"Turn Off Valves and Ventilate"... Gas Safety Corporation Urges Chuseok Safety Guidelines

Surge in Food Preparation Volume... Compliance with Portable Gas Stove Safety Rules
"Emergency Dispatch Readiness Complete... Thorough Accident Response During Holiday Period"

A scene of a gas valve safety inspection. (Photo by Asia Economy DB)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Korea Gas Safety Corporation has urged people to follow safety rules such as turning off gas valves and ventilating during the Chuseok holiday. This is because the risk of accidents increases when gas usage rises due to a surge in cooking volume.

According to the Gas Safety Corporation on the 28th, there were 15 gas accidents during the Chuseok holiday period (including three days before and after the holiday) over five years from 2015 to 2019. By gas type, there were 9 cases involving liquefied petroleum (LP) gas, 3 cases involving butane burners (cans), 2 cases involving high-pressure gas, and 1 case involving city gas.

Looking at the causes of accidents, user mishandling accounted for 33.3% of the total, or 5 cases. Facility deficiencies followed with 26.7% (4 cases). Most accidents occurred because users did not follow safety rules when replacing LPG containers themselves or using butane burners.

The Gas Safety Corporation asked people to observe the following during the Chuseok holiday: ▲ prohibition of stacking multiple butane burners containing butane cans ▲ prohibition of using butane burners or storing butane cans near electric stoves or other heat sources ▲ prohibition of using oversized grills ▲ prohibition of heating butane cans to use residual gas.

Additionally, it emphasized that it is safe to turn off the burner knobs, intermediate valves, and main valves (for LP gas, the container valve) before leaving the house. Upon returning home, the first thing to do is open windows to ventilate the house.

If gas leakage is suspected, it is safer to contact the local city gas company or LPG retailer for a safety inspection before use.

During outdoor activities, gas products such as gas burners and gas heaters inside tents should not be used. Gas heaters should not be used due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Gas Safety Corporation plans to strengthen on-duty monitoring and maintain an emergency dispatch system during the holiday period to thoroughly respond to accidents. They will respond promptly to gas accidents to prevent further damage.

Lim Haejong, president of the Gas Safety Corporation, said, "During holidays when gas usage surges, please regularly check for any abnormalities in gas facilities," and added, "I ask everyone to consider even minor rules important and follow them to have a safe holiday with their families."

Gas Safety Rules for the 2020 Chuseok Holiday. (Source: Korea Gas Safety Corporation)