• First steps
• Indoor safety
• Outdoor safety

First steps
Electrical safety should be a key part of your overall workplace safety program.

• Attention to safety is the first step. Always use caution around all electrical circuits and equipment.
• Know what to do in the event of an emergency. Know how to turn off electricity. If you see a victim of an electrical accident, stay back if they’re still in contact with a power source. Call 911 immediately! Do not try to help unless you know the power is shut off. Otherwise, you could become a victim, too.
• Conduct an electrical safety audit:
  • Check for safe practices and make sure equipment is in good condition.
  • Treat cords, receptacles and other electrical equipment with respect to help prevent damage.
  • Repair or replace damaged equipment and frayed cords immediately.
  • GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters), which guard against shock, should be tested monthly.
  • Check for and fix exposed wires, exposed electrical parts, undersized wiring, open meter bases or unlocked distribution panels.
  • Make sure employees are trained and qualified to work on electrical equipment.

Back to top

Indoor safety

• Never “piggyback” plug strips or otherwise overload circuits.
• Follow Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) regulations to guard against unexpected equipment startup during maintenance. Many workers are injured each year by failing to turn off equipment before performing service work. See the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s LOTO factsheet (PDF). Also, use the “test before you touch” rule — equipment that you assume is de-energized may not be.
• Follow National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) 70E standards for electrical safety in the workplace. They spell out the specific fire protection equipment needed when working around exposed electrical equipment, including the fire-retardant rating of the clothes needed for your workers. These vary depending on the available fault current at your meter. You can contact the PGE Business Service Team to inquire about your available fault current.
• Be aware of arc flash hazards. An arc flash is a rapid blast of tremendous amounts of heat and light energy at the point of an arching — or sparking — electrical fault. Because of the extreme heat and blast, an arc flash can cause serious injury or even death through extreme force, exploding materials and flying bits of molten metal. Nearby flammable materials may be ignited. It is vitally important to maintain proper protection boundaries, wear personal protective equipment and follow other safe work practices as defined in the NFPA 70E standards. Arc fault circuit interrupters can help prevent fires.
• Maintain proper clearances in meter/switch gear rooms. Don’t use these rooms as storage areas. There must be a clearance of 78 inches high, 30 inches wide and 36 inches deep in front of meter bases.
• Check tools for damaged switches and faulty trigger locks.
• Use caution with extension cords. Do not place them across walkways or work areas if possible. If it’s unavoidable, place the cord under a cord runner. Never place cords under carpets or furniture — it can create a fire hazard. Avoid tangles of cords under desks.
• Check for unauthorized electrical equipment, such as space heaters, coffee makers and lamps that employees might add to their workspace. Make sure the equipment isn’t overloading circuits, that it meets UL safety ratings, and that it is turned off and unplugged at night. (Also keep in mind that extra electrical equipment can add to your energy bills.)

Back to top

Outdoor safety

• Water and electricity don’t mix! Keep electrical equipment and cords away from wet areas.
• Maintain a minimum 10-foot circle of safety around high-voltage power lines.
• Look up and check for overhead utility lines before moving ladders, trucks, forklifts, scaffolds or cranes. Allow 10 feet of clearance. And if your vehicle ever comes in contact with an overhead wire, sit tight until power is cut off. Getting out of the vehicle could be fatal or cause serious injuries.
• Avoid using mylar balloons outside to attract customers to retail locations or events. If they are accidentally released into the air and become tangled in power lines, the metal in mylar balloons can trigger power outages and cause damage to property.
• For agricultural settings, do not discharge high-volume sprinklers or water cannons within 10 feet of high-voltage power lines, and do not stack or store irrigation pipe, hay or hay bales near power lines. Never raise an irrigation pipe on end near power lines.
• Call 811 before you dig to have the location of underground utilities marked. It’s the law and it saves lives.
• Stay clear of PGE equipment including pad-mounted transformers and vaults that hold transformers below ground. Avoid getting water or sawdust in underground vaults, which can create hazardous conditions. Report any damage to PGE immediately.
• Use only extension cords labeled for outdoor use (grounded, three-prong plug, properly insulated).
• Before pruning or removing a tree near a power line, contact the PGE Tree Hotline at 800-544-1794. See our Tree Maintenance section for more information.
• Maintain proper lighting levels in parking lots to prevent accidents. PGE Outdoor Area Lighting section can help.

Back to top