Delivering electricity to your home takes a variety of equipment, some of which may be sitting in your yard or neighborhood. While both adults and children may be curious, the inherent dangers of electricity provide a good reason to maintain a safe distance.
“Some of the equipment may not look dangerous, but it can contain high-voltage electricity,” warns Rick Coons, CEO at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “If someone comes into contact with that electricity they could be killed or seriously injured.”
Co-ops and other electric power providers will sometimes install large metal cabinets in homeowners’ yards, called transformer boxes. These cabinets contain cables and other electrical equipment that converts the high-voltage electricity used in power lines to the lower voltages that serve home outlets. The boxes normally feature labels that warn of the hazards.
“As long as the boxes are secure, they’re perfectly safe,” says Coons. “But children should not play on or around them. In addition, our crews need to be able to access the boxes, so homeowners shouldn’t plant flowers or shrubs in front of them. This ensures that we are able to find the boxes quickly when we need to. Lastly, if the transformer box appears to have been left open or has been vandalized in any way, call Indiana Electric Cooperatives (IEC) or your power provider right away.”
Electric meters are another source of power supply equipment danger and can be found on nearly every home or commercial building. Although electric meters seem fairly small, they’re equipped to handle all of the electricity used in the home or building. A meter can easily injure someone who handles them incorrectly.
“If you need to have the meter disconnected to perform some electrical work in your home or business, do not try to remove it yourself or allow a handyman to remove it for you,” cautions Coons. “Coming in contact with the metal parts inside the meter case creates a risk for serious burns or electrocution. Meters should be removed only by a certified technician. Our service crews have the correct training and equipment to handle meters safely. If you notice that your meter has become loose, don’t try to secure it yourself. Call IEC or your power provider right away, to come out to check and reattach the meter,” adds Coons. “This is to ensure both your safety and the accuracy of your billing.”
A third hazard that may be around your home is what’s known as a substation. These are large, fenced-in arrays of equipment that power companies use to change voltage in preparation for delivery to hundreds or thousands of customers. To an adventurous child, a substation looks a lot like playground equipment. However, high fences are built around substations for good reason. Much of the equipment carries high voltage, and it’s impossible for someone who does not work with electric power to identify which parts are energized and which are safe. Our linemen receive specialized training that allows them to work safely around the equipment.”
If you see children playing in a substation, call 911 immediately. “If a child’s model airplane, kite, or some other kind of toy goes into a substation, do not attempt to recover it yourself,” says Coons. “Instead, call the power company listed on the signs around the substation and they will have someone retrieve it the next time they are in the area.”
Substations also draw thieves who attempt to steal copper wire and other equipment for scrap. Some of those criminals have died or have been critically injured when they tried to remove wiring that was energized. If you see anyone in a substation other than a power company employee, call the police immediately.
SOURCES: Arizona Public Service, Central Electric Cooperative, Cuivre River Electric Cooperative Electrical Safety Foundation International, Electricsubstationsafety.com, Incident-prevention.com, Inspectapedia.com, OSHA, Powerlinesafety.info.
