Safety
As your local utility provider, we are committed to keeping your neighbors, family, and friends safe when they work or interact with us. Through safety checklists, protective equipment, and continuous training, our mission is to meet all safety requirements before undergoing a task.
To stay safe and protect yourself, check out the resources on this page.
BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY
Guidelines from SafeElectricity.org
Would your child know what to do if a school bus approached a downed power line? Check out some safety tips here: https://safeelectricity.org/public-education/videos-library/tlc-safe-bus/
COLLEGE DORM ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Guidelines from SafeElectricity.org
Sending someone off to college? Review these electrical safety tips from Safe Electricity:
- Extension cords are only for temporary use. Dorm rooms may not have enough outlets to plug in all your gadgets at once. If you must use extension cords, use them temporarily and unplug them when not in use.
- Consider purchasing power strips with an over-current protector, which will shut off power automatically if there is too much current being drawn.
- Use light bulbs with the correct wattage for lamps; if no indication is on the fixture, do not use a bulb with more than 60 watts.
- Never tack or nail an electrical cord to any surface or run cords across traffic paths, under rugs or furniture.
- Keep all electrical appliances and cords safely away from bedding, curtains, and other flammable material.
- Discard or repair damaged electronics. It may be tempting to use an electronic with a frayed cord or damaged plug-in to save money. However, damaged electronics should not be used, since they can shock or electrocute students.
- If your lights flicker, electronics shut off, or circuits trip—notify campus staff.
- Use only laboratory certified appliances and electronics.
- Watch out for overheated outlets. If an electrical outlet becomes so hot you cannot leave your hand on it, there is potential for a fire. Unplug everything from the outlet and notify landlord or dorm officials immediately.
SAFE DIGGING
Guidelines from SafeElectricity.org
Before you take shovel to dirt, #Call811 to get underground utilities marked.
- Dial 811 from anywhere in the country two to three days prior to digging, and your call will be routed to your local 8-1-1 center. Tell the operator where you’re planning to dig, what type of work you will be doing and your affected local utilities companies will be notified about your intent to dig. In a two to three days, they’ll send a locator to mark the approximate location of your underground lines, pipes and cables, so you’ll know what’s below — and be able to dig safely.
- Remember, always call 811 before you start any digging project! You’ll avoid injury, expense, embarrassment — and a very inconvenient day in the dark.
- For more information or to request underground location services, visit call811.com. The advance notice requirement (usually two to three days) varies by state.
DOWNED POWER LINES
Guidelines from SafeElectricity.org
Accidents, severe storms, and other disasters can cause power lines to come down. With one wrong move before, during, or after a disaster, a life can be lost. Know the right steps to take to keep you and your family safe:
- If you see downed power lines, or other damaged electrical equipment, notify the local electric utility as soon as possible because the lines could still be live.
- Just because power lines are damaged does not mean they are dead. Stay away, and instruct others to do the same.
- Power lines do not have to be arcing or sparking to be live and dangerous.
- Downed power lines, stray wires, and debris in contact with them all have the potential to deliver a fatal shock. Stay clear of fallen power lines and damaged areas that could hide a hazard. Be alert during clean-up efforts.
- Treat all power lines as if they are energized until there is a certainty that power has been disconnected.
- If a power line has landed on the ground, there is the potential for the area nearby to be energized. Stay far away, and warn others to do the same.
- Do not attempt to drive over a downed power line.
- If you are driving and come along a downed power line, stay away and warn others to stay away. Contact emergency personal or your utility company to address the downed power line.
- If power lines should fall on your vehicle while you are driving, do not attempt to drive away or get out. Call for help, and stay inside until utility crews say it is safe to get out. The only exception would be if fire or other danger, like the smell of gasoline, is present. In that case, the proper action is to jump—not step—with both feet hitting the ground at the same time. Jump clear. Do not allow any part of your body to touch the vehicle and ground at the same time. Hop to safety, keeping both feet together as you leave the area.
- Any power line that is dead could become energized at any moment due to power restoration or backup generators.
PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK
Guidelines from SafeElectricity.org
Use all electrical devices away from the sink, tub, toilet and shower. GFCI outlets should be installed near any water source.
CHAINSAW SAFETY
Guidelines from SafeElectricity.org
- Statistics:
- Each year, 36,000 people are treated in hospital ERs for chainsaw-related injuries.
- 36% of chainsaw accidents result in injuries to the leg and knee.
- The average chainsaw injury requires 110 stitches.
- The two most common places for injuries are the front left thigh and the back of the left hand.
- 1/5 chainsaw injuries is from kickback.
- Kickback is the single greatest cause of injury to chainsaw users.
- Medical costs for chainsaw injuries amount to around 350 million dollars per year.
- Kickback, binding, and pull-in cause the most injuries from chainsaws.
- Injuries:
- 3,418 head injuries
- 2,431 upper body area
- 17,994 arm and hand area
- 16,348 leg area
- 2,885 foot area
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS WITH POWER LINES
Guidelines from SafeElectricity.org
Instincts can help us to avoid danger but in some situations, our natural inclinations can lead to tragic results. If your car hits a utility pole or otherwise brings a power line down, getting out of a vehicle, with few exceptions, is the wrong thing to do until the line has been de-energized. Know the right steps to take to save your life:
- You are almost always better off to stay in the car, especially if the line is in contact with the vehicle.
- Call or signal for help. It is safe to use a cell phone.
- Warn others who may be nearby to stay away, and wait until the electric utility arrives to make sure power to the line is cut off.
- If the power line is still energized and you step outside, your body becomes the path to ground for that electricity, and electrocution is the tragic result. Wait until the electric utility arrives and shuts off the power.
- The only exception would be if fire or other danger, like the smell of gasoline, is present. In that case, the proper action is to jump—not step—with both feet hitting the ground at the same time. Jump clear. Do not allow any part of your body to touch the vehicle and ground at the same time. Hop to safety, keeping both feet together as you leave the area. Like ripples in a pond or lake, the voltage diminishes the farther out it is from the source. Stepping from one voltage level to another allows the body to become a path for that electricity.
- Even if a power line has landed on the ground, there is still the potential for the area near your car to be energized. Stay inside the vehicle unless there is a fire or an imminent risk of fire.
- The same rules apply with situations involving farm equipment and construction equipment that comes in contact with overhead lines. Those working with large equipment should stay inside the vehicle if equipment extensions come in contact with power lines.