Lifetime of Safety - September 2007

Electrical safety has been a top priority of ours over many lifetimes. Ever since we began delivering power to Texans more than a century ago, we have practiced safety awareness and recognized its importance in the life of everyone we serve. When it comes to the need for electrical safety, no one is exempt. That is why our Lifetime of Safety messages will cover Texans of all ages and for every season of the year. We are privileged to pass along our decades of experience through the Lifetime of Safety program.

September Lifetime of Safety Tip:
Back to School: Protect Children from Deadly High-Voltage Detours

With young people on the road to and from school, and possibly exploring the neighborhood along the way, Oncor Electric Delivery reminds everyone to heed warning signs and stay clear of high-voltage electric equipment.

America received a serious reminder of electrical hazards in July when the Associated Press reported some two dozen deaths over the past 12 months from attempted thefts of copper from electrical equipment. The results can be just as deadly for innocent children who ignore warning signs and enter utility property or rights-of-way.

Electric transmission and distribution facilities are built to be safe and protect the public, but the otherwise safe equipment quickly becomes a danger when someone trespasses on restricted property. While any energized electric line or equipment can injure or kill, the higher voltages in transformers and around substations and transmission towers require special attention, and all warning signs must be obeyed. The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration estimates that about 350 people die in the U.S. each year from electricity-related incidents, many involving high-voltage equipment.

Even utility rights-of-way can hold hazards such as poison ivy, poison oak, fire ants and snakes. Oncor employees who regularly work in those areas are careful to wear protective clothing including hard-toed shoes or boots and to carry a first aid kit.

Oncor offers these safety tips for "kids" of all ages in neighborhoods with electrical equipment:

• Do not play near electric equipment such as padmount transformers, substations, or utility poles and towers. Never climb over a fence into a substation or other restricted area.
• Observe all warning signs, and teach children to stay away from any area marked "Danger," "High Voltage" or "Keep Out."
• Never touch or lean against transmission poles or towers. Although they are grounded for protection, they should always be considered off limits.
• Airborne toys such as balloons, model airplanes and kites should be kept away from power lines and equipment. If a toy lodges in a high-voltage area or a nearby tree, leave it there. Do not try to retrieve it.
• Don't build or plant anything in a utility right-of-way. Such obstructions can keep emergency personnel from reaching vital equipment or downed power lines.
• Encourage all young people to learn and follow electric safety rules. A good way to start is to visit Electrical Safety World in the Kid's Corner of the Oncor web site.

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