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BPUB

Electrical Safety

Electrical injuries cause approximately 1,000 deaths annually in the U.S. Learn how to protect yourself, your family, and your property from electrical hazards.

Electricity is essential to modern life, but it is also one of the most serious hazards we encounter daily. In the United States, approximately 1,000 deaths and 30,000 nonfatal injuries occur each year due to electrical contact. The most common causes are contact with overhead power lines (43%), unexpected energized equipment contact (19%), and nearby energized infrastructure (13%).

At BPUB, we are committed to creating a safer community by educating customers about electrical hazards and preventing tragedies. This guide provides industry-standard safety protocols for your home and workplace.

Downed Power Line Protocols

React correctly in an emergency to save lives.

The "Shuffle" Technique

If you are on foot near a downed line, do not run. Running creates a voltage difference between your feet (step potential), which can cause a fatal shock.

  1. Keep feet together: Place your feet side-by-side, touching each other.
  2. Shuffle away: Slide your feet along the ground without lifting them, keeping them touching at all times.
  3. Distance: Shuffle at least 35 feet away from the wire before lifting your feet.

If a power line falls on your vehicle while you are inside, stay inside. The tires act as insulation, and the ground around the car may be energized.

  • Wait for help: Call 911 and do not exit until utility crews have de-energized the line.
  • Fire Emergency: Only exit if the vehicle is on fire.
    1. Open the door but do not touch the metal frame.
    2. Jump clear: Jump out with both feet together, landing on the ground simultaneously. Do not touch the car and the ground at the same time.
    3. Shuffle away: Immediately use the shuffle technique described above to move to safety.
Generator Safety

Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and backfeeding.

  • Prevent Backfeeding: Never plug a generator directly into a wall outlet. This sends electricity back into the grid ("backfeeding"), which can kill utility workers attempting to repair lines miles away.
  • Ventilation is Key: Generators produce carbon monoxide (CO), an odorless, colorless, and deadly gas. Never operate a generator inside a home, garage, or enclosed space. Keep it at least 20 feet away from windows and doors.
  • Transfer Switches: The safest way to power your home is to have a licensed electrician install a manual transfer switch or interlock kit, which isolates your home from the grid while using generator power.
Outdoor Safety

Stop. Look. Live.

Work & Play

  • Call 811 Before You Dig: Whether you are planting a tree or building a fence, underground utilities may be inches below the surface. Call 811 at least two business days before digging to have lines marked for free.
  • Look Up and Live: Before raising ladders, cleaning pools with long skimmers, or trimming trees, always look up. Maintain a 10-foot clearance from all overhead power lines.
  • Kites and Drones: Never fly kites or drones near power lines or substations. If a toy gets stuck in a line, do not try to retrieve it. Call BPUB for assistance.

Substations

  • Keep Out: Electrical substations contain high-voltage equipment. Never enter a substation or climb on the fencing surrounding it. If a ball or pet enters a substation, call us immediately—do not retrieve it yourself.
Indoor Safety

Identify hidden hazards.

  • GFCI Protection: Ensure outlets in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms are equipped with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs). These detect shock hazards and cut power instantly. Before GFCIs, approximately 800 people died annually from household electrocutions; today, that number is less than 200.
  • Cord Management: Do not run cords under rugs. Heat cannot escape, which can melt the insulation and start a fire.
  • Warm Outlets: Place your hand on outlet plates. If one feels warm to the touch, stop using it immediately and call an electrician. Loose internal wiring may be causing resistance and heat.