Safety

When jobs are not carefully planned, accidents are likely to happen. Accidents involving power lines can end up fatal. Follow the tips below to help you work safely near power lines. 
 

Before You Begin Work

• Survey the site for overhead power lines.

Best Safety Practice

• Never get closer than 10 feet to an overhead power line!

• Consider ALL overhead power lines as energized until the electric utility indicates the line is not energized and has been grounded.

• In construction work, an overhead power line safety component should be part of your employer’s overall safety and health program and safety training.

• If overhead lines are present, call the utility company. The utility company may either be able to shut down the lines or install guards over the lines during the time you are working near them.

Working with Tools and Equipment

• Be sure equipment is at a safe distance from power lines of 10 feet. (Touching equipment that is touching a power line can be fatal.)

• Have a brief job site meeting to discuss the planned work as it relates to the power lines

• Discuss topics such as the use of long-handled tools, and equipment (raised dump trucks, backhoes, etc.) that could come in contact with the lines.

• Consider the need for a designated person to monitor activities around the lines.

• Only use nonconductive ladders when working on or near overhead power lines. 

• Employees shall not be permitted to approach or carry any object closer than 10 feet to a power line.

• The only exception is for trained and qualified employees using insulated tools designed for high voltage lines.

Avoiding Hazards in Digging/Drilling

• The most dangerous strikes can occur when a drill hits an electric or gas line.

• The operator can be electrocuted or cause an explosion.

• Step Potential can endanger the tracking person as his feet encounter an energized area where the boring device has encountered an electrical line. Equipment operators may also be injured.

• Touch Potential will likely injure or kill the equipment operator as the current travels from the point of contact, through the boring equipment back to the operator’s position.

• Plan and map your bore.

• With bore plan in hand, the competent person must mark the route and call 811. After the area has been located, expose the existing utilities following relevant OSHA requirements.

If Your Vehicle/Equipment Comes in Contact with a Power Line

• Don’t leave the vehicle, as long as you can stay inside and avoid touching metal on the vehicle.

• If you need to get out to summon help or because of fire, jump out without touching any wires or the equipment, keep your feet together and hop to safety.

• When equipment is working close to an energized power line, the personnel standing on the ground should not come in contact with this equipment.

In the case of an after hour EMERGENCY repair that requires an electrical inspection  

• You will have to get an emergency wiring statement from the lineman on-site that is disconnecting the power or have it printed out from the website 

• You will have to find a qualified approved electrician for your county to perform the repairs (you can find a list for each county at the bottom of this page) 

• Members will have the qualified approved electrician make all repairs and sign off on the emergency wiring statement (signature MUST be legible) 

• Send the paper via email to emergencyrepairs@sciremc.com or give to a lineman when they arrive on site 

• Once the signature has been verified, the lineman will restore power. NOTE: If the signature is not legible or if the electrician is not on the list of “qualified approved” electricians we will not be able to restore power without an inspection 

• Members will have 3 business days to contact their county inspector and schedule an electrical inspection 

Click here to download the Emergency Wiring Statement. Before electricity may be furnished, this certificate must be completed in its entirety and returned to SCI REMC.  

IMPORTANT NOTES: 

This emergency wiring statement may only be used for EMERGENCY repairs AFTER HOURS or when the county inspector is unavailable. This form MAY NOT be used for new service requests, planned work, or other non-emergency scenarios. 

All electricians must be on the approved list of qualified electricians for the county where work is performed. 

This list is provided to SCI REMC by the county inspectors. Please contact the appropriate county representatives for information on how to be added to this list. 

If your county does not appear on this list, it is because we have not received a list of qualified approved electricians from your county inspector and you will have to wait for reconnecting until it has been green tagged by your county inspector. 

Qualified Approved Electricians by County
Owen County
Morgan County
Monroe County
Mooresville
Brown County

Accidentally contacting a power line can be dangerous and in some cases, even deadly. Your cooperative wants to help our members stay safe around power lines.
 

Keep a safe distance

Whether you are playing outdoors with your children or working on landscaping projects, keep a safe distance from power lines and other equipment your co-op uses to get electricity to your home.
 

Always remember to:

• Stay away from power lines, meters, transformers and electrical boxes.

• Don’t climb trees near power lines.

• Never fly kits, remote control airplanes or balloons near power lines.

• If you get something stuck in a power line, call your Touchstone Energy co-op to get it.

• Keep a safe distance from overhead power lines when working with ladders or installing objects such as antennas.

• Never touch or go near a downed power line.

• Don’t touch anything that may be touching a downed wire, such as a car.

• Keep children and pets away.

Power Line Hazards And Cars

If a power line falls on a car, you should stay inside the vehicle. This is the safest place to stay. Warn people not to touch the car or the line. Call or ask someone to call the local cooperative and emergency services.

The only circumstance in which you should consider leaving a car that is in contact with a downed power line is if the vehicle catches on fire. Open the door. Do not step out of the car. You may receive a shock. Instead, jump free of the car so that your body clears the vehicle before touching the ground. Once you clear the car, hop with both feet together at least 50 feet away.

As in all power line-related emergencies, call for help immediately by dialing 911 or call your electric utility company's Service/Dispatch Office.

Do not try to help someone else from the car while you are standing on the ground.

Be Prepared For Severe Weather!
Severe weather such as snow, ice, and heavy winds mean possible widespread power outages and tree damage. Make sure your home is prepared. Please use the emergency links below to assist you:

• Emergency Management Agencies by County

• Travel Advisory Map for Indiana Counties

• Residential Heating Safety

• Winter Weather Precautions

• Current Weather Conditions

• Preparedness Information for All Situations
   

Storm Checklist
If your lights go off during a storm, be prepared for the power outage. Assemble supplies to have on hand rather than rushing around when the storm is coming and waiting in long lines for milk or bread. Rotate your supplies to keep them fresh and use the following checklist to prepare for power outages:
 

Have Plenty of Food

• Keep a 3- to 5-day supply of drinking water in plastic bottles. Plan on at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day.

• Store a manual can opener with enough nonperishable foods for 3 to 5 days. Canned meats, tuna fish and peanut butter are good foods to store. Don’t forget pet foods!

• Conserve water by using paper plates and plastic utensils.

• Have a camp stove or grill for outdoor cooking.

Stay In Touch

• Have a portable, battery-powered radio and alarm clock.

• Have one non-portable phone that will work even if power is interrupted.

• Plan where to meet and how to communicate with family members if separated.
  Keep essential family member contact information near your phone, in your wallet, and in your glove compartment.

Keep Things Going

• Keep plenty of gas in your car.

• Keep extra batteries, matches, propane, charcoal and firewood.

Stay Happy, Healthy, and Warm

• Coordinate with neighbors for care of the elderly and disabled living alone.

• Maintain a supply of prescriptions, nonprescription drugs, vitamins and special dietary foods.

• Playing cards, books, drawing and writing supplies, and board games help pass the time. If you have a video camera and tapes, your family can make a storm documentary.

• Keep sanitary and personal hygiene supplies replenished. Premoistened cleansing towelettes are useful and help conserve water.

• Use plastic trash bags and ties for garbage.

• Put first-aid kits in your home and car.

• Make sure you have cold weather clothing, foul weather gear, blankets and sleeping bags.

• Consider purchasing alternative UL-approved heating devices. For example, a fireplace insert or woodstove will keep the heat in your home instead of up the chimney.

• Use flashlights and other battery-operated lighting instead of candles.

• Keep fire extinguishers fully charged.

• Fill your bathtub with water for bathroom use before the storm (if you have a well).