SLIDE 1

Presenter’s Notes

Beforedarkeningtheroom,offerawelcomeandoverview.

Beginbyintroducingtheprogramanditstopic:

• WelcometoFirstResponderBeware:StayingSafewhileSavingOthers,ElectricalSafetyforFirstResponders.Today’ssessionwillsharestrategiesforworkingsafelyaroundelectricpowerlinesandforhandlingcertainemergenciesinvolvingelectricity.Byfollowingtheprocedureswe’llcoverheretoday,youcankeepyourself,yourfellowfirstresponders,andthepublicsafe.NowIknowthatsomeofyouwillhaveheardthisinformationbefore,andsoforyou,thisprogramwillbearefresher.Forothers,thismaybethefirsttimeyou’rehearingaboutthistopic,butIhopeeveryonewillfindtheprogramvaluable.

Darkentheroom.

Clickforthenextslide.(Throughoutthispresentationyouwillneedtoclickfortextandgraphicsoneachslide,andtobringupnewslides.)

SLIDE 2

Presenter’s Notes

Firefighters,police,andEMTsaretypicallyfirstonthesceneinanemergencyandfacethegreatestriskfromelectricalinfrastructurecontacts.

Understandingthepotentialdangersanddealingwiththemcorrectlymakeseveryonesafer.Thisprogramisdesignedtosupplement,notreplace,yourdepartment’sstandardoperatingprocedures(SOPs).

Thisisagoodtimetoreiteratetheimportanceofthisinformation:thatitcanprotectfirstresponders,incidentvictims,andbystandersfromelectricity-relatedinjuryordeath.

Pleasenote: Eachlocaldepartmentwillhaveitsownstandardoperatingproceduresaboutelectricalsafety.Emphasizetoparticipantsthatthisprogramisnotdesignedtoreplacetheseprocedures,onlytosupplementthem.

SLIDE 3

Presenter’s Notes

Electricalsafetybasics.Thispresentationwillcoverkeypracticesyouneedtoknowtokeepyourselfsafearoundelectricpowerlinesandonthesceneofemergenciesinvolvingelectricity.Thetopicswearegoingtofocusonare:

• RespectthePowerofElectricity

• HandsOffElectricalSystems

• ProtectYourselfandOthersfromShock

• AlwaysObservethe10-FootRule

• BeAwareofOverheadPowerLines

• UseExtraCautionNearDownedPowerLines

• ManageSubstationandTransformerFires

SLIDE 4

Presenter’s Notes

Respectthepowerofelectricity.Firstofall,weneedtoknowafewbasicthingsaboutelectricity.

• Electricityalwaysseekstheeasiest,mostdirectpathtothegroundthroughconductorslike:

o Yourbodyo Treeso Water

o Metalobjectsandstructuresincludingfencesandevengutterso Andlongortallequipmentsuchasladders.

• Evenlow-voltageelectricshockcanbefatal.Protectingyourselfmeansalwaysrememberingthattherearenominorriskswhendealingwithelectricity.

• Standard-issueprotectivegeardoesnotinsulateyouagainstelectricshock.

• Electricshockandburninjuriesmayincludeinternaltissuedamagethatisnotimmediatelyapparent.Makesurevictimsreceivethoroughmedicalattention.Shockvictimsoftenshownovisibleinjuriesoronlyminorburnsontheskin,buttheinternalorganscanbecriticallywounded.Treattheseinjuriesasseriousregardlessoftheirappearance.

SLIDE 5

Presenter’s Notes

Handsoffelectricalsystems.Rememberthatevenlow-voltageelectricshockispotentiallyfatal.Toavoidthisrisk,keepawayfromelectricalequipmentandsystems.

• Neverattempttodisconnectelectricalservices.Thiscanbeanextremelydangerous,evendeadly,mistake.

o Nevercutservicewiresorpowerlines.

o Neverattempttoremoveelectricalmeters.Thisisextremelydangerousandcancauseseriousinjuryordeath.

o Neverattempttoopenorenteramanholeorvaultuntilyouaresureithasbeende-energized.

• Nevertouchorattempttomovepowerlines.Remember,yourprotectivegeardoesnotinsulateyouagainstelectricshock.Indealingwithelectricalsystems,employahands-offpolicyandcallGulfPower.

SLIDE 6

Presenter’s Notes

Protectyourselfandothersfromshock.Adheringtosomesimplebestpracticescanminimizetheriskofelectricshock.

