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Safety Around Overhead Power Lines
Serious outdoor accidents involving electricity occur around the house, on work sites, and on farms. Most of these accidents could be prevented with these simple safety tips from the Dixie Electric Power Association:
- First, make sure you, your family, or your employees know the location of overhead power lines, and map out ways to avoid them when moving equipment. Make sure everyone understands that any contact with these lines carries the potential for a serious, even fatal, accident. Taking a moment to plan before beginning work could save a life.
- To prevent accidental contact with lines, know the height of all your farm equipment and the height of the power lines. Mississippi state law provides a 10-foot right of way along either side of a power line. Tall equipment must be kept out of this right-of-way zone.
- Be extra careful when moving pipes. Many electrical accidents on farms occur when irrigation pipes are accidentally raised into power lines. This combination can be deadly.
- Avoid moving large equipment alone. Have someone watch as you drive equipment to ensure that you stay clear of power lines.
- These rules also apply to guy wires that support power line poles. Steer mowers, tractors, and other equipment clear of these wires. Damaging guy wires can weaken the poles, and even, cause them to topple, bringing live power lines down onto the ground and creating an extremely hazardous situation.
- Caution should be taken when installing antennas, and satellites or while performing other general maintenance on a roof. Contact with power lines is life-threatening.
Fallen Power Lines
Is it dead or alive? That power line you see lying on the ground can be either; you can’t tell by looking.
Severe storms, automobile accidents, fire, and other circumstances can cause power lines to fall to the ground. When you see a fallen or damaged power line, remember this life-saving lesson – never touch a power line!
Dixie Electric Power Association urges you to assume every power line is “live,” meaning it still has electricity flowing through it and can seriously burn you or even cause fatal injuries if you touch it.
- Wires that are “dead” can suddenly become energized when crews are working on them. Stay away from power lines and warn others, especially children to stay away too.
- Don’t touch anything that is touching the power line, such as a fence, a car, or a piece of machinery. If a wire falls on your car while you’re in it, stay put. Wait for help to arrive before opening the door.
If you see a power line on the ground, call Dixie Electric Power Association, or alert the police, sheriff’s office, or fire department immediately. Visit the Contact Us page
Although accidents involving electricity are rare, they can happen when people get careless. Following a few simple safety rules and teaching them to your children, can prevent tragedy.
Utility lines are also buried in the ground. Beware of the possibility of underground power lines before digging.
Substations: No Place for Play
Electrical substations are surrounded by high fences for a good reason. They are no place for children to play and explore.
An electrical substation operates under a high-voltage electrical load, which can be as much as 100,000 volts. That’s reason enough for unauthorized individuals to stay away from the substation, but young children may not understand the danger involved in playing around a substation. It’s up to adults to teach them the danger that lies within substation fences.
An electrical substation receives high-voltage electricity delivered from generating plants by long-distance power lines and converts it to a lower voltage for distribution to consumers.
Utility workers who maintain the substation know the potential hazards and are specially trained in working with high voltages. Other individuals must stay away from substations and teach children to respect this danger zone.