Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

What should be the immediate procedure to follow in the case of a high-pressure fitting leak?

1. Seek immediate help

2. Depressurize to gauge zero

3. Apply a sealant

4. Check for flammable materials

The correct answer is: Depressurize to gauge zero

The immediate procedure to follow in the case of a high-pressure fitting leak is to depressurize the system to gauge zero. This step is crucial because high-pressure leaks can create extremely hazardous conditions, including the risk of injury and further damage to the system. Depressurizing to gauge zero minimizes the potential for catastrophic failure or explosion, as it reduces the pressure and thus the energy present in the system. Once the system is at a safe pressure, further actions can be taken, such as investigating the source of the leak and making repairs. By ensuring that the system is depressurized first, you are prioritizing safety and safeguarding personnel and equipment before taking any additional steps. The other actions, while they may be relevant in a broader context, do not directly address the immediate danger presented by the leak. Seeking immediate help can be part of the overall safety response, but without first mitigating the immediate hazard by depressurizing the system, help might arrive too late. Applying a sealant could be an effective long-term fix but should only be done once the system is safe to work on. Checking for flammable materials is also important in the general management of a leak scenario, but it does not address the urgent need to handle the leak itself safely.