Look up and out
Be aware of overhead lines
WHETHER YOU’RE ON THE JOB or working on an outdoor project around your home, you should always be aware of overhead electrical lines. Many workplace fatalities are caused by overhead power lines. Imagine how easy it is for folks at home, who are not trained to avoid these obstacles, to run into danger.
In most cases, fatalities occur in occupations with little to no electrical safety training. That’s why we put so much emphasis on safety training and compliance education, not only for our cooperative employees, but our consumer-members as well.
When working on an outdoor project, stay at least 20 feet away from overhead lines. If your ladder or piece of equipment touches an overhead line, both you and the equipment can become a path for the electricity. Look up and out in front of you before using a ladder, large machinery or a pool cleaning net. Even nonmetallic ladders and equipment can conduct electricity.
Using large tools or machinery can make it harder to avoid overhead power lines. Always consider where power lines are before you begin a project. Scanning the area should be part of your plan from the start. Once you begin making safety part of your routine, it’ll become second nature when you run through your day-to-day electrical safety checklist.
If you’ve struck a power line and must get off the equipment, jump as far away from the equipment as you can and land with both feet together. No part of your body should touch the equipment and the ground at the same time. Hop or shuffle away from the equipment with your feet touching to reduce the risk of electric shock.
If you come across someone who’s hit an overhead power line, stay away and warn others around to not touch him or her, or you could get shocked, too. Immediately call 911 and then contact your local co-op to report the incident.
If you know you’re going to be working near power lines, call your co-op so the experts there can properly inform you on safety precautions you should be taking in your area. Electrical safety is one of our core values.
