Electrical Safety

We are committed to the safety of all of our customers including those in construction-related jobs. We provide electric safety education materials and presentations to contractors and offer the following guidelines to help prevent injury.

The 10-foot Circle of Safety

• Keep everything – you, the tools and materials you are handling, and the equipment you are operating – at least 10-feet away from all power lines. We refer to this 10-foot space as the "10-Foot Circle of Safety." Ten feet is the minimum required distance you must have when working near power lines of 50,000 volts or less. Not only is this an important safety rule, it is an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation and it is a law. Those caught violating the Circle of Safety can be fined.
• If you cannot get your work done without getting within 10 feet of a power line, immediately contact us at 1-888-221-7070. We will work with you to help ensure that you get your work done safely.
• Order free pamphlets detailing this guideline and/or the overhead lines safety act in your state.

Working around power lines higher than 50,000 volts

If the voltage is higher than 50,000 volts, even more distance from the wires is required for safety. However, higher voltages can be difficult to recognize. If you are working around power lines you suspect are higher than 50,000 volts, take extra precautions:

• For information on safe distances to keep around high-voltage power lines, order a free brochure on the overhead lines safety act for your state.
• Check with your boss or job superintendent. They should have already determined the voltages of lines near heavy equipment or other employee work areas.
• If you cannot find out on the job, contact us and request assistance. A representative from our company can quickly determine the voltages of any lines in your area.

Heavy equipment and power lines

Careful positioning of heavy equipment is required to ensure safety for workers and equipment operators. The locations for heavy equipment such as cranes should be planned jointly in advance by us and the contractor. However, even with planning, heavy equipment and work operations may need to be located near high-voltage lines. In this case use a safety watch (see below). Lines may also need to be de-energized.

A safety watch

A watch should be positioned near the heavy equipment the entire time it is being operated near high-voltage lines. The watch's only duties should be observing the work and communicating with the operator to ensure the equipment never violates the 10-Foot Circle of Safety.

De-energize the lines

If the equipment must operate within the 10-Foot Circle of Safety, contact us about proper safety precautions before starting work. The lines can be de-energized or grounded or other proactive measures can be taken.

Tools, equipment and other conductive materials
Heavy equipment isn't the only threat to the 10-Foot Circle of Safety. Lengthy tools and equipment such as bullfloat handles, rebar and long sections of metal conduit are just a few of the conductive objects that can break the 10-Foot Circle of Safety when used near power lines. Always remember the 10-Foot Circle of Safety means not just 10 feet of clearance from you, but from anything you may be carrying or working with.

Digging

Always have your underground utilities (electric, gas, etc.) located before digging to avoid making contact with them. To locate underground lines call the underground utility location service for your area at least two working days before you plan to dig so your utility lines can be marked. Or call us at 1-888-221-7070 and we'll give you the number. If original markings are destroyed due to weather or heavy construction, call back to have the area re-marked.

If contact occurs

If contact does occur, follow these guidelines:

• If you're in your vehicle or equipment, stay put. This is your safest option until help arrives.
• Warn others to stay away from the area until emergency and power company officials have arrived to turn off the power.
• If you are on the ground, stay on the ground — and stay away. Coming close to the energized equipment can only increase the danger.
• If you can move the equipment away from the lines, move it. If not, he or she should stay put until the lines can be de-energized.
• If you must leave the vehicle because of fire or some other life-threatening situation, JUMP, with both feet together. Hop with both feet together until you're safely away. Never step down or touch the ground and the piece of equipment at the same time or you could be electrocuted.  
• If the line has fallen on the ground, or on some other object or piece of equipment, always assume it is energized. Stay clear and call us immediately at 1-888-221-7070.

Your commitment

The best way to avoid injury from power lines is to make a personal commitment to safety. All the rules, regulations and safety reminders in the world are useless unless they're used.

Your commitment should be consistent and ongoing, and it should be based on the following principle:

The most valuable resource of any job at any time is never the materials, the equipment, the profit or the deadline. The most valuable resource, without exception, is always human life.

To order safety brochures and materials, call us at 1-800-375-7085. For all other information and safety assistance around power lines, call toll free anytime at 1-888-221-7070.