Electric Safety

People take electricity for granted, like air and water. But it is not the same at all. It’s a tremendous force moving at the speed of light that we generate and control in wires and equipment.

As long as electricity is isolated, we can use it safely. But when the force of electricity is loosed, terrible accidents can happen. Knowing a few simple principles can save you from injury or death.

• You conduct electricity, just like water, metals, and materials made from hydrocarbons
• Electricity travels to the ground the easiest way it can -- don’t let it travel through you.
• Electricity moves instantaneously (at the speed of light); there is no time to react.

Electricity anywhere can threaten your life but downed wires are especially dangerous. They are not insulated. If charged, the electricity can move through anything nearby.

• outlets and switches - 120 volts
• entry to homes and offices - 240 volts
• overhead distribution line - 7200 volts per wire
• major transmission lines - 500,000 volts per wire