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| Electric Safety |
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| Safety
rules for Working near Power |
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Safe work habits are vital to your well-being.
Safety is not just a witty or entertaining slogan.
Safety protects your eyes, fingers, arms, legs
and …. Your life.
It’s easy to avoid the most common mistakes
made around electric power lines.
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Rule 1:
Work at a safe distance
The most
important rule is to work a safe distance
from all power lines.
Whenever work is to be performed near overhead
lines, OSHA (the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration) requires that you
and any equipment or tools that you’re
operating or handling must be kept a safe
distance from power lines. OSHA also requires
that, if you’re working near power
lines, you either have the power lines de-energized
and grounded, or that you take other protective
measures BEFORE WORK IS STARTED. OSHA has
prescribed certain distances that you and
your tools and equipment are required to
keep away from power lines. The minimum
distance is 10 feet.
If you are an employer, it is your responsibility
to make sure that your employees are aware
of the location of the power lines, the
hazards involved, and the protective measures
to be taken. You must post warning signs,
and make sure that anyone working from an
elevated position stays at least 10 feet
away from the power lines.
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Rule 2: Stay calm –
stay away
If you’re operating a piece of
equipment that comes into contact with
a power line, |
| If… |
Then….
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| • |
move
the rig away from the
power line if you can |
| • |
warn
others not to touch you or the
rig and |
| • |
have
someone contact 911 immediately |
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| You
are not in danger from |
| • |
a
fire or |
| • |
from being struck
by
a power line |
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| You
are |
| • |
in
danger and |
| • |
must get off
the rig |
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| • |
jump
as far as you can and land with
both feet together
No part of your body
should touch the rig and the
ground at the same time. |
| • |
hop
or shuffle away from the rig
with your feet together to avoid
becoming a conductor between
two areas of the ground that
are charged differently and |
| • |
once
clear, don't return to the rig
until a light department employee
tells you it is safe to do so. |
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| If you
are nearby when someone contacts a power
line, follow the steps in the table
below. |
Step
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Action |
| • |
Stay away. |
| • |
Warn everyone
stay away. |
| • |
Ensure someone
calls 911immediatley. |
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| Remember,
if you touch someone who is part of
the electrical currents path to ground,
you’ll become a part of that path,
too – with potentially deadly
results. |
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Rule 3: Ladders and power
lines don’t mix
Aluminum ladders may be lightweight, easy
to handle and strong, but always remember
– metal conducts electricity.
If you are standing on or holding a metal
ladder (or any other extended object) that
contacts an energized power line, you become
part of the electricity’s path to
ground. When that happens, you can be seriously
injured or killed.
Be careful while carrying or positioning
any kind of ladder, tool, equipment or extension.
Even non-metallic items, such as fiberglass
ladders, can conduct electricity if they
are dirty or wet. Before raising or extending
any kind of ladder, metal pole, or other
equipment capable of reaching a power line,
make sure to check in all directions for
power lines – and always remember
Rule #1 above!
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Rule 4:
Call before you dig
Before starting excavation work according
to both Federal and State Laws, you must
call 1-888-DIG-SAFE to notify all utilities
at least 72 hours in advance.
After you call, a representative from Groton
Electric Light and other utilities will
come to your site to locate underground
equipment. |
Rule 5: Look up and live
Always remember to look up and around when
you work near overhead power lines.
When there are trees around, remember:
tree branches can obstruct your view of
power lines so take an even closer look
around you before beginning work.
IF YOU CAN’T AVOID A POWER LINE,
DON’T DO THE WORK! |
Rule 6:
Downed lines can be deadly
If you see a line down, stay away. Do not
touch it or attempt to move it! Call 978-448-1150
immediately. The sooner we learn about the
problem, the sooner we can fix it.
If someone touches a downed line, or is
handling equipment that contacts a power
line, remember that any rescue attempt also
places you in danger of receiving an electrical
shock or injury. The farther away you stay
from the equipment, the line and the person,
the better your chances of not being injured
yourself. Instead of attempting a rescue,
call 911 for help.
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| Copyright © 2005 GrotonElectric.org |
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