Preventable Safety Risks Can Result in Fatal Consequences
By Victoria Hampton
In 2021, Josh Sears and his crew were 24 hours into windstorm recovery on a spring day that almost became his last. Outage repairs on a remote stretch of power lines in Western Montana were routine. Yet a hidden danger, sparked by an improperly installed generator backfeeding on a power line, awaited contact.
Josh raised the bucket to make final repairs to a distribution line serving nearby homes. As he reached down to check wires torn from the pole, his hand was electrocuted.
“Electricity is silent until it’s given the potential to show you it’s there,” says Josh, journeyman lineman for Northern Lights Inc., based in Sagle, Idaho.
Josh clung to consciousness as he fought to separate himself from the wire. Within seconds, he was confronted with the aftermath of a near-death experience.
“I didn’t want to look at my hands,” Josh says. “I know what happened. I don’t want to take my gloves off and see what happened.”
Josh was surprised to find his hands intact, marked with only signs of the electricity’s path—eraser-sized burns on each hand.
“This is not a normal scenario, how this played out,” Josh says, reflecting on his recovery. “(Electricity) eats you from the inside out. That’s how electrical burns work.”
Safety is everything for lineworkers like Josh. Continual safety training, essential equipment stocked in utility vehicles, and layers of safety gear ensure lineworkers have the skills and tools to keep power flowing and return home safely every day. Yet humancaused dangers pose threats outside of a lineworker’s control.
“We can train them to control electricity, lifting, rigging, and grounding, but I can’t control what the general public is doing on the roadways or in work areas,” says Kristin Burge, Northern Lights engineering and operations manager.
What nearly killed Josh was preventable. The following are steps everyone can take to keep lineworkers safe and prevent power interruptions.
Safely Operate Generators
Incorrectly installed backup generators pose a life-threatening risk to lineworkers and residents.
“Improperly connected generators can create serious safety risks for lineworkers who may be working to restore power under the assumption that lines are deenergized,” says Sarah Johnson, chief operating officer for Clatskanie PUD, based in Clatskanie, Oregon.
Backfeed occurs when improperly connected generators feed electricity back into the local power grid. During an outage, lineworkers may not know a downed or damaged power line is receiving power from an external source. This can result in electrocution. Backfeeding can also cause a generator to explode or catch fire, which puts everyone inside or near the home at risk.
To ensure permanently installed standby generators are safe, they need a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician.
“I know it’s not always financially easy for people, but use the right equipment or, when equipment is faulty, take the time and money to upgrade it,” Josh says. “What they choose to do or not do can have a big effect on us.”
Portable generators should never be plugged into a home’s wall outlet or connected to a building’s wiring. Instead, plug appliances and other devices into the portable generator based on its capacity.
Read all safety instructions before operating a generator. Because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, portable generators need to be operated in dry, well-ventilated areas away from homes or garages. Use proper extension cords and unplug appliances before turning off a portable generator. Before refueling, turn off the generator and allow it to cool.
Keep Electrical Equipment Clear
A meter on the side of a house or a pad-mounted transformer near a driveway must remain accessible to utility crews. Keep utility equipment clear of plants, outdoor decor, and structures.
When planting a tree, consider the mature tree’s height and plant a safe distance away from overhead lines. Before removing a tree near a power line, contact the utility for help. Property owners can be held responsible for damaging electrical equipment when felling a tree.
While power poles may seem like an ideal location to advertise a garage sale or mount a satellite dish, attaching anything to them with staples or hardware can snag equipment and clothing.
“That can create a hazardous condition if a lineman needs to climb that pole or work on it,” Kristin says.
Keep clear of substations—the facilities that adjust high-voltage electricity to lower levels to deliver to homes and businesses. Never enter the fenced area or tamper with equipment.
Report All Hazards
Report anything affecting power equipment to the electric utility. Crews want to know about impacts to power lines and poles, transformers, meters, substations and any electrical equipment.
The public is encouraged to leave damaged equipment alone. For instance, if a tree falls onto power lines and blocks a roadway, call the electric utility for help. Don’t attempt to move or cut the tree or power equipment. There is no way for a person to know if the power line is still energized, so always assume it is. Contacting a live line can be fatal.
“If the member wants to be helpful, tell other people to stay away from it and don’t go anywhere near it yourself,” Kristin says.
Stay at least 30 feet away from a downed line, and never drive over one. If a line falls on a vehicle, stay inside and wait for emergency services, unless there is fire or smoke. To exit the vehicle in an emergency, open the door, stand on the threshold with feet together, jump clear of the vehicle without touching it, and shuffle or bunny hop to safety.
Respect Work Zones
Working along roadways and highways is dangerous. Line crews must pay close attention to control electricity and equipment while remaining aware of passing vehicles. Risks increase when drivers speed by, pass too close, or distract crews from the task at hand. In some states, drivers are required by law to slow down and move over for utility vehicles. It’s also important to secure pets when crews are working near homes.
“If you see a crew out working, remember to slow down,” Kristin says. “Those are people’s husbands, dads, and kids out there working. We need to keep them safe.”
In the best conditions, lineworkers’ jobs are difficult. During severe weather and extended outages, conditions become hazardous. Lineworkers are prepared with the training and equipment they need to safely restore and maintain power. Every person can do their part to keep lineworkers safe by letting them work without interruption or external risks.
“At the end of the day, we don’t want anyone to get hurt,” Kristin says. “We want to keep the electricity on, but we absolutely need to do it safely.”