This has been quite the winter already, with snow totals piling up that we haven’t seen in nearly a decade. And it is only January! With all of this snow, we know it can be challenging to know where to store, push, or shovel the snow. We ask members to be mindful of piling snow under power lines – you may not even realize how dangerous it can be. Below are a few things to keep in mind:
- Snowbanks touching or within 10 feet of an electrical line can be deadly
- Who loves snowbanks? Kids do! Keep your kids safe by ensuring the snowbanks they are playing on are not under electrical wires that could cause bodily harm or death.
- When lines are loaded with snow, they can sag lower. So, a line that may have been well above your snowbank may now be within that 10-foot safety zone.
- Even if a line isn’t directly touched, an electrical current can occur and cause serious injury or death.
- If you are a snowplow driver, your equipment must be at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines. For example, suppose you push a snowbank into a powerline or underground transformer. Depending on the water content in the snow, you could energize your vehicle and cause serious harm to yourself.Please be safe out there while enjoying the snow!