Power Line Electrocution and Safety Measures
Electricity is something people take for granted. In fact, most people are not aware of the amount of energy required to run a house. It is all the energy required in running equipment that makes handling electricity a very dangerous task.
Electrocution causes thousands of deaths each and every year. Most of them are people who work with electricity or construction workers. Most of the time, these accidents involve people handling power lines. Different sorts of equipment are capable of reaching the height of a power line: cranes, scaffolds, ladders, trucks, and certain tractors. Fatalities can also occur due to contact with residential power lines.
If you are going to be working with power lines, or living or working near them, here are some safety tips you should keep in mind:
- Power lines should always be removed of energy and insulated before being worked on.
- Be careful what you place near the lines. Use indicators whenever possible to let yourself or others know how far objects are from the power lines.
- Rubber boots and/or gloves increase insulation and decrease the damages or likelihood of damages caused by electrocution.
- Having a fellow worker “signal” a large piece of equipment under or near a power line can prevent contact with a power line.
- Aluminum or other metal-based ladders should be prohibited when working near power lines. Wet or moist ladders can also conduct electricity and should also be avoided.
- Watch for weather that can cause power lines to sway or be cut. A power line should never be handled in extreme weather conditions.
Contact Us
If you or someone you know has been injured due to electrocution from poorly maintained or installed power lines, contact the Clarksburg personal injury lawyer David W. Frame today at 800-352-9460.
