Pennsylvania PUC warns residents to be cautious near power lines
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently encouraged residents and contractors to take great care when working near power lines, in recognition of National Electrical Safety Month.
An average of 24 serious injuries and six deaths involving power lines occur each year in the state of Pennsylvania. The PUC said that many of these cases could have been avoided if better precautions were taken around power lines.
“On most days we take electrical service for granted, but electricity is unforgiving – and a moment of inattention can have devastating consequences,” PUC Vice Chairman Andrew G. Place said. “Every year, a number of Pennsylvanians are seriously injured or killed when they accidentally come in contact with power lines around their homes or workplaces, and many of those incidents could be prevented.”
In Pennsylvania, construction workers, roofers, crane operators and other home repair workers are at the greatest risk of injury related to power lines, and homeowners are a close second. To mitigate this issue, the PUC urged state residents to call the Pennsylvania One Call System at 8-1-1 to notify utilities of dates that they will work near power lines. Utility companies often provide safety equipment, including rubberized barriers, to individuals, and even shut off the power in some instances to ensure public safety.
Place asked state residents to treat power lines with caution and respect, in the hopes of decreasing the rate of injury related to power lines moving forward.
