Teaching good safety habits and making your family aware of the dangers of electricity is important to us.
Remember…
Electricity will always seek the shortest path to the ground. Electricity looks for a good conductor, such as metal, that transmits it readily. The human body is also a good conductor because it is about 70% water. If you touch anything with a live current, a bare wire or faulty connection, electricity will pass through you to the ground. Depending on the strength of the current, the electricity could seriously injure or fatally shock you.
Power and Electricity Safety Tips
- Downed power lines: Always assume downed power lines are “live” and stay away. Do not attempt to remove anything in contact with a downed powerline or drive across a downed power line. If you are inside a car in contact with a downed power line, stay inside the car and use your cell phone to call for help. If someone is shocked by contact with a downed line, call 911 immediately and do not touch the person.
- Metal Ladders: Never use a metal ladder when working anywhere near power lines or electrical devices. When using a wooden or fiberglass ladder, keep clear of electric lines.
- Small appliances and electric devices: Always keep small appliances away from water, including sinks, baths, pools, etc. Never attempt to touch these appliances when your hands are wet.
- Outlets and cords: Do not overload outlets or lay power cords under rugs or carpets. Never splice or tape power cords.
- Flying Kites: Teach children to never fly kites, model airplanes or balloons near overhead power lines.
- Climbing Trees: Warn children to never climb a tree that is near power lines. If the wind or child’s weight causes a limb to touch a wire, there is danger of electrocution to anyone in or near the tree.
- Transformer boxes: Do not let children play on or near transformer boxes, or put anything in them. If you see an unlocked transformer box, please contact MVEC.
Have a Successful Planting Season
Rooted in Safety
As farmers make plans to return to their fields for spring planting, MVEC urges workers to be particularly alert to the dangers of working near overhead power lines. Electricity is one of the most overlooked, yet deadly, hazards of working on a farm. Read more
Electrical Safety Websites
SafeElectricity.org
Electrical Safety Foundation International
Frankenstein’s Lightening Laboratory
Other Resources
Call before you dig
Free electric safety presentation
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