Electrical safety month

May is recognized as Electrical Safety Month, but we know the importance of practicing safety year-round. From our cooperative crews to you, the members we serve, we recognize that everyone has a part to play in prioritizing safety.

“As a cooperative team, safety is a top priority from the office to the field and even at home,” says Kevin Horner, Linton area foreman. “Keeping our members safe is just as important to us as keeping each other safe.”

Here are a few practical safety tips that can be used around the home, office, shop or school. 

• Frayed wires pose a serious safety hazard. Power cords can become damaged or frayed from age, heavy use or excessive current flow through the wiring. If cords become frayed or cut, replace them, as they could cause a shock when handled.
• Avoid overloading circuits. Circuits can only cope with a limited amount of electricity. Overload happens when you draw more electricity than a circuit can safely handle––by having too many devices running on one circuit.
• Label circuit breakers to understand the circuits in your home. Contact a qualified electrician if your home is more than 40 years old and you need to install multiple large appliances that consume large amounts of electricity.
• Use extension cords properly. Never plug an extension cord into another extension cord. If you “daisy chain” them together, it could lead to overheating, creating a potential fire hazard. Don’t exceed the wattage of the cord. Doing so also creates a risk of overloading the cord and creating a fire hazard. Extension cords should not be used as permanent solutions. If you need additional outlets, contact a licensed electrician to help. 

Our top priority is providing an uninterrupted electrical service to power homes, schools and businesses in our community year round. But equally important is keeping our community safe around electricity. 

Keep in mind if you see something that looks unsafe on a power line or around a substation give us a call so we can evaluate the situation. 

John- create in a slide bar type of format

In addition, to further inform our communities of electrical safety we are happy to provide a safety demonstration at your local school or at an upcoming community event. Reach out to our office for more information.