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, ATCO Electric
strings 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 the Power Safe Steps.
ATCO Electric 24-hour emergency and power repair 1-800-668-5506
1. Stay Clear
Stay at least 15 metres from a downed power line or other damaged facility. The voltage on the ground is highest in the immediate area around the electrical source and decreases with distance (see illustration below). 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. Others are safe as long as they stay back 15
metres.
If you are able, slowly drive at least 15 metres clear of the downed power line and any pools
of water.
If you are unable to drive the vehicle call, or have someone call, ATCO Electric and stay inside until ATCO Electric arrives.
If you must leave the vehicle due to immediate danger (such as a 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 into the ground, call Alberta One Call at
1-800-242-3447 to locate and mark all ATCO Electric underground cables.
Make sure swimming pools are situated well away from power lines.
Do not plant trees where they will grow into power lines.
Install antennas at a distance at least equal to the
height of the antenna plus three metres.
3.
Look Up and
Live
Take great care to avoid overhead power lines, especially when performing dangerous activities
such as:
Using a ladder;
Pruning or cutting trees;
Cleaning a pool;
Installing or removing an antenna;
Working on the roof;
Carrying long tools or pipes; or
Setting up and moving scaffolding.
4. Avoid Danger Zones
Always be on the lookout for fallen or sagging wires, especially after storms.
Stay away from downed power lines. Never touch an energized wire with your hand or any other object, under any circumstance. If you notice a damaged facility, notify ATCO Electric immediately and keep everyone away from the area.
Never play around power substations, poles, towers, fences and
trees near power lines or electrical equipment.
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.
Stay out of substations and areas
marked ‘Keep Out’ or ‘Danger.’ If a ball or toy lands in a high
voltage area, call ATCO Electric to retrieve it.
Avoid going outdoors during a lightning storm.
Rubber gloves WILL NOT protect you from the voltages carried by overhead power lines.
Wood CAN conduct electricity.
5. Be Power Safe at Home
Make sure bathroom and outdoor outlets are equipped with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
(GFCIs).
Never poke fingers, toys or anything else into wall outlets.
Do not overload circuits.
Use cords with a third (ground) prong.
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 while it is plugged in.
Replace damaged or frayed cords.
Never attempt to disconnect your power meter,
as it could explode.
Always have a qualified electrician
perform any electrical work including hooking up an emergency or back-up
generator.
Be Power Safe
While every
effort has been made to provide
accurate and complete information for your safety, ATCO Electric is not liable for any
loss, costs, damage or injury resulting from the use of this material, or from accidental
contacts with electricity. For more information on electrical safety and related topics,
contact the ATCO Electric Customer Assistance Centre at 1-800-668-2248.
