In over half of the homes in the United States, natural gas is utilized for heating purposes and to provide a fuel that is used for cooking. Quite obviously, it is a type of fuel that is in high use and if it is used properly, it is relatively safe and very few problems are associated with it. Of course, like any type of utility, you would want to ensure that you were using it properly and that you had all of the necessary safety precautions in place. These could include an excess flow shut off valve, which would stop the flow of gas if it exceeds the preset limit that was set. These types of accessories can really help to improve the safety that is associated with natural gas.
There are also areas of the country that are more susceptible to seismic activity and you should consider that possibility when you use natural gas as well. Having an earthquake gas shut off valve in place is a necessity when you live in such an area (Source: Earthquake Gas Shut Off Valve by MB Services). One of the problems that occurs as a result of earthquakes, particularly when they are considered major earthquakes is for gas lines to be ruptured. When you have a valve like this at your home or place of business, it is less likely that you are going to experience problems when an earthquake occurs. You should also have other safety devices in place, including a device that is going to detect any leaks that may occur after an earthquake or at any other time that you are using natural gas.