• Alwaysidentifypowerlinesandelectricalequipmentuponarrivalatanincidentscene.Thefirstthingtodoistosurveytheareaforoverheadpowerlines,downedlines,andequipmentsuchastransformers.Especiallyduringorafterastorm,lookforlinesdownintreesoronfences.Properelectrical-safetyproceduresshouldfigureintoanyoperationalplanning.

• Assumealllinesareenergizedaswellasallobjectsincontactwithpowerlines.Eveniflinesappeartobeinsulated,thecoatingyouseeisnotdesignedtoprotectyoufromshock.Additionally,areasaroundpowerlinesandelectricalequipmentorobjectsincontactwiththem(suchastrees,fences,orvehicles)shouldalsobetreatedasenergized.Thisincludestheground.Approachwithcaution.

• Ifpowerlinesorelectricalequipmentareinvolvedinanincident,haveyourdispatchercontactGulfPower.Callingisalwaystherightthingtodowhetheryouidentifyelectricalinfrastructureorarejustunsure.Theywantyouandthepublictobesafeandwillrespondquickly.Theirpersonnelwillswitchoffthepowerandtellyouwhentheareaissafeandde-energized.

• Assimpleasitsounds,providethebestpossibledirectionstothelocation.Intersections,landmarks,andspecificbuildingswillhelp.

• Securethearea.Whendealingwithelectricity,yourpriorityistoprotectyourselfandthepublic.Utilitypersonnelwilltellyouwhenitissafetoapproach.

SLIDE 7

Presenter’s Notes

Alwaysobservethe10-footrule.Theminimumsafedistancefrompowerlinesis10feet.

• OSHArequiresthatyoukeepyourselfandyourequipmentatleast10feetawayfrompowerlines.Maintainaminimum10-footclearanceforpowerlinesof50,000voltsorless.

• Highervoltagesrequiregreaterclearances.OSHAregulationsspecifygreaterdistancesforlinesofmorethan50,000volts.Forexample,theminimumclearancefora500,000-voltlineis18feet.

• Thereisnouniformsystemforidentifyingpowerlinevoltage.Whenindoubt,contactGulfPowerforclearanceinformation.Theirlineworkersgetalotofspecializedtrainingthatteachesthemtorecognizethevoltagesthey’redealingwithatanygivensite.Don’tmakethemistakeofthinkingyoucanknowtheappropriatevoltageandclearancebylookingataline.

• Electricalsafetydistancesgivenareminimums.Alwaysusethemaximumpossibledistance.Yourbestpracticeisalwaystostayasfarawayaspossiblefrompowerlinesandelectricalinfrastructure.

SLIDE 8

Presenter’s Notes

Beawareofoverheadpowerlines.Whenoverheadlinesarepresentatanincidentscene,rememberafewsimplesafetyrules.

• Parkemergencyvehiclesasfarawayaspossiblefromoverheadpowerlines.Youdon’twanttobesurprisedbyafallingpowerline.

• Keepallaerialequipmentatleast10feetawayfromoverheadlines.Rememberthe10-footruleandthatmetalladdersareconductors.Beawarethatwindcanmoveaerialequipment,andwhenpossible,assignaspottertomonitoryourequipment’sproximitytopowerlines.Rememberthathighervoltagesrequiregreaterclearances,andalwaysusethemaximumpossibledistance.(Agoodruleofthumbistomaintainasafetyclearancethatisgreaterthanthelengthoftheequipmentwhenextended.)

• Neveruseasolidwaterstreamtofightfiresnearoverheadpowerlines.Asolidstreamcancreateaclearpathforelectriccurrent.Whenoverheadlinesareinthevicinityofafire,youcan,withextremecare,useasprayormist.ButrememberthatALLwaterisaconductorandalwaysbeextremelycautiouswhenusingwateraroundoverheadlines.

SLIDE 9

Presenter’s Notes

Beawareofoverheadpowerlines.Rememberthatanythingtouchingapowerlinemaybeenergized.

• Ifyourequipmentcontactsapowerline,themostimportantthingtodoisremaincalmandstayput.

o Theequipmentshouldbeconsideredenergized,asshouldthepowerline.

o CallGulfPowerimmediately.

o Ifyoucandososafely,movetheequipmentawayfromthepowerline.

o Iftheequipmentcannotbemoved,stayput,andwarnotherstostayawayuntilutilitypersonnelgivetheallclear.Allpersonnelontheequipmentshouldremainthere.Thisisyoursafestcourseofaction.Utilitypersonnelwillrespondquickly,switchoffthepower,andtellyouwhenitissafetogetoff.Waitfortheirinstructions.

