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Safety Tips
Outdoor
Safety Tips
Call Before You
Dig
Stay Away from Power
Lines
Stay Away from
Downed Power Lines
Check Your Electrical
Equipment
Use Caution When Landscaping
Substations
and Transformers
Kite & Balloon Safety
Watch Out for Lightning
Indoor
Safety Tips
Check Your Wiring
Fuses & Circuit
Breakers
Using Extension Cords
Safety &
Household Appliances
Using Power Tools Safely
In Case of an Electrical Emergency
Emergency First Aid
Tips
Always Be Prepared!
Outages
Report an Outage
Power Outage Kits
Food Alerts
Garage Doors
Water Pipes
Medical Problems
Pets
Appliances
Q & A
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Outdoor Electrical Safety Tips
There are several things you can do to help keep you and
your family safe from electrical hazards when working or playing
outdoors:
Remember electricity is always trying to find the easiest
path to ground. It travels through conductors. Good conductors
are water, metal (like copper wire) and people. People are such
good conductors because the human body is about 70% water. That's
why electricity often uses your body as the easiest pathway
to ground.
Be aware of any electrical hazards in or around your property.
Don't put off simple precautions or repairs. You may save a
family member's life!
You're not sure whether those lines are electrical wires or
telephone wires? Don't guess! Assume any wire is energized.
STAY AWAY!
Call Before You Dig
Always call Indiana Underground Plant Protection Systems
before you plan to dig. Their toll-free number is 1-800-382-5544.
Whether it's a small or a large construction or homeowner project
(such as putting up a fence or clothes line, planting a garden
or shrubbery, building a home addition, deck or foundation,
etc.) you must call two full working days (not counting weekends
or holidays) prior to digging. Check their website for more
information http://www.iupps.com
.
Richmond Power & Light subscribes to this service, and we
will be informed of your call. Since you must call two full
working days in advance, you give us time to mark the location
of any underground electric lines. IF YOU DIG INTO RP&L'S
LINES, YOU NOT ONLY EXPOSE YOURSELF TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION,
BUT YOU'LL ALSO BE CHARGED FOR ALL REPAIRS!
Stay Away from Power Lines
Use ladders made out of wood or fiberglass, NOT METAL,
when working near power lines. And never set a ladder where
it can fall into power lines! When you carry a ladder,
hold it low enough to avoid hitting overhead power lines.
Don't install an antenna where it would hit a power line if
it fell.
Stay Away from Downed Power Lines
Never go near downed power lines! If you come across a
power line that has fallen, call RP&L immediately at 973-7200.
If a power line falls on your car, stay inside the car unless
the car catches fire. If this should happen, jump clear of the
car without touching metal and the ground at the same time.
If someone comes in contact with a live outdoor power line,
call RP&L immediately so that the power can be shut off.
Don't touch the victim or the power line!
Check Your Electrical Equipment
Make sure your power tools are properly grounded when you
plug them in, and that you only use heavy-duty extension cords
that are rated for outdoor use.
Check to make sure that your outdoor electrical outlets are
properly grounded, and that they have weather-proof covers over
them.
Only install lights outside that are intended for outdoor use.
(This goes for Christmas lights, too!)
Keep electrical power tools away from water. Never use power
tools if you're standing in water or on a wet surface.
Use Caution When Landscaping
Don't plant tall-growing trees underneath power lines.
If you have a tree that has power lines running through it,
don't let your children climb the tree, and don't build anything
in it. If the tree needs to be trimmed or removed, call RP&L.
Don't plant shrubs near your electric meter.
Some power lines are buried. Please make sure you CALL BEFORE
YOU DIG!
Stay Away From Substations and Transformers
Teach your children to stay away from utility substations
and transformers. These high voltage areas can be very dangerous!
Also, teach your children to recognize the "DANGER"
signs that are on all high voltage equipment, and to stay away.
If you notice a substation fence or transformer cabinet has
been damaged, call RP&L at 973-7200.
Never climb utility poles or transmission towers.
Kite & Balloon Safety
Never fly kites or model airplanes near power lines.
Don't use metal or wire on kites. Use dry string instead.
