T A I L G A T E T A L K 2 | TAILGATE TALK Touch Versus Step Potential It’s Electric: Tips for Staying Safe When Working Near Fallen Powerlines The minute you receive a call for an emergency job the clock starts and your preparedness is tested. As humans, we tend to make mistakes, especially when we rush ourselves. In emergency situations, rushing can cause us to overlook crucial hazards, forget necessary gear, and neglect to avoid the line of fire, which prevents us from doing our job safely. source: image provided by Florida Power & Light. WARNING: The Area and Objects May Now Be Energized Working in areas that may be energized after a fallen powerline increases your chances of touch and step potential. These two safety hazards are crucial to understand so you can avoid energizing yourself and the surrounding area. Touch Potential: Voltage between the energized object and a person’s feet. Touch potential occurs when a person touches an item energized by a powerline, such as a tree, fence, tower, or the line itself. Once the person meets the electrical energy, they become a conductor for the energy to travel to the ground and throughout the surrounding area. To Avoid: Stay away from anything that could be a potential conductor of energy. Conductive materials include: • Metal • Water • Human body Step Potential: Voltage between the feet of a person. Step potential occurs when an electrical current has worked its way to the ground and, based on the resistive nature of the ground, the current has charged random spots that you cannot predict. Because the potential risk is so unpredictable, it is important to keep a safe distance (30 feet) away from fallen powerlines. To Avoid: Do not go near the line(s). If you find yourself closer than 30 feet to a downed powerline, keep your feet together or only allow one foot to contact the potentially energized ground. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to walk in potentially energized areas, it is important to remember to take short shuffled steps with your feet to walk away safely. • Smoke • Wood • Rope When receiving and accepting an emergency or urgent-arrival job, there’s no time to dilly-dally. In order to combat rushed mistakes, it’s best to prepare for your next shift the minute you return home. Stop and fuel on your way home, place your PPE and other work-critical items consistently in the same place, and prepare drink and food items so you have what you need ready at your disposal. This will help you stay calm. When entering a work zone with a fallen powerline, you must be hyper-aware of your surroundings and keep safety as your top priority. Below are key points to remember when your brain is in “go mode” to keep yourself, your crew, and the public safe. 1. Approaching the Site Be sure to conduct thorough site observations—downed wires, poles, or trees; wires laying in water or on/near fences, and sparking wires are all hazards to be aware of when arriving on site. Be advised that any wires on the ground should be treated as live. If you do notice these types of work zone threats, move to safety and then reach out to your area supervisor or client point of contact for guidance. 2. Take Time to Do It Right The only way to keep everyone safe is to stay calm and focused. Take a moment to slow down and concentrate on what you are doing at that moment. After your setup is complete, take a second to look around to make sure your setup is accurate and safe. 3. Setting Up the Work Zone The voltage gradient from wires laying on the ground is cut in half for every 2.5 to 3 feet removed from the energy source. Based on multiple tests, a minimum distance of 30 feet is enough space for you and your equipment to stay safe and to keep the public away from any hazardous areas.