Beawareofoverheadpowerlines.Insomecases,otherhazardssuchasfiremakeitimpossibletostayontheenergizedequipmentuntilutilitypersonnelgivetheallclear.

• Iffireorotherimminentdangerforcesyouofftheequipment:

o Jumpclear,keepingbothfeettogetherandwithouttouchingtheequipmentandthegroundatthesametime.Ifyoudo,youwillbecomeelectricity’spathtothegroundandyouwillbeseriously—orfatally—shocked.Makeeveryattempttolandonbothfeetatthesametime.

o Shuffleawaywithsmallsteps,keepingbothfeettogetherandonthegroundatalltimes.

o Donotrunortakelongsteps.Whenequipmentcontactsaline,electricityspreadsoutinthegroundlikeripplesinapondandthevoltagedecreaseswithdistancefromthepointofcontact. Ifyourlegsbridgetwoareasofdifferentvoltageyoucouldbekilled.

Demonstratethejump-offprocedure.

SLIDE 10

Presenter’s Notes

SLIDE 11

Presenter’s Notes

Useextracautionneardownedpowerlines.Dealingwithdownedlinesrequiresadditionalmeasurestoprotectlifeandproperty.

• Parkemergencyvehiclesawayfromfallenlines.Thegroundandobjectsinthevicinityofafallenpowerlinemaybeenergized.Waitforutilitypersonneltogivetheallclear.

• Securethearea.

o Keepyourselfandthepublicatleast30feetawayfromfallenpowerlines.Alwaysrememberthatobjectsandeventhegroundneardownedlinesmayalsobeenergized.

o Clickforsecondsub-bullet.o Transmissionlinesfromlargetowersrequireadistanceof100

feet.Inanyincidentinvolvingdownedlines,recallthatwindaswellaselectricchargecancauselinestowhipandmove.Observingtheseexpandedclearancescanhelpprotecteveryonefromtheunexpected.

• Nevertouchorattempttomovefallenlinesorobjectscontactingthem.Doingsoendangersyouandincidentvictims.ContactGulfPowerimmediatelysotheycande-energizethescene.

• Neveruseasolidwaterstreamtofightfiresneardownedlines.Ifyoumustusewatertoextinguishafireneardownedlines,useonlyafogorspray,andbeextremelycautious.

SLIDE 12

Presenter’s Notes

Useextracautionneardownedpowerlines.Whenincidentvictimsareinoraroundtheenergizedarea,particularlyinvehiclesthathavecontactedpowerlines,rememberthatbothyouandtheyaresafeststayingput.

• Donotenter,approach,orcontactareasorvehiclesthatmaybeenergized.Resistthetemptationtoattempttoextractpassengers.Youriskbothyourownandthevictims’safetywhenyouentertheenergizedarea.Instead,stayaway.Youchosethisworktosavelives,andthatinstinctisstrong.However,inthiscase,ifyouentertheenergizedarea,youhaveaveryhighriskofelectricshock.Becomingavictimyourselfputseveryoneingreaterdanger.

o CallGulfPowerimmediately.Theywillrespondquicklyandde-energizethescene.

o Instructvictimstodrivethevehicleawayfromthelineifthiscanbedonesafely.Keepingyourdistance,findapositionwherepassengerscanseeyouwithoutexitingormovingaroundinsidethevehicleandattempttoreassurethem.

o Ifthevehiclecannotbemoved,instructtheoccupantstostayputuntilutilitypersonnelgivetheallclear.Stayinginthevehicleistheirbestprotectionagainstelectricshock.Tellthemutilitypersonnelareonthewaytoturnofftheelectricity;tostayput;andtotrytorelax.Ifpassengersareinjuredorpanicked,talkwiththem,keepthemcalmandalert,andusethewaittimetopreparemedicalassistance.

SLIDE 13

Presenter’s Notes

Useextracautionneardownedpowerlines.Insomecases,fireorotherhazardsmakeitimpossibleforvictimstoremaininthevehicle.

• Ifoccupantsinanenergizedvehicleareinimminentdangerfromfireorotherhazards,youmustresistthetemptationtoapproachthevehicle.Contactinganenergizedvehicleisasurewaytobecomeashockvictimyourself!Followtheseprocedurestogeteveryoneoutalive.

o Instructthemtojumpclearwithoutcontactingthevehicleandthegroundatthesametime.Findavantagepointwherevictimsinthevehiclecanseeandhearyou,butkeepyourdistance.

o Tellthemtoshuffleawaykeepingbothfeettogetherandonthegroundatthesametime.Emphasizethattheymustnot runortakelongsteps.

o Demonstratetheproperprocedurefromadistance.Showoccupantshowtoperformthejump-and-shuffleprocedurefromavisibledistancebeforetheyattempttheirescape.

