Electrical Safety for Contractorsand Homeowners

This pamphlet contains a general overviewof the responsibilities of contractorsengaged in excavation including digging,drilling, blasting and demolition. Completerules and procedures may be obtained fromyour state’s One-Call Notification System.

General Procedures for Working NearUnderground Electric or Gas Systems

FFiirrsstt –– CCaallll BBeeffoorree YYoouu DDiiggWorking around underground pipes and cablescan slow your job down. Hitting an under-ground electric line or gas pipe can cause:

• Electric shock – buried cables may carrymore than 350,000 volts

• Escaping gas, including fire

• Lost time while repairs are made

• Lost money from job delays and repaircosts

One-call notification systems are used to alertarea facility owners about work involving exca-vation or demolition. Excavators must call theirlocal one-call notification system and providethe exact location of the work site and plannedwork date before digging, drilling, blasting ordemolition. The one-call notification systemwill alert every member facility operator tolocate and mark their underground facilities.

Dig Safely New York serves participatingutilities in New York State except New YorkCity and Long Island. Call 1-800-962-7962 atleast two, but not more than ten, workingdays before digging. Notification may also bemade online at www.digsafelynewyork.com.

Dig Safe System, Inc., serves participatingutilities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, NewHampshire, Vermont and Maine. Call 1-888-DIGSAFE (344-7233) at least three, but notmore than 30, working days before digging (InRhode Island and Vermont, a minimum two-day notice is required). Notification may alsobe made online at www.digsafe.com.

It’s Your ResponsibilityExcavators are responsible for knowing themeaning of all markings, including those relat-ed to size and depth, color coding, center lineor offset staking or marking and all otheracceptable methods used to indicate the loca-tions of underground facilities.

After physically locating underground facili-ties, use these procedures to help keep yourjob on schedule:

• Select appropriate equipment to maintainapplicable clearance from undergroundfacilities, including hand shoveling whenrequired.

• Open cut or tunnel work must be braced,sheeted or shored to eliminate damage tocables and pipes.

• Follow all federal (including OSHA), stateand local laws, regulations and ordinances.Where similar but different standards exist,follow the more stringent requirement.

• Access to utility system handholes, valves,equipment boxes and vaults must be leftopen and usable.

• Cables and pipes are wrapped and coatedto protect against corrosion. If you unex-pectedly expose a cable or pipe, damageits protection or see deterioration, call thefacility owner and do not backfill.

• Barricade excavations that expose cables orpipes. Use danger signal devices, such aslights or flashers, according to local codes.

• Earth shocks from pile driving can damagenearby buried utilities. For your protection,check your plans in advance with NationalGrid.

Gas valves and electrical switches are parts ofcomplicated interconnected systems. Theyshould be operated only by National Gridemployees. If a gas valve is closed accidental-ly, leave it alone and call National Grid tocheck and correct the condition. If you hit anelectrical line, the result can be deadly. CallNational Grid for help immediately. Don’t tryto make repairs yourself; let us do it.

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10-foot Danger Zone

Working Near Power LinesThere is a minimum 10-foot danger zonearound overhead power lines.

Transmission or high-voltage lines require an even greater clearance.

• Keep scaffolding and rigging away from electrical equipment and overhead lines.Scaffolding can sway into a power line, energizing the entire structure and endanger-ing anyone who touches it.

• Stay clear of the 10-foot danger zone aroundwires connected to homes and commercialbuildings.

Communications Contractors• Know the location of power lines and electri-

cal equipment when climbing utility poles orworking from a bucket truck – and stay outof the danger zone.

• Never attach or tie anything off to powerlines or electrical equipment.

Painters, Masons, Framers,Siding Contractors, Plumbers,Tree Trimmers• Metal parts and moisture conduct electricity,

so never use an aluminum ladder or a dampwooden ladder within 10 feet of power lines.Before erecting a ladder, always look up to besure it will not contact – or even come near –any power lines. Never extend a tool to with-in 10 feet of power lines.

• Be especially careful when installing metalsiding, gutters, antennas, etc., which canblow into a power line while being raised intoplace.

At the Job Site• Keep all vehicles and heavy machinery – cranes,

bucket and dump trucks, backhoes, front-endloaders and cement pumpers – out of the danger zone around power lines.

• If a machine's boom or bucket gets into the danger zone, or comes into contact with apower line, anyone touching the machine – or even standing nearby – is at risk.

• Designate at least one employee to observe and ensure that the minimum danger zone clearance around power lines is maintained,especially when raising dump trucks beds,booms and cranes.

• Always have a safety meeting at the site before work begins each day. Be sure all sub-contractors on the job are aware of safety issuesand adhere to site safety rules.

• Overhead power lines are NOT insulated – ifyour body, tools, equipment or vehiclecomes into contact with a power line, theresults can be deadly.

If You’re a ContractorCall the local electric utility before working near overhead power lines.

In New England, when working within the National Grid service territory call:

Hazard Identification Hotline1-888-625-3723

In New York, within the National Grid serviceterritory, call:

Hazard Identification Hotline1-800-642-4272

HomeownersOverhead power lines may be coated to pro-tect them from the weather, but that coatingwill not protect you from electric shock. Ifyou contact an overhead line – with yourbody or indirectly through a ladder or tool –you may be seriously injured or even killed.

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