 |
|
Electric Safety |
|
|
Every day we depend upon electricity to keep our lives running. Electricity powers our homes,
offices and factories. But electricity can be dangerous in some situations. |
|
|
Here are a few tips to keep you and your family safe. |
|
|
Call Before You Dig |
|
|
|
|
Even jobs that seem simple, such as planting a tree or installing a fence or
a deck, can become dangerous and costly if an underground utility line is damaged. Please call the Indiana
Underground Plant Protection Service (IUPPS) at 1-800-382-5544 at least two full working days before you dig.
Utilities will locate and mark their underground lines for you free of charge. It's a simple call that can
avoid serious accidents.
|
|
|
Plan Before You Plant |
|
|
|
|
With the arrival of spring and warmer temperatures, you may be venturing outside to spice up
your landscape with some new shrubs or trees. As your electric provider, Vectren wants to remind you to
give careful consideration to your tree's growth characteristics to avoid future problems with nearby power lines.
Vectren's tree trimming department has come up with a few helpful tips to remember when plotting the perfect spot
for your tree or shrub.
Click here
for the Plan Before You Plant brochure.
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this brochure.
|
|
|
If You See a Fallen Power Line |
|
|
|
|
Never come in close proximity or touch a fallen power line. Never touch anything or anyone in contact
with a power line. You could be shocked by contact with the line or a secondary object or person. When a live wire
touches the ground, electricity fans out in a pool, similar to when a pebble hits water, with the voltage decreasing
as it travels from the center. You can be shocked when in this area. Other factors play a role in the severity of the
situation, such as wet conditions and the voltage of the wire. |
|
|
Reporting a Fallen Power Line |
|
|
|
|
Reporting Information:
Call Vectren Energy Delivery at 1-800-227-1376 immediately and report the location of the line. Alert your
neighbors to the situation.
Call 911 if someone is in a vehicle that is touching a line. Do not approach or make contact with the person or
vehicle. Wait for emergency personnel. |
|
|
When Vehicles Comes in Contact with a Power Lines |
|
|
|
|
If you are inside a vehicle:
Stay inside the vehicle and warn others to keep away.
Wait inside the vehicle until rescue personnel arrive.
Do not make contact with metal parts in the vehicle.
If you have to get out of the vehicle because of a fire or other danger:
Jump out so that you do not touch the vehicle and ground at the same time.
Don’t run. Hop away keeping your feet together. Separating your feet can create two contact
points with the ground and can result in a shock if the ground is energized by a fallen wire.
|
|
|
Water and Electricity Don't Mix |
|
|
|
|
If your basement becomes flooded for any reason, do not enter unless you are absolutely
certain that the water is not in contact with a source of electricity, including appliances, electrical
outlets or extension cords. If you're not sure, please call a qualified electrician. |
|
|
Never leave plugged-in appliances where they might come in contact with water. If a plugged-in appliance falls into water (such as a hair drying in a bath tub), DO NOT reach in the water to pull it out - even if it is unplugged. Unplug the appliance before removing it. If an appliance has gotten wet, do not use it unless it's been checked by a qualified electrician. |
|
|
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) |
|
|
|
|
Hundreds of people are killed or injured in their homes by electrical shock from ordinary appliances and power tools each year. By having inexpensive GFCIs installed in your electrical outlets, you can significantly reduce the risk of electrical accidents in and around your home. |
|
|
GFCI should be used in any area where water may come in contact with electrical products, such as kitchens, bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, basements, around swimming pools, and on outdoor outlets. |
|
|
Although they are easy to install, you should have a qualified electrician install GFCI's in your home. |
|
|
Outlet Safety |
|
|
|
|
Outlets with loose-fitting plugs can over-heat and start a fire. Replace any missing or broken wall plates, and make sure safety covers are placed on all un-used outlets within reach of small children. Be sure to check for outlets behind furniture and appliances. |
|
|
Do not remove the ground pin (third prong) on grounded plugs to fit a two-conductor outlet - this can lead to electrical shock. NEVER FORCE A PLUG INTO AN OUTLET. |
|
|
Summer Safety Tips |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| · |
Stay away from fenced-in electric substations. Obey the signs: DANGER - HIGH VOLTAGE - STAY AWAY! |
|
| · |
Never fly kites near power lines. If your kite should drift toward a power line, let go of the string fast. |
|
| · |
Never climb trees or build tree houses near power lines. |
|
| · |
Never install TV antennas near a power line. |
|
| · |
Stay off of utility poles and any support wires or other utility equipment. |
|
| · |
Keep radios, hair dryers and appliances away from water. |
|
| · |
Don't touch any fallen power line - stay away and call Vectren immediately. |
|
| · |
Stay inside during thunderstorms. Lighting can kill! |
|
| · |
Do not stick anything other than a plug into an electrical outlet. |
|
| · |
Read and follow all safety instructions on electric appliances, toys, tools and equipment. |
|
| · |
Remember that metal ladders conduct electricity - never use them near power lines. |
|
| · |
Outdoor receptacles should be protected with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). |
|
| · |
Never use electrically operated power tools in the rain or wet conditions. |
|
|
|
Space Heater Safety |
|
|
|
|
To help prevent Carbon Monoxide poisoning and fires from the use of space heaters, adhere to the following tips. |
|
|
|
|
| · |
Install and use appliances according to the manufacturer's instructions. |
|
| · |
Never use unvented gas or kerosene heaters in closed spaces, especially sleeping areas. |
|
| · |
Don't use gas appliances such as an oven, range, or clothes dryer to heat the home. |
|
| · |
Leave a window cracked about an inch for ventilation and fresh air. Ventilation is important to keep fuel-burning space heaters from consuming too much oxygen in the house. |
|
| · |
Do not leave a space heater on when you are not in the room or when you go to sleep. |
|
| · |
Electric space heaters should be checked for signs of fraying or splitting wires or overheating. Likewise, electric space heaters frequently cause fires by overloading electrical outlets. |
|
| · |
Keep space heaters away from combustible materials/products. |
|
|
|
|
For more information on electrical safety, visit the National Electrical Safety Foundation website. |