Don't release metallic balloons! These balloons have an aluminum
coating, and are great conductors of electricity. If these balloons
get caught in power lines they can cause power outages, and
can also cause power surges that can damage electronic equipment
such as computers.
Watch Out for Lightning
If you are caught outdoors during a thunderstorm, get indoors
as fast as possible. If you can't get indoors, try to stay away
from trees. Wet wood and tall objects attract lightning.
If you are outdoors in a thunderstorm, and you are the tallest
object around, sit or lie down. You won't be very comfortable,
but it may just save your life!
If you are swimming or boating when a thunderstorm occurs, get
to shore and away from the water as fast as possible.
If you are on the golf course, seek shelter immediately. Don't
continue to play, and never hold the metal club in your hand
during a thunderstorm!
Indoor Electrical Safety Tips
Always make sure your hands are dry and that you are standing
on a dry surface before you touch a light switch or electrical
cord, or turn on an electrical appliance.
Check the wiring on appliances before you plug them in. Make
sure there aren't any exposed wires that could start a fire
or electrocute someone.
Keep all electrical appliances away from sinks and bathtubs.
If the appliance would fall into the water, you could be electrocuted.
Never use any electrical appliance while you're in the bathtub
or shower.
Never put metal objects into an appliance unless the appliance
has been unplugged.
When you buy a new appliance, make sure that it has been approved
by a testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratory (U/L).
This shows that the appliance has passed a series of safety
tests.
Always read the instructions before you operate a new electrical
appliance.
Don't plug too many things into one outlet. This will overload
the circuit and may start a fire!
Never run extension cords (or any electrical cords) underneath
rugs.
Keep all electrical cords away from heat sources.
If you are indoors during a thunderstorm, stay away from windows,
and turn off your TV and other appliances.
Check Your Wiring
All electric wiring must be installed and inspected by
a licensed electrician, per Richmond City Code. Homes that were
wired for electricity between 1965 and 1973 may have aluminum
wiring, which may be dangerous. If you know, or believe, your
home may have been wired between these years, have your wiring
checked by a licensed electrician.
In order for your household wiring to be considered safe, it
should include the following:
- A metal circuit breaker or fuse box rated for at least
100 amps.
- Three kinds of circuits: A) Fixed equipment circuits
are for high-wattage appliances such as your stove, washer,
dryer or refrigerator. B) General purpose circuits are usually
15 amps for lights and small appliances such as a radio,
TV or lamp. C) Kitchen and dining area circuits are usually
20 amps for medium wattage appliances, such as a toaster,
iron or coffee maker.
- GFCI's (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters) are devices
that reduce the risk of electric shock. They shut off the
power when problems occur. Outlets that are installed in
areas where they might get wet, such as a bathroom or outdoors,
should be protected with a GFCI.
Fuses & Circuit Breakers
Fuses and circuit breakers control the electricity that
flows to various areas of your house. For instance, one fuse
or circuit breaker might control the electricity to your kitchen
while another controls the flow of electricity to your living
room. Fuses and circuit breakers also shut off the electricity
automatically in the event of any of the following:
- Short Circuits - which can occur when a bare wire allows
the electricity to take a shortcut.
- Overloads - which are caused by plugging too many appliances
into one outlet.
- Defective Parts - which can cause a fire, or present
a risk of electric shock.
By shutting themselves off, fuses and circuit breakers help
prevent fires and/or injuries in your home or business.
What to do if a fuse blows:
- Unplug the appliance that has caused the problem.
- Shut off the main power switch on the fuse box.
- Replace the blown fuse with a new one. (Make sure it's
the proper rating.)
- Turn the main power switch back on.
What to do if a circuit breaker is tripped:
- Unplug the appliance that is causing the problem.
- Reset the circuit breaker according to the instructions.
Using Extension Cords
Make sure that you use an extension cord that has been
approved by a testing laboratory (such as "U/L Approved").
You will also need to make sure that the extension cord is the
right one for the location where it will be used, and for the
type of electrical load it will be carrying. For instance, you'll
need a heavy-duty cord for power tools, a weather resistant
cord for outdoor use, or a three-wire cord with a three-prong
plug for tools or appliances that need grounding.
