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Electrical hazards

Electricity is a flowing force. It always seeks ground and will take all paths to get there – it will flow through water, metal, trees, wood, rubber, straw, tires or people. If you enter the path by touching energized wires or cables with your body or other conductive items, you could become part of the electrical circuit and receive a shock that could injure or kill you.

To provide you with electricity safely, utilities string the power lines along metal towers and wood poles well out of normal reach. The wires rest on insulators to prevent the electricity from finding a path to ground.

Coming into contact with overhead power lines can be fatal. To ensure you and your loved ones remain safe, please take a few moments and get to know these five Power Safe Steps.

1. Stay Clear

Stay at least 15 metres from a downed power line or other damaged electrical equipment. The voltage on the ground is highest in the immediate area around the electrical source and decreases with distance away. Walking over the area can cause a fatal shock. If you feel a tingling sensation, stop immediately, place your feet together and shuffle or hop out of the area without touching anything with your hands.
If you are driving a vehicle that touches a downed power line, you are generally safe as long as you stay in the vehicle. If you are able, slowly drive at least 15 metres clear of the downed power line or damaged electrical equipment and any pools of water.
If you are unable to drive the vehicle, call or have someone call your electrical utility company and stay inside until a crew arrives.
If you must leave the vehicle due to immediate danger such as vehicle fire, jump out of the vehicle with your feet together and without touching the car and ground at the same time. Shuffle or hop away to a safe distance: at least 15 metres from the vehicle.

2. Plan your work

Before doing any work near power lines, know where all of the power lines are located.
Before digging or driving posts, contact us to locate and mark all underground cables.
Do not plant trees where they will grow up to power lines.
Install antennas at a distance from the power line of at least the height of the antenna plus 3 metres.

3. Look Up and Live

Avoid overhead power lines, especially when performing dangerous activities such as:

Using a ladder;
Pruning or cutting trees;
Installing or removing an antenna;
Working on the roof;
Carrying long tools or pipes; or
Setting up and moving scaffolding.

4. Avoid Danger Zones

Teach your children to play safely.
Always be on the lookout for fallen or sagging wires, especially after storms
Never play around power substations, poles, towers, fences and trees near power lines.
Never fly kites near overhead power lines.
Never spray water guns or hoses at power lines.
Never try to open or poke sticks or other objects into underground transformer boxes.
If a ball or toy lands in a high voltage area, contact us to retrieve it.
Avoid going outdoors during a lightning storm.

5. Be Power Safe at Home

Make sure bathroom and outdoor electrical outlets are equipped with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs).
Never poke fingers, toys or anything except electrical plugs into wall outlets.
Do not overload circuits by plugging too many appliances into an outlet.
Use only electrical cords with a third (ground) plug. Never try to remove the third prong.
Do not plug or unplug electrical appliances, tools or equipment with wet hands or in wet conditions.
Do not insert any metal implement into an electrical appliance when it is plugged in.
Replace frayed or damaged cords. Never attempt to disconnect your electricity meter as it could explode.
Always have a qualified electrician perform any electrical work, including hooking up an emergency or back-up generator.