What you need to know about power lines before you work.

One of the most potentially hazardous electrical situations in industrial plants and on construction sites is accidental contact with overhead or underground wiring. Protection from contact with overhead wiring is provided best by ISOLATION, or distance. The covering on some overhead lines is weatherproofing; it is not intended to provide insulated protection from contact. This plastic coating may become brittle, making it easy to crack and fall off.

Operators of equipment like:

• Backhoes
• Dump trucks
• Bucket trucks
• Concrete pumpers
• Booms and cranes

should be especially conscious of overhead wiring. The hazard of contact is also posed to workers on scaffolding or those handling or moving any type of long tools or equipment, like sections of metal pipe.

Before you begin any work, including construction, within 10 feet of an overhead electrical line carrying more than 750 volts, you should check your state laws, regulations and guidelines, and federal standards.

The Florida Underground Facilities Damage Prevention and Safety Act requires anyone engaged in any type of excavation or demolition to provide advance notice to owners of underground facilities (electrical service, telephone, television cable, water, etc.) before commencing work.

The purpose of this notification is to allow time for the owners of the underground facilities to locate and mark locations of their lines on the excavation site. Failure to comply with the Florida Underground Facilities Damage Prevention and Safety Act can result in civil penalties and other action.

Notice must be given at least 48 hours but not more than 5 days prior to beginning the work. Additionally, notification should be limited to the amount of work that can be completed in 10 working days.

Notification to Gulf Power Company can be made by contacting the Call Sunshine One-Call notification center at 800-432-4770.

Operators at Call Sunshine require specific information about the excavation site in order to properly notify all of its member utilities. Work location processing is very easy if the caller is prepared to answer all questions.

Gulf Power Company is a voluntary member of Sunshine State One-Call of Florida, Inc., which is affiliated with the Call Sunshine One-Call notification center. The center will obtain necessary information about each excavation site and notify all of the Sunshine State One-Call members of the work to be done.

Responsibilities of the Excavator

About Sunshine State One-Call of Florida

For specific information regarding the "Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act," please refer to Chapter 556 of the Florida Statutes.