• Try to take shelter in a vehicle with a solid metal roof. Close the windows and avoid contact with electrical conducting paths, such as the steering wheel, ignition, gear shifter, or radio.
• Avoid water, high ground, or open spaces.
• Do not seek shelter under tall, solitary trees; canopies; small picnic or rain shelters; or in any open-frame vehicles such as jeeps, convertibles, golf carts, tractors or mowers.
• Do not stand near power, light or flag poles, machinery, fences, gates, metal bleachers, or even other people. If you are in a group, spread out so that you are at least twenty feet apart.
• If your skin tingles or your hair stands on end, lightning may be about to strike. Squat down low to the ground with your head between your knees making yourself the smallest target possible.

• Electrical outlets – Check for loose-fitting plugs, which can be a shock or fire hazard. Replace missing or broken wall plates so wiring and components are not exposed. If you have young children in the home, make sure unused outlets are covered.
• Faulty appliances/electronics – If you have appliances or electronics that have given you shocks, blown a fuse, or tripped breakers, replace them. Look for cracks or damage in wiring and connectors. Use surge protectors to protect expensive electronics. Make sure your appliances and electronics are placed in dry locations—away from all water.
• Tamper Resistant Outlets – If you have young children, be sure tamper resistant outlets are installed in your house. Tamper resistant outlets only accept two or three pronged plugs. This means that a curious child will not be able to stick a paper clip or toy in an outlet.
• Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) – GFCIs should be installed in any area of your house where water and electricity are used—including the kitchen, bathrooms, and basement. GFCIs provide protection against shock from appliances that have come in contact with water, as well as damaged or defective appliances. A GFCI constantly monitors the flow of electricity through a circuit and will shut the circuit down if it senses a ground-fault. An electrician can install GFCIs in your house. If your outdoor outlet is not already equipped with GFCI protection, use a GFCI extension cord.
• Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) – AFCIs are installed in your breaker box. AFCIs monitor current flow and can distinguish between normal, working arcs and unwanted, dangerous arcs. When an unwanted arcing condition is detected, it shuts down the circuit. An AFCI protects your house from one of the leading causes of fires. According to the Consumer Product and Safety Commission, arc faults cause more than 40,000 fires a year. The price of an AFCI depends on the size of the house.

• AFCIs are important additions—especially in older homes with standard circuit breakers, as arc faults can occur in aging wiring systems.
• Standard circuit breakers do not protect against arcing conditions. They are designed to trip in response to a sustained amount of heat. In contrast, an AFCI monitors current flow and can distinguish between normal, working arcs and unwanted, dangerous arcs. When an unwanted arcing condition is detected, it shuts down the circuit.
• While both a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) and an AFCI have a test button, each type of circuit interrupter serves a different purpose. GFCIs are designed to protect consumers against electrical shock, while AFCIs are designed to protect against electrical fires. AFCIs will not interfere with the operation of GFCI outlets.
• The cost of installing AFCIs is directly related to the size of the house and the number of circuits installed. Each AFCI typically costs about $30 to $35. AFCIs provide an increased level of safety, and the cost increase is insignificant compared to the total cost of the home.
• The 2011 National Electrical Code requires combination AFCIs on circuits for all dwelling unit family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sun rooms, recreation rooms, hallways, closets, finished basements, or other rooms of that nature.

• Electrical outlets – Check for loose-fitting plugs. Replace missing or broken wall plates so wiring and components are not exposed. If you have young children in the home, check that unused outlets are covered. If an outlet is not working, have an electrician check it out. It may be an indicator of unsafe wiring.
• Plugs – Never force them into outlets. Do not remove the grounding pin (third prong) to make a three-prong plug fit a two-conductor outlet. Avoid overloading outlets with adapters and too many appliance plugs.
• Cords – Make sure they are not frayed or cracked, placed under carpets or rugs, tightly wrapped around any object, or located in high traffic areas. Do not nail or staple them to walls, floors, or other objects.
• Extension cords – They are not intended as permanent household wiring, so use them on a temporary basis only. Make sure they have safety closures to protect young children from shocks and burns.
• Light bulbs – Check the wattage to make sure light bulbs match the fixture requirements. Replace bulbs that have higher wattage ratings than recommended on the fixture. Make sure they are screwed in securely so they do not overheat.
• Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) – Make sure GFCIs are installed in your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, workshop, basement, garage, and outdoor outlets. Test them monthly to ensure they are working properly.
• Appliances/Electronics – If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker, or has given you an electrical shock, immediately unplug it and have it repaired or replaced. Look for cracks or damage in wiring and connectors. Use surge protectors to protect expensive electronics. Make sure your appliances and electronics are placed in dry locations—away from all water.
• Electrical wiring - Check for loose wall receptacles, loose wires, or loose lighting fixtures. Listen for popping or sizzling sounds behind walls. Immediately shut off, then professionally replace light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that spark and flicker.
• Circuit breakers/fuses – Check that circuit breakers are working properly. Fuses should be properly rated for the circuit they are protecting.
• Service capacity – As you continue to upgrade your home with more lighting, appliances, and electronics, your home’s electrical service capacity may become overburdened. If fuses blow or trip frequently, you may need to increase the capacity of your electrical service or add new branch circuits. A qualified, licensed electrician can determine the appropriate service requirements for your home.

