
check$and$relight$all$of$your$propane$gas$appliances$for$you.$
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