What is Power Line Safety and Why Should It Matter?
This article will give you a quick overview of power line safety and what you need to know to stay safe.

Published 13 Dec 2023
Article by
4 min read
What is Power Line Safety?
Power line safety is understanding the dangers associated with power lines and taking steps to avoid them. Companies have a responsibility to maintain their power lines and educate the worker and their staff about electrical hazards and how to be safe. Meanwhile, the workers are also responsible for being aware of the dangers of power lines and taking precautions to avoid them.
Power lines are a necessary part of our electric grid, but they can also be extremely dangerous. Every year, there are accidents involving power lines that result in serious injury or even death. This is why power line safety is a vitally important issue for both utility companies and the general public.
The Importance of Power Line Safety
Power lines can be extremely dangerous because they carry high voltages of electricity. If you come into contact with a power line, you could be seriously injured or even killed.
According to the Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health (elCOSH), power lines come in second for the cause of electrocutions to electrical workers and other construction workers in the US. That’s why it’s important to stay clear of power lines and to avoid activities that could put you in direct contact with them.
What Are the Hazards and Injuries Associated with Power Lines?
There are many hazards and injuries associated with power lines. The most common electrical injuries are electrical burns, which can occur if someone comes into contact with a live power line. This can happen if someone climbing a tree or pole hits a power line or if someone tries to repair a power line without proper training or equipment. Electrocution can also occur if someone tries to steal copper wire from a power line.
Other injuries associated with power lines include the following:
Burns can occur if someone comes into contact with a power line or is hit by falling debris from a power line.
Falls can occur if someone tries to climb a power line or is working on a power line and lose their balance.
Traumatic brain injuries can occur if someone gets hit by falling debris from a power line or if they are involved.
Power Line Safety Tips
Electrical power lines are vital infrastructure for countries worldwide, as they deliver electricity from power plants to our homes and businesses. While power lines are safe when they are well-maintained, there are some safety hazards that you should be aware of and safety guidelines to follow.
Here are some electrical safety tips to follow around power lines:
Never climb trees near power lines.
If you see someone who is in contact with a power line, do not touch them. Call 911 immediately.
Never touch a power line with your bare hands or with any conductive object.
Never touch anything that is touching a power line, such as a ladder, pole, or tree.
Keep a safe distance from power lines. Power lines are usually marked with danger signs. The safe distance depends on the voltage of the power line.
In case of wet areas, make sure that no power line has fallen to the ground. If there is, do not touch them or even go near them.
Always wear proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when working around power lines.
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Safety Equipment To Wear Near High Voltage Power Lines
In recent years, power line safety has become a major concern for businesses and municipalities around the world. Power lines are a vital part of their infrastructure but can also pose risks to everyone’s safety if not properly maintained.
To reduce the risk of electrocution, it is essential to wear the proper PPE equipment when working with power lines. Below are some PPE essentials for power line safety:
Safety glasses
Face shields
Hard hats
Insulated boots
Rubber gloves with leather protectors
Insulating sleeves
Flame-resistant clothing
Promote Power Line Safety and Awareness with SafetyCulture
Why use SafetyCulture?
Over the past few years, there has been an increased focus on safety in the workplace. If you are looking for a way to improve power line safety in your workplace, SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor) is a great option to consider. This tool can be used to increase awareness and promote safety to help prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace caused by power lines.
SafetyCulture is simple to use yet packs powerful features that can help reduce the risks associated with power lines. Its user-friendly interface is suitable for employees of all levels of experience. Specifically, SafetyCulture can help you:
Schedule and conduct safety inspections and audits regularly to ensure compliance with safety standards
Instantly capture and report issues encountered during power line operations from your mobile device
Keep lone workers safe while working with power lines by integrating SHEQSY by SafetyCulture
Monitor worker compliance, safety hazards, and other trends from the app’s Analytics dashboard
Generate and share digital safety reports across the team in the following formats: PDF, Excel, Word, and weblink
You can also use SafetyCulture’s Electrical Inspection Checklists to identify electrical hazards and prevent accidents and injuries in your workplace.
FAQs about Power Line Safety
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SafetyCulture Content Team
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