look up and live

coming into contact with overhead powerlines can kill you

In the past ten years, 30 electricity-related deaths and countless accidents in Queensland could have been prevented had more care been taken around overhead powerlines.

There are many occasions when you need to exercise caution around overhead powerlines. These include:

• painting or working from ladders, trestles or scaffolding (particularly metal types)
• working on or retrieving play items from roofs, gutters and awnings
• installing a television or roofing antenna

• installing house cladding
• carrying or lifting tall objects
• erecting masts on sailing boats and operating equipment around docks
• flying kites and planes
• climbing trees close to powerlines
• pruning or cutting trees
• operating heavy machinery and other tall equipment
• establishing irrigators and operating farm equipment

To live and work safely with electricity in Queensland, it is important to consider the following safety tips

• familiarise yourself with the layout of the overhead electrical network on or near your property or the property on which you are working
• find out the clearance levels underneath the powerlines on the property (take into account the 'sag' of the line between poles) and check this against machinery or equipment likely to come near powerlines
• always assess the risk of operating machinery near the electricity system and check for changes in the electricity network or in your plant and equipment
• always look up and live.

operating heavy machinery near powerlines

When operating heavy machinery near overhead powerlines, follow the above tips and also consider the following:

• check in advance that machinery will travel clear of overhead and stay wires
• place ground markers near wires
• place stickers on heavy machinery to remind operators to look up and live.

electrical safety and irrigation

Every care should be taken to ensure a clear path when setting up crop-watering systems near powerlines.

• If you have to move an irrigation pipe near powerlines, don't lift it at a right angle to the ground. Irrigation pipes are in lengths that will easily cover the distance between ground and overhead powerlines.
• When working near overhead powerlines, place ground markers near them to remind workers to be aware of overhead powerlines.
• Have someone watch your movements to ensure you maintain a safe distance away from powerlines.

downed powerlines and other dangerous situations

• Treat any downed powerlines as 'live' regardless of whether they are sparking or arcing.
• If your machinery contacts powerlines, where possible do not step down from machinery. If parts of your body are still touching 'live' metal on the machine as your foot touches the earth, a path can be created for the electricity to run through your body to the earth. Try not to move, call for someone to contact emergency services and your local electricity supplier for help.
• If there is an added danger like a fire or if you are alone and cannot stay on the machine, jump off keeping both feet together and try to jump as far away from the machine as you can. Then, still keeping both feet together, hop clear of the machine. Be aware, tyres do not necessarily give insulation from the earth.
• Do not walk near electrified machines, as dangerous voltages may form between your feet.

wearing shoes

• Don't go barefoot while using electrical appliances or machinery or using a steel ladder. In one third of all electric shocks, current flows to earth through a victim's bare feet.
• Rubber or plastic soled shoes in good condition will give far more protection than thongs or no shoes at all. 'Good condition' means shoes are dry and not torn or split to the point where they don't cover the feet entirely.

To report an electricity interruption or emergency situations, telephone ENERGEX anytime on 13 62 62. For general customer enquiries or to obtain a safety brochure, contact 13 12 53.

 

 

 

 

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Disclaimer

This is not an exhaustive list of all safety matters that need to be considered. Whilst care is taken in the preparation of this material, ENERGEX does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of information.

ENERGEX will not be responsible for any loss, damage or costs incurred as a result of any errors omissions or misrepresentations in relation to the material in this document or for any possible actions ensuing from information contained above.