Never remove the third prong on a three-prong plug to make it
fit into a standard household outlet! The third prong is the
ground wire.
Pick a Safe Spot
Don't put an extension cord where it's likely to be stepped
on or damaged. And make sure to keep all extension cords away
from heat sources and from water.
Don't use extension cords as a substitute for electrical outlets.
Overloading your outlet with too many appliances can cause a
fire!
Check Extension Cords for Wear
Make sure the cord isn't showing any signs of wear before and
after you use it. Pay special attention to the plug to make
sure it isn't pulling loose. If you see any signs of wear, don't
use the cord. Worn out extension cords can cause shorts, shocks
or fires.
Handle With Care
Don't twist, crush or kink the extension cord. This could break
the wires inside the cord. When you unplug an extension cord
(or any other plug) pull on the plug, not the cord!
Safety & Household Appliances
All household appliances should have a label from a testing
laboratory (such as "U/L Approved") to show that it
has passed the necessary safety standard tests. Before you use
a new appliance, read the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Large appliances need circuits of various types and sizes. If
you will be bringing a large appliance into your home, and you're
not sure if you have an adequate outlet or proper wiring, call
a service person or a licensed electrician. Your owner's manual
will also help you find out what you need.
General Safety Tips:
Never use an electric appliance while touching metal (especially
plumbing), standing on a wet surface, or while taking a shower
or bath.
Make sure to unplug appliances before you clean them, repair
them, or when they aren't being used.
Keep the appliance motors clean. NOTE: If an appliance smokes,
sparks or gives you a shock, unplug it immediately! Call a service
person to repair it before you try to use it again.
Never put metal objects into an appliance or an electrical outlet.
Teach your children not to play with electrical cords and wall
outlets. If you have small children, cover your wall outlets
with plastic safety caps. These are very affordable, and are
available at most hardware stores.
Using Power Tools Safely
You should always be careful when using power tools. Always
keep your hands and fingers away from power saws and drills,
and always wear safety goggles to keep sawdust and flying debris
out of your eyes.
Wear rubber soled shoes and rubber gloves whenever you use a
power tool in a damp or wet area. And don't wear clothes that
could get caught or tangled up in power tools.
You also need to take extra care where the electrical power
for your tools is concerned. Following these six simple rules
will help keep your work area safe:
- Check the circuits in your work area. You should have
plenty of grounded outlets (protected by a GFCI) that are
wired with the right number of amps for the tools you use.
- Use safety features such as three-prong plugs (when your
tools aren't double-insulated) and safety switches to prevent
the tools from starting up accidentally.
- Maintain your tools by keeping them clean, oiled (if
necessary), and in good working condition. Repair or replace
damaged tools.
- Store and use your tools in a safe, dry place.
- Protect power cords from heat sources, chemicals, oil,
etc. When storing extension cords, coil the cords loosely
and put them in a clean, dry place.
- Clean up your work area as needed. Sawdust, wood shavings,
paper and rags all increase the risk of fire.
What to Do if There's an Electrical Emergency
ELECTRICAL FIRE
- Make sure everyone leaves the house.
- Call the fire department right away. (Dial 911.)
- If the fire is still small (for example, an appliance),
unplug the appliance or turn off the electricity. Don't
take the time to find the right fuse or circuit breaker.
Just shut off the main power switch.
- Use a fire extinguisher that's recommended for electrical
(Class C) fires. Never use water on an electrical fire!
It can cause an electrical shock!
ELECTRICAL SHOCK
When someone has come in contact with live, indoor electricity:
- Don't touch the victim or the appliance causing the shock!
- Shut off the main power switch on your fuse box or circuit
breaker panel.
- Call 911 immediately!
When someone has come in contact with a live, outdoor wire:
- Call 911 immediately. The dispatchers will call the power
company and have the power turned off.
- Get medical help as soon as possible.
DOWNED ELECTRICAL WIRES
- Never touch the wires!
- Call 911 immediately.
- Warn others to stay away from the area.
- If you are in a car, drive away from the area. If the
wires fall on your car, stay in the car until help arrives.
