Thinking about doing some yardwork or decorating for the holidays? Before you bust out the tree trimmer or start hanging lights, remember to survey your property for overhead power lines. 

The risk is in not thinking about it

A routine project can turn deadly in an instant when overhead power lines are involved. 

Before you start an outdoor project, survey the area. Always look up to locate the power lines before beginning yardwork. You don't want to carry a 20-foot telescoping pole with power lines nearby. Consider hiring a professional to handle the work for you. But if you must work near power lines, take every precaution.

What’s the risk if birds can sit on power lines?

Birds balance on a single wire. They’re neutral, in a sense. The electricity isn’t going anywhere new because there isn’t anything to divert it away from its path. If the bird straddled two wires or a pole (grounded) and the wire, the electrical current would seek a new conductive path to create a circuit — right through the bird’s body.

Yard projects with potential power line hazards

Certain outdoor tasks have more potential for injury than others, especially when working at heights. You're at risk for a fall, but you don’t need to fall to be injured by a live power line. And electrical power line encounters are usually deadly.

When considering any home project, plan for safety, not just your budget. Focus on the type of work you’ll being doing, the location of the work and any nearby power lines. Careful safety planning applies to nearly any home project, including:

• Tree trimming or felling
• Outdoor tree decoration
• Landscaping
• Loading or unloading oversized materials
• Hanging outdoor decorations
• Roof repairs
• Gutter cleaning
• Siding repairs or cleaning
• Window repairs or cleaning
• Painting
• Garage repairs or cleaning
• Fence installations or repairs (Know the location of buried lines, too.)

This isn’t a comprehensive home project list, but it’s a start. When you're planning, think about the kinds of tools or equipment you’ll be using to get the job done, especially if they’re oversized or you’re unfamiliar with how to use them.

Equipment and tools that put you at risk for contacting power lines

When dealing with overhead power lines, you could be at risk on or off the ladder. Your friend spotting the setup of your ladder is at risk for electrocution by conduction if the ladder contacts a power line. Other kinds of tools and equipment can include:

• Aluminum paint rollers
• Backhoes
• Long-handled cement finishing floats
• Telescoping poles and tools (chainsaw extensions or trimming poles)
• Metal building materials
• Metal ladders
• Scaffolding
• Farm equipment
• Nongrounded lines or wire used to guide materials
• Rented equipment or augers (If you dig, know the ground lines, too.)

If your yardwork project involves tall equipment, long materials or working at heights around overhead power lines, you’re at risk. That’s why it’s critical to assess your project before you start working. Make a safety plan that includes the location of power lines.

Being too close to power lines can be as dangerous as touching them

You don’t have to touch a power line to be at risk. Working too close to a power line can cause an arc flash. An arc flash happens when electricity from a charged source (a power line) is attracted to a nearby conductive material (a person or metal equipment) and creates a conductive arc circuit between the two points. An arc flash looks like a small lightning bolt and it is usually deadly.

Always keep yourself and all equipment and tools at least 10 feet away from power lines. An arc flash, much like lightning, strikes from a distance. But unlike an encounter with lightning, you will probably not survive an arc flash.

If you’re working with someone who is shocked by electrical current:

• Don’t touch the person. If they are near the electrical source or are still in contact with it, they could be carrying a current and you run the risk of electrocution, too.
• Stay back and use a nonconductive pole (such as a wooden broom handle) to break the connection between them and the electrical source.
• Deenergize the electrical source if possible.
• Once you know the person is not part of the electrical current, administer CPR.
• Call 911.

Other tips for working around power lines

• Stay at least 10 feet away from all power lines.
• Assume all power lines are charged and energized.
• Use markers or flags to visually mark safety boundaries.
• Contact the utility company to alert them about any work you want to do.
• Ask the utility company if they can deenergize or safeguard the power lines.
• If you're loading or unloading oversized materials, be aware of the minimum distances and put barriers in place.
• Use a spotter or watcher to observe the work procedures and call out potential dangers.
• Use a two-way radio for easy communication.
• Use insulated, nonconductive work clothing, shoes, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) with an Underwriters Laboratories safety rating. (Basic rubber gloves or rubber boots will not protect you from electrical shocks.)
• Use nonconductive tie-off lines and poles.
• Use nonconductive wood or fiberglass ladders.
• Know the location of buried lines before digging.
• Work with a friend. Working alone or without communication can be dangerous.
• Use clean, nondamaged, appropriately rated safety equipment.

Always err on the side of caution and safety

If you are unsure how to calculate safe distances or have any concerns about safety, PPE or safe work procedures, don’t chance it! Contact a professional so you don't endanger yourself or those around you. It’s better to delay a project than risk injury or death.

Power line safety is an important part of outdoor work planning, but it’s often overlooked. Always use safety precautions when working outdoors and know the location of your power lines.