IndoorsGeneral indoor safety tips
Periodically, do a quick safety check around your home to make sure your appliances and wiring are in good shape. Here’s are some tips:

 

Appliances

• Do not use electric appliances when you are taking a bath or standing near a sink.
• Never use any electric appliance on a wet surface, while wet or standing in water.
• Make sure your hands are dry when using an appliance.
• Use electrical appliances with three-pronged plugs.
• Use appliances with the Underwriters' Laboratories (UL) symbol.
• Never hang clothes or place furniture near an electric heater or hot plate.
• Keep electric heaters at least four (4) feet from furniture and drapes.
• Keep electric heaters on a level non-flammable surface.
• Never go to sleep with a heating pad or space heater turned on.
• Never place appliance cords where they will come into contact with the stove or other heated surfaces.
• Unplug all electrical appliances when not in use.
• Unplug all electrical appliances before repairing or cleaning.
• Unplug an appliance that has fallen into water before attempting to retrieve it.
• Turn off a light before replacing the bulb.
• Never pull out an electrical plug by the cord.
• If your smoke detector runs on electricity, have a battery backup in case of a power failure.
• Do not touch an electrical appliance with a metal object.
  

Wires/Fuses/Outlets

• Do not stick any object other than an electrical plug into an outlet.
• Replace frayed or cracked electrical cords with new ones; you can purchase these at your local hardware store.
• Keep electrical cords out of traffic areas in the home.
• Keep electrical cords out from under rugs and heavy furniture.
  
• Do not overload outlets with too many appliances; instead, make use of other outlets in the room.
• Use extension cords minimally.
• When outside, use only extension cords that are approved for outdoor use.
• Use a long extension cord. It is better than using several shorter lengths.
• When replacing circuit breakers and fuses, use the correct size device.
• Protect outdoor outlets with protective, weatherproof covers.
• Hire an electrician to install a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in your bathroom and kitchen where appliances are used near water.
• Hire an electrician to install GFCIs on all outdoor outlets.
• Keep outdoor wiring on a separate circuit.
• Know the location of the main electrical switch in the home.
• Never force a plug into an outlet.

OutdoorsGeneral outdoor safety tips
Here are some common misconceptions and myths about electrical safety. Take a moment to read up, and remember to share this information with your children. It could save a life!

• MYTH: Birds land on power lines, so they must be safe to touch: Electricity wants nothing more than to go to ground, and will always do so by the easiest, most direct route - and all routes. Birds don’t get electrocuted when they land on wires because they don’t represent a path to ground. BUT a ladder, kite or even a wet string coming near or in contact with a power line will provide electric current with a new path to ground. If you are touching those things, you may well become part of that path and be electrocuted or severely injured. Don’t touch!

• MYTH: Power lines are insulated, so they’re safe to touch. Most overhead power lines are not insulated. Those that are only have enough insulation to prevent problems with incidental tree contact, but often not enough to prevent injury to people. Underground lines are insulated and safe to touch, but can become dangerous if damaged by a shovel or sharp object. Be safe and don’t touch!
  
  

• MYTH: As long as my ladder isn’t metal, it’s safe to rest on a power line. Metal is one of the best conductors for electricity, but water is a good conductor, too. That means that any moisture on (or in) wood or another other material can conduct electricity. In fact, if something is wet or can get wet, it represents a potential hazard. Be safe – keep all ladders and other long objects away from power lines. (By the way, you are made of 70% water and are an excellent conductor.)

• MYTH: As long as my ladder isn’t touching overhead power lines, I’m safe. That depends on how far away your ladder and you are from the line. Electricity can arc and often does when a potential conductor like a metal ladder comes near it. The exact distance depends on things like weather conditions and the voltage of the power line. To be safe, stay at least 10 feet from overhead lines.

• MYTH: I’m only digging a few inches in the ground, I don’t need to worry about underground power lines. Whether you are planning to build a fence, plant some perennials or dig out an old stump, it’s important to locate underground utility lines before you start digging. Call the Oregon Utility Notification Center at 1-800-332-2344 at least 48 hours before you begin. Even if you are only digging a few inches, make the call. It’s free, it’s required by law, and it will prevent accidents, injuries and service interruptions.

  
  
• MYTH: SUB put utility equipment at ground level right in my neighborhood, so it’s safe to be around. Those green boxes are pad-mounted transformers, and they are safe to be around. But if the equipment is damaged because of vandals, careless landscaping or other causes, it could become a hazard. Tell children not to enter or play around utility electrical equipment, and if you notice damage, call SUB at 746-8451 immediately.

Downed Power LinesDuring the winter, harsh weather can cause trees to fall into power lines, and cars to skid into power poles. SUB’s linemen are trained to handle downed power lines. In the event you encounter one, remember these important safety tips to avoid serious injury:

• If you see a downed power line, keep all other people away and inform SUB right away at 746-8451.
• DO NOT under any circumstances touch a downed power line, even if it is not moving, humming or sparking. Always assume that any power line is live and dangerous.
• Never approach a downed power. The ground around a live power line may be electrified as well, and is dangerous.
• DO NOT touch anything that is in contact with a downed power line, such as cars, debris or fallen tree branches. Anything touching a power line is just as dangerous as the power line itself.
• In the event a power line falls on your car, stay inside and wait for help. If you have a cell phone, use it to call for assistance. If you must leave the vehicle because it is on fire, or in danger of catching on fire, open the door and without touching the outside of the car, try to jump away while keeping your feet together. Once you have landed, shuffle away from your car. Running or walking can arc electricity through your legs and injure you.

Call Before You DigBefore you do any digging in your yard, be sure to find out where your underground lines and pipes are first. Call Utility Locates Incorporated at their toll-free number: 1 800 332-2344. At no charge to you, Utility Locates Incorporated will call the utilities that have underground services on your property: telephone, television, gas, water, and electric. Each utility is then responsible for coming to your house within 48 hours to mark the locations of your underground services - again, at no charge to you. If a utility has services on your property, the location of those underground lines and pipes will be marked with paint.

 

If you don't call to find out where your underground lines are located and a line gets broken, you will be billed for the cost of repairs.

TreetrimmingIf one or more trees on your property are growing into your power lines, call SUB’s Electric Service Center at 726-2395.  Under certain conditions, SUB performs tree-trimming services.  Under no circumstances should you attempt to trim a tree growing into a power line without calling SUB first.  Working with trees near high voltage lines is an extremely dangerous activity and by law must be performed by a trimmer with special training.