Electrical safety during a flood

Aug 3, 2020 | Safety and Security

Most of us don’t like to think that we could be affected by something like a house fire or a flood, but the numbers say otherwise. According to the Department of Homeland Security, floods are the most common natural disaster in the U.S.

Electricity and water can be a dangerous combination.

Here are a few tips to keep yourself and your family safe when flood waters rise.

• Never use electric appliances or touch electric wires, switches or fuses when you’re wet or standing in water.
• Stay clear of electrical equipment in rooms with flooding.
• If you have to stand in water to turn off power at the breaker box, don’t do it! Call us at 1-800-342-5775 and we’ll shut off power at the meter.
• Keep electric tools and equipment at least 10 feet away from wet surfaces.
• Don’t use electric yard tools if it’s raining or the ground is wet.

For more resources about flood safety visit ready.gov/floods or check out these tips from ESFI.

Don’t go digging for trouble

Jul 24, 2020 | Safety and Security

Installing a fence or mailbox post? Building an addition? Starting a big landscaping project?

There’s one thing you always need to do before you or your contractor start digging.

Call 8-1-1 for the Pennsylvania One Call System to help prevent contact with underground powerlines or other utilities.

The call ensures that a crew comes out to mark all the areas with spray paint, flags, or other identifiers where underground utilities exist, whether they be power lines, water lines, sewer lines or gas lines.

State law requires an 811 call before digging with any power equipment in Pennsylvania. That call must be placed three business days prior to a dig.

We recommend that an 811 call be placed for any digging activity, whether it is an old-fashioned shovel or powered machinery, to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

Each year, we receive reports of about 60 to 75 digging incidents in which the person doing the digging failed to call 811. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission says that there are about 6,000 hits each year on underground utilities in the state overall.

If there’s construction going on in your neighborhood involving digging and you’re unsure whether an 811 call was placed, it never hurts to make that call just to be safe.

When calling 811, be prepared to share the following information:

• The county and municipality in which the planned dig is located.
• The street name and address.
• The nearest intersecting/cross street to the address.
• Details of the dig site, including the area of the property where excavation will occur and what kind of work is being done.
• When the project is scheduled to take place.
• The name of the company doing the work (if applicable).

For more information on safe digging, visit pa1call.org.

Summer Safety

Jun 11, 2020 | Safety and Security

We’re all getting used to a new normal with public health and safety on everyone’s minds. In some respects, we must be even more vigilant about safety these days. As businesses re-open and schools are dismissing, we wanted to share a few tips to help you enjoy summer safely.

Families are spending more time at home, in their gardens and yards, or in local parks for recreation – all places where ticks and other insects hide. Here’s how you can prevent tick bites or stings:

• Use insect repellents containing DEET on your skin
• Tape your pant legs and shirt sleeves
• Wear light colors so you can easily spot ticks on your clothing
• As soon as you return indoors, check your clothing and skin for ticks

As many of us continue to work from home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, we’re using non-traditional spaces as offices. This lends itself to electrical hazards. Use these electrical safety tips to keep your home office safe:

• Inspect extension cords and chargers for frayed wires
• Avoid overloading outlets
• Do not run cords under carpets or rugs
• Make sure your cords are not tripping hazards for children or pets

Pools and lakes are very popular this time of year, but they can also be very dangerous. Follow these tips to stay safe when swimming:

• Never swim alone and don’t allow children to swim without supervision
• Always wear a lifejacket when you’re on a boat
• Watch for undertows in rivers and lakes – don’t underestimate the power of water
• Keep a first aid kit nearby

Lastly, as we bring in summer – the heat is sure to follow. Here’s some advice for keeping cool:

• Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty
• Wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn
• Take time to rest and cool down indoors
• Use air conditioning if possible

For more summer safety, check out these tips from the National Safety Council.