Powerline Safety

POWER LINE HAZARDS

• Deactivated Power lines may continue to pose a hazard.

• Request power/utility companies to deactivate lines in operational areas.

• Identify, Map and discuss at all briefings all electrical lines on the incident.

• Do not exit a vehicle if a power line has fallen on it. If a vehicle is on fire, JUMP CLEAR, don’t hang onto the vehicle. Keep feet together and leap/bunny hop away

• Do not drive over, park under, or attempt to move power lines. The magnetic field around energized power lines can induce an electrical charge in ungrounded vehicles or equipment. This charge can shock anyone who touches the vehicle.

• Do not touch vehicles with power lines on them. 

• Minimize operation of heavy equipment around power lines.

• Exercise extreme caution when navigating heavy equipment, high profile or vehicles with long antennas under existing or compromised power lines.

• Do not fuel vehicles under power lines.

• Do not stand in vicinity of power lines during tanker or helo drops.

• Do not move downed power lines.

• Do not direct water onto power lines.

• The ground around power lines may be energized up to 35 feet.

• Avoid any body of water that is near or in direct contact with a downed power line.

• Assign an attendant to keep personnel away from power lines or flag the area to call attention to location of danger areas. Stay at least one “pole” to either side of downed line.

• Mark area of downed line with three layers of Red and White “DANGER” barricade tape.

• Place sentry in the area of downed line to keep personnel away

Minimum Approach Distance Calculator

You can use this page to calculate minimum approach distances for phase-to-phase system voltages exceeding 72.5 kilovolts in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.269 and 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart V, as follows:

• Select the method of measurement (feet or meters);

• Enter the maximum phase-to-phase system voltage, the maximum transient overvoltage resulting from an engineering analysis of the system, and the elevation of the worksite;

• Check the appropriate boxes to indicate "yes" answers to the questions, or uncheck them to indicate "no."

The calculator provides the minimum approach distance, in feet or meters (depending on your selection), for phase-to-ground and phase-to-phase exposures.

Minimum Approach Distance Calculator

An electric current can cause muscular contractions with varying effects. (a) The victim is thrown backward by involuntary muscle contractions that extend the legs and torso. (b) The victim can't let go of the wire that is stimulating all the muscles in the hand. Those that close the fingers are stronger than those that open them.