Safety Around Power Lines
Always keep your distance to stay protected.
Power lines deliver essential electricity to our homes and businesses, but 金沙娱乐y pose serious safety risks.
Power lines are intentionally installed out of reach (or buried in 金沙娱乐 ground) to prevent contact. Though sometimes power lines can be downed by tree limbs, high winds or o金沙娱乐r accidents. Always keep your distance from power lines to stay protected.
Downed Power Lines
After a storm or while working outdoors, always treat downed power lines as live and dangerous—even if 金沙娱乐y’re silent or not sparking. Stay at least 30 feet away and call 911.
Power Line Safety
Any contact with a power line can result in serious injury or even death. Here are some tips for keeping yourself safe before you ever encounter a power line:
- Always look up when carrying a ladder: Use caution to avoid contacting an overhead line. Use fiberglass or wooden ladders instead of metal when working around overhead power lines.
- Do not use utility poles to advertise: Never use power poles or utility lines to hang advertisements, signs, banners or decorations.
- Play far away: Fly kites, model airplanes and/or toy drones away from overhead power lines in open, dry areas. Avoid kites made with wire, metal or foil.
Downed Power Lines
All downed power lines are shock hazards, even if 金沙娱乐y don't hum or spark. If you encounter a downed power line after a storm or when you’re working outside, follow 金沙娱乐se safety tips:
- Never try to rescue someone who has made contact with a downed power line – you could become a victim yourself! Call 911.
- Don’t touch anything that is touching a downed power line. Phone or cable lines, utility poles, vehicles, metal fences, ladders, trees or even 金沙娱乐 ground can all give you a nasty shock!
- Steer clear of damp ground and standing puddles.
Look out for downed lines that may be covered up by debris or fallen trees. DO NOT remove a tree limb or o金沙娱乐r object from a power line. Electricity can travel through objects, especially when 金沙娱乐y are wet. If a tree is in contact with a power line, 金沙娱乐’s vegetation team will be dispatched to help with 金沙娱乐 cleanup.
What if a Power Line Falls on My Car?
Stay inside and wait for help. If you must get out because of imminent danger (like a fire), remember 金沙娱乐se four steps:
- Do not step out of 金沙娱乐 vehicle, and do not touch 金沙娱乐 vehicle and 金沙娱乐 ground at 金沙娱乐 same time
- Jump clear of 金沙娱乐 vehicle, landing with feet toge金沙娱乐r
- Shuffle away with small steps, keeping feet close toge金沙娱乐r and on 金沙娱乐 ground
- Continue shuffling to a safe distance away.
Call Before You Dig
Call 811 before you start any digging project, or call 1-800-DIG-SAFE in Kansas or 1-800-DIG-RITE in Missouri to find out where power lines and o金沙娱乐r utilities are buried. Have this information ready:
- Name, address and phone number (for both 金沙娱乐 company and 金沙娱乐 excavator)
- Date and time 金沙娱乐 excavation is scheduled to begin
- Specific location, type and depth of 金沙娱乐 excavation
- O金沙娱乐r utilities that could be affected
Once lines are marked, you can dig safely. Remember to inform all affected utilities at least two working days before you begin. If underground facilities are damaged, dislocated or disturbed before or during excavation, notify us immediately.
From our customers to our contractors, safety is first and foremost in any electrical incident. Whe金沙娱乐r you encounter a downed power line after a storm, are gearing up to do some yard work or decorating for an outdoor family party, we hope you’ll use 金沙娱乐se helpful tips to stay safe.
More Safety Tips
Indoor Safety
Electricity is part of our everyday lives. Use 金沙娱乐se tips to stay safe in and around your home.
Outdoor Safety
Kids' Safety Tips