If your car catches fire, jump clear of the car without
touching metal and the ground at the same time. And don't
touch the wire!
Emergency First Aid Tips
If someone has received a serious electrical shock, call
911 immediately. You may also need to provide first aid for
the victim until help arrives.
If the victim isn't breathing, you will need to give
them artificial respiration until they begin to breathe on their
own, or until help arrives. You will also need to give CPR to
restore their heartbeat. You need professional training to do
either of these. Without the proper training, you could do more
harm than good. If you don't have the training, and would like
to learn, the local chapter of the American Red Cross offers
low-cost, convenient classes in CPR, artificial respiration
and first aid.
If the victim is in shock (weak, rapid pulse; cool, pale
skin; irregular breathing), try to find the cause. For instance,
check to see if the victim is breathing, or is bleeding. Treat
the cause if you know what to do. If you aren't sure what you
should do, call the hospital or 911.
For a victim of a serious electrical shock you should follow
these first aid measures:
- Keep the victim lying down. If they are unconscious and
appear to be having trouble breathing, lay them on their
side. This will help keep their airway clear. But don't
move the victim unless it's absolutely necessary! They might
have a neck or spine injury.
- Cover them just enough so that they maintain their body
heat.
If the victim has been burned, the type of first aid will depend
on how badly they are burned:
- For minor burns apply cool water, blot dry and apply
a dry, sterile bandage.
- For severe burns, cover the burns with a sterile bandage.
Always Be Prepared
There are approximately 5,000 house fires every year in
the United States...one out of eight of these fires is started
by faulty wiring or by household appliances.
If you don't have a family fire drill plan, get one! If you
need help putting a fire drill plan together, call your local
Fire Department. They can help you find the quickest and best
escape routes from your home. Having a fire drill plan in place,
and practicing it, can save your family's lives.
Other things you can do to be prepared are:
Put a fire extinguisher on every floor, and make sure everyone
in your home knows how to use it.
Install smoke detectors on every floor, making sure there is
one outside your bedroom doors.
Test your smoke detectors every month! Smoke detectors don't
work if the batteries are dead!
There are electric smoke detectors available now that are connected
to your household electrical wiring. Since they are operated
by electricity, there's no need to change batteries. It's still
a good idea, though, to check them each month to make sure they're
working properly.
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Power Outage Kits
Be prepared for a power outage by keeping necessary items
centrally located in your home. Take the time to ensure that
everyone in your family is aware of the "kit." Periodically
check your kit to see that batteries operate properly. The following
is a list of items that are suggested to keep on hand:
- Flashlights for each family member
- Battery-operated radio and clock
- Extra batteries
- Containers of bottled water
- Canned, freeze-dried or dehydrated food, powdered milk,
baby supplies for infants
- Non-electric can opener
- List of important phone numbers
- First-aid kit
- Know how to manually operate an electric garage door
Food Alerts
Do not refreeze melted ice cream or yogurt, seafood, food
that has thawed completely and been held above 40 degrees for
two hours or longer, anything with custard fillings, or any
foods with a questionable texture or odor. A general rule on
food spoilage is: If in doubt, throw it out.
If you have any questions about the safety of defrosted foods,
you can call the U.S. Department of Agriculture's toll-free
"Meat and Poultry Line" at 1-800-535-4555 weekdays,
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Garage Doors
Electric garage doors may be opened by disengaging the
drive mechanism. Methods used to do this vary from manufacturer
to manufacturer. Please consult your operating instructions
supplied by the manufacturer. They will tell you how to disengage
the drive mechanism so that you can open the door manually.
If you do not have a manufacturer's instruction book, call the
company that installed the doors.
Water Pipes
Keep your pipes from freezing by shutting off the valve
that allows water to come into your home. Then, open any drain
valves and all faucets and let them run until the pipes are
empty (it's helpful to identify these valves in advance). Next,
flush all toilets and pour denatured alcohol into toilets and
sinks to prevent water in the traps from freezing. Do NOT
use automotive antifreeze in case there's trouble with your
water system; you don't want the antifreeze to contaminate your
drinking water. You may, however, use nontoxic antifreeze that's
made for winterizing motor homes.