• Never throw holiday lights or other decorations into trees near power lines.
• Be especially careful when working near power lines attached to your house. Keep ladders, equipment, and yourself at least 10 feet from all power lines.
• Use only lights, cords, animated displays, and decorations rated for outdoor use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use them.
• Cords should be plugged into outlets equipped with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs). Use a portable GFCI if your outdoor outlets are not equipped with them.
• Do not staple or nail through light strings or electrical cords, and do not attach cords to utility poles.
• Outdoor holiday lights are for seasonal use, up to 90 days. Bring them inside after the holidays.
• Avoid decorating outside on windy or wet days. Choose to decorate in favorable weather conditions and during daylight hours.
• Do not string together more than three standard-size sets of lights.
• Make sure extension cords are in good condition, are UL-approved, and rated to carry the electrical load you will connect to them.
• Match plugs with outlets. Do not force a three-pronged plug into a two-pronged outlet or extension cord.
• Always unplug lights—indoors and out—before going to bed or leaving your home.

• Avoid moving irrigation equipment on windy days when pipes could be blown into nearby power lines. Keep pipes horizontal t ground rather than vertical to minimize the risk of contact with power lines.
• Lengthy aluminum pipe should not be stored near overhead power lines. Handling and assembling them can jeopardize the safety of anyone at that location.
• If an irrigation pipe comes in contact with a power line, never try to remove it yourself. Stay away from the pipe, and call your local electric utility for help.
• Keep vertical or horizontal sprays of water from irrigation systems away overhead power lines. Because water is an excellent conductor of electricity, a stream of water reaching non-insulated wires will become the path for the deadly voltage and can energize the entire irrigation system.
• Make sure that irrigation system wiring is properly grounded. Before the start of each irrigation season, have a qualified electrician check the pump and wiring.
• Stay away from the piping during any lightning activity. Install lightning arresters to protect your equipment.

• Lightning can strike many miles ahead of a storm front. If you hear thunder, seek shelter immediately.
• Lightning will typically seek something tall, such as a tree, building, or flagpole, but can also strike at lower objects.
• If you are inside a building, the National Weather Service advises you to stay off corded telephones, or away from any electrical device that could carry an electrical surge if lightning were carried into your home through wiring.
• Since water is an excellent conductor of electricity, lightning is particularly dangerous for anyone in a swimming pool or engaged in water recreation.
   

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• Avoid moving irrigation equipment on windy days when pipes could be blown into nearby power lines. Keep pipes horizontal t ground rather than vertical to minimize the risk of contact with power lines.
• Lengthy aluminum pipe should not be stored near overhead power lines. Handling and assembling them can jeopardize the safety of anyone at that location.
• If an irrigation pipe comes in contact with a power line, never try to remove it yourself. Stay away from the pipe, and call your local electric utility for help.
• Keep vertical or horizontal sprays of water from irrigation systems away overhead power lines. Because water is an excellent conductor of electricity, a stream of water reaching non-insulated wires will become the path for the deadly voltage and can energize the entire irrigation system.
• Make sure that irrigation system wiring is properly grounded. Before the start of each irrigation season, have a qualified electrician check the pump and wiring.
• Stay away from the piping during any lightning activity. Install lightning arresters to protect your equipment.

• Lightning can strike many miles ahead of a storm front. If you hear thunder, seek shelter immediately.
• Lightning will typically seek something tall, such as a tree, building, or flagpole, but can also strike at lower objects.
• If you are inside a building, the National Weather Service advises you to stay off corded telephones, or away from any electrical device that could carry an electrical surge if lightning were carried into your home through wiring.
• Since water is an excellent conductor of electricity, lightning is particularly dangerous for anyone in a swimming pool or engaged in water recreation.

Downloads

Title	Date
Ladder Safety	03/31/2010
Generator Safety	03/31/2010
Digging Safety	03/31/2010
Cord Safety	03/31/2010
Pool Safety	03/31/2010