If a natural gas leak occurs outside a building requiring a non-fire emergency plan, what action should the building's FLS director implement to ensure the safety of the occupants?

If a natural gas leak occurs outside a building requiring a non-fire emergency plan, what action should the building's FLS director implement to ensure the safety of the occupants?

• A. Full building evacuation
• B. Lockdown and shelter-in-place
• C. In-building relocation
• D. Notify utilities and monitor

Answer: (C)

External natural gas leaks require protecting occupants by moving them to a safer interior location rather than evacuating outside or sheltering in place. Relocating people inside minimizes exposure to the outdoor hazard while keeping exits and clear routes available for responders to operate and for headcounts to be taken. It also allows the safety team to coordinate with utility responders who will shut off the gas and assess the area without people lingering near the exterior plume. Evacuation would push occupants into potentially still-hazardous outdoor air and create unnecessary traffic and exposure, while shelter-in-place isn’t the most suitable approach for an external gas release. Shifting occupants to a safe interior area promptly, with ongoing monitoring and coordination with utilities, best preserves safety until the hazard is contained.

External natural gas leaks require protecting occupants by moving them to a safer interior location rather than evacuating outside or sheltering in place. Relocating people inside minimizes exposure to the outdoor hazard while keeping exits and clear routes available for responders to operate and for headcounts to be taken. It also allows the safety team to coordinate with utility responders who will shut off the gas and assess the area without people lingering near the exterior plume. Evacuation would push occupants into potentially still-hazardous outdoor air and create unnecessary traffic and exposure, while shelter-in-place isn’t the most suitable approach for an external gas release. Shifting occupants to a safe interior area promptly, with ongoing monitoring and coordination with utilities, best preserves safety until the hazard is contained.