Turn off the furnace emergency switch. Then drain your furnace
boiler by opening the valve at the bottom (this looks like a
garden faucet). Also, open all radiator vents. Be sure the boiler
is filled with water again before it is restarted.
The tank of your electric water heater will keep water warm
for the first few days after an outage. However, it can freeze
after prolonged cold and should be drained after three days
of below freezing temperatures.
Medical Problems
Find out about local shelters ahead of time if you have
a medical problem. If you are ill or frail, consider staying
with relatives if the outage will be lengthy.
If a member of your household relies on electric equipment for
a life-threatening medical condition, we suggest a back-up plan
to provide the patient with alternative facility care in case
of a prolonged outage.
If you have medication that requires refrigeration, check with
your pharmacist for guidance on proper storage during an extended
outage. You may want to keep a small cooler handy.
Pets
Smaller pets such as fish, birds and reptiles may be endangered.
Since many of these animals are fragile, we recommend that you
do not wait until an outage strikes to devise alternate arrangements.
Check with a reputable pet store to determine what steps you
can take before and during an outage to ensure your pet's survival.
Appliances
Before a storm you might set your refrigerator and freezer
to their coldest settings (remember to reset them afterwards).
It's a good idea to place plastic containers filled with water
in your freezer because ice helps maintain the cold during outages.
During a major outage try not to open the refrigerator or freezer
doors any more than necessary. If the unit's door is unopened,
food stays in a full refrigerator for up to 24 hours and in
a freezer up to approximately 48 hours if it's well packed;
approximately 24 hours if it's half packed. You might load up
a cooler with ice and store food you'll need during the first
day or so after an outage.
When an outage occurs, turn off most appliances to prevent an
overload on the electrical system when he power is restored.
You may choose to leave your refrigerator and freezer on.
Questions and Answers
Why do I have trouble getting a call through to your office
during an outage?
If you are calling our regular 973-7200 number, we have one
to four lines being answered at a time. If you get a busy signal,
please try again a few minutes later to report your outage.
We need to hear from our customers! We have staff to answer
your calls 24-hours a day.
Why can't you tell me specifically when my power will be restored?
Unless the cause of an outage is obvious (such as a car running
into a power pole), it takes us some time to determine the extent
of the damage. And the problems are magnified during winter
storms that result in numerous outages. Our priority is simply
to get your power back on, not to guess about how quickly it
may happen.
My neighbors have power, why don't I?
Sometimes there's a blown fuse in a transformer or damage done
to the line serving your home. But we also may have to isolate
a small section of line to work on a problem, even while power
has been restored to other parts of the same line.
Do certain customers get priority in having their power restored
after an outage?
When multiple customers living within the same neighborhood
are affected during a storm, or other cause of power failure,
they are generally served by a common line. Repairing this line
means restoring power to all customers affected simultaneously.
When customers not living within the same neighborhood
are affected, different factors such as total time without power
and distance from the working crew are taken into consideration.
When scattered outages occur we do give weighted consideration
to people on life support systems.
Why can't you prevent outages from occurring in the first place?
We do our best during non-emergency time to maintain and upgrade
our entire electric system. But unfortunately, no system is
built to withstand falling trees, branches across lines and
other side effects of severe weather. A well-designed and maintained
system will prevent some damage, but it can't completely prevent
outages.
How to Report a Power Outage
If your electric service is interrupted, check with a neighbor
to see if you are the only one without service. If you are,
check your panel box for a tripped circuit breaker or a blown
fuse. Check to see if all of the breakers are in the "on"
position. If any breakers are in the "off" position,
flip them back to the "on" position. A blown fuse
should be replaced with a new one of the same amperage.
Generally, this will correct a simple interruption. If it doesn't
solve your problem, call Richmond Power and Light at 973-7200.
There is someone there to answer your call 24-hours a day, 7-days
a week. If you try to call to report an outage and our line
is busy, please keep trying. Don't assume your neighbors have
already called in...they may not call us because they think
you will. Give your name, address and telephone number and,
to the best of your ability, describe the problem. For example,
a fallen tree across a wire, or a flash at the transformer.
If you have additional information, please pass it along. |
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