Look up and live - powerline voltages are lethal
Stay electrically safe
Powerlines are dangerous. Always regard powerlines as live and treat them with extreme caution.
Powerlines are usually installed above ground however they may also be underground. Locating powerlines can be difficult even on bright sunny days and more so in low light, rain, cloudy weather, or at dawn or dusk.
To stay safe it is essential to be careful and observe safe practices whenever you are near overhead powerlines or carry out activities that penetrate the ground such as excavating trenches or drilling holes.
Next time you are working near powerlines:
- treat them as live and hazardous
- look at the site and identify all risks. If there is any risk of injury to yourself or others use appropriate risk treatment measures
- maintain exclusion zone distances.
Exclusion zones
An exclusion zone is the minimum safe approach distance from an overhead powerline. Exclusion zones can vary according to:
- the voltages and types of overhead powerlines
- the work being carried out by people, plant or equipment near the powerline
- whether the operator is an authorised or instructed person in accordance with the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002.
For more details on exclusion zones, see Part 4 and Schedule 2 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 or the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2010 – Working Near Exposed Live Parts.
High voltage electricity can jump gaps
You are not protected from an electrical incident just because you are not touching powerlines. The size of the gap electricity can jump (the arcing distance) increases with the voltage, the higher the voltage, the bigger the arcing distance.
More information
More information on electrical safety and risk treatment measures can be found in the ESO Look up and live brochure (PDF File, 197.3 KB) . The Electricity in the rural industry - Using it safely (PDF File, 794.3 KB) booklet also provides more information about working in and around potentially unsafe areas.