In every emergency situation that you attend, you need to be aware of the possibility that electrical wires or substations might be involved, or be in close proximity.
This advice should be used in conjunction with your in-house procedures; it gives guidance on how to stay safe when attending emergency incidents involving electricity networks.
Examples of incidents involving electricity
- Vehicle tipping or loading under an overhead line
- Operating construction and agricultural vehicles or cranes under overhead lines
- Contact with overhead lines whilst fishing, camping or scaffolding
- Road traffic accidents involving collision with electricity poles
- Attempted suicides at substations, poles or steel towers
- Damage to contact with underground cables whilst excavating.
Could this happen to you
A recent incident which involved a fatality highlighted the importance of notfiying the Electricity Company quickly when attending an electricity system related incident, and the dangers of assuming that it is safe to approach and attempt a rescue.
Paramdeics and police were called to attend a young man who had been electrocuted by bringing a marquee tensioning wire into contact with a high voltage overhead line. They proceeded to try to resuscitate the casualty who was still very close to the marquee wire. They had not noticed that the wire was almost in contact with the overhead line, thus they also risked receiving a fatal electric shock.
Instead of one tragic loss of life, this could have been a multiple fatality involving emergency service personnel.
Remember
- Don't be tempted to start a rescue before safety has been confirmed
- Make sure the Electricity Company has been called as soon as you know the incident involves electricity poles, wires or substations
- The wire may become live without notice. This may be after a few seconds or could be any time up to an hour later if the Electricity Company are not aware of the incident
- Always assume wires are live.
What to do in an Emergency
- Electricity systems carry voltages up to 400,000 volts, and can be supported by wooden poles or steel towers
- Even 230 volts (domestic voltage) can be lethal
- Never assume that electrical equipment is dead, even if the wires have fallen or broken
- Remeber that the power can be switched back on at any time, without warning
- Touching electricity wires or objects, persons, or vehicles in contact with the wires can be fatal
- Electricity can jump gaps
- Trees, string, ropes, highway crash barriers and water can conduct electricity
- Once an electricity wire is on the ground, you do not have to touch it to be killed. The current will travel a reasonable distance through the ground
- Rubber boots will not protect you
- Look out and Look up for overhead wires before you start. Most wires are not insulated
- Always carry long objects horizontally
- The electricity company emergency telephone numbers should already be known by your control centre. Call the Electricity Company urgently with a precise location of the incident
- Do not enter an electricity substation without authorisation from the Electricity Company
Call the network operator: 0800 587 3243†