• Ifvictimsareinjured,disabled,orotherwiseunabletosafelyexitthevehicleontheirown,yourincidentcommanderwilltellyouhowtoproceed.Waitforinstructionsbeforetakingactionoryoucouldbecomeanothervictim.

SLIDE 14

Presenter’s Notes

Substationfires.Substationspresentspecificrisks.

• Burningelectricalequipmentisalreadyruinedandwillbereplaced.Thesafestcourseofactionistoletitburn.

• ContactGulfPowerandwaitfortheirpersonneltoarrive.Neverattempttoenterasubstationwithoututilitypersonnelpresent.

• Evacuatetheareaandkeepeveryoneatleast300feetawayfromthesubstation.Yourmostimportantresponsibilityinthesetypesofemergenciesistoprotectthepublic.

• Electricalequipmentcontainsoil.Bealertforexplosionsandtoxicsmoke.

• Protectareaexposurestopreventthefirefromspreading.Oncetheareaisevacuated,focusondefendingnearbypropertyandgreenspace.

• Ifanequipmentfiremustbesuppressed,utilitypersonnelandtheincidentcommanderwilltellyouhowtoproceed.

SLIDE 15

Presenter’s Notes

Transformerfires.Burningtransformerscallforsimilarproceduresassubstationfires.

• Donotopenorenterswitchcabinetsorpad-mountedtransformerssuchasthisone.Thisisverydangerousandunnecessary.

o Nevercutlocksorprycabinetsopen.Equipmentcontainsliveelectricalcomponentsandifyoucontactthem,youcouldbekilled.Onceafirehasbegun,theequipmentisunsalvageableandwillbereplaced.Don’triskyourlifetosaveruinedequipment.

• Callthelocalelectricutility,evacuatethepublic,andprotectareaexposures.Whetherit’satransformeronthegroundoronapole,bealertforexplosionsandtoxicsmoke,andoncetheareaissecure,dowhatyoucantokeepthefirefromspreading.

• Lettransformersburnuntilotherwiseinstructedbyutilitypersonnel.Theywilldeterminewhenitissafetoextinguishanequipmentfireandwilladviseyourincidentcommanderregardingthesafestprocedures.

Solet’sreviewthekeypointsofthispresentation.

• Identifyalloverheadpowerlinesandelectricalequipmentuponarrivalatanincidentscene.Dothisaspartofyourinitialsituationsurveyandincludeelectricalinfrastructureinyouroperationalplanning.

• Wheneveryoususpectelectricalinfrastructureisinvolvedorwhenindoubt,callGulfPower.Theywanttohelpyoukeepyouandthepublicsafe.

• Handsoffelectricalsystems.

o Clickforfirstsub-bullet.o Neverattempttodisconnectelectricalservice.o Clickforsecondsub-bullet.

o Nevertouchpowerlines.Utilitypersonnelwillswitchofftheelectricitytode-energizeasceneandwillinformyouwhentheareaissafe.

• Assumeallpowerlinesareenergized,andkeepyourselfandyourequipmentatleast10feetaway.

• Evenlow-voltageelectricshockcanbefatal,andremember,yourgeardoesNOTinsulateyouagainstelectricshock.

• Whenrespondingtoasubstationortransformerfire,letitburn,evacuatethearea,andprotectexposures.Yourfocusshouldbeonsafeguardinglifeandproperty.

SLIDE 16

Presenter’s Notes

SLIDE 17

Presenter’s Notes

Incaseofemergency,callGulfPowerat850-505-5022.

Foradditionalinformation,visitourwebsiteatwww.gulfpower.com.

SLIDE 18

Presenter’s Notes

Thankyouforyourattention.Takequestionsandbegindiscussion.TheTrainer’sGuideincludesmoredetailabouthowelectricityworks,whentocontactthelocalelectricutility,whatsortofmaterialsandobjectsconductelectricity,jump-offprocedure,andotherinformationaboutsafetyprocedures.Discusshowthisinformationconflictswithwhatyouraudiencebelievedaboutelectricityandhowtheymayhaveputthemselvesorothersatriskinthepast.Askwhattheywouldhavedonedifferentlyhadtheyhadthistrainingbefore.Considersomeofthesuggestedsimulationsoruseyourown.GulfPowerthanksyouforhelpingtokeepfirstresponderssafe.