At Duquesne Light Company (DLC), safety is not only a top priority, but part of its core values. As summer begins, many will be using electrical supplies for home repairs, outdoor projects and indoor renovations. To keep safety top-of-mind throughout National Safety Month, DLC is offering helpful tips and resources to customers, contractors and families.
DLC’s dedication to keeping its customers and employees safe has recently been recognized by the Energy Association of Pennsylvania (EAP), where they earned the EAP’s Safety Sustainability Award for reporting an exceptionally low incidence rate from 2015–2017, ranking first in the category out of 10 utilities. The Company was also awarded the EAP’s Safety Achievement Award for reporting an exceptionally low incidence rate in 2017, ranking second out of 10.
While DLC continues working hard to keep its customers and employees safe, here are some helpful reminders for contractors, families and all customers who may come in contact with electricity indoors or outdoors this summer.
Contractor Safety:
- Before you do any digging or excavating, remember to place a call at least three working days in advance to Pennsylvania One Call at 8-1-1 to have underground utilities properly identified and marked.
- Consider all power lines energized and dangerous. Keep yourself and all ladders, tools, equipment, and materials at least 10 feet away from all power lines.
Kid Safety:
- Warmer weather means a lot of activities for kids involving water. Make sure they take extreme care when using electrical appliances or equipment near a swimming pool, pond or water feature.
- Outdoor activities are fun, but kids should be reminded to never climb a tree near a power line and never touch a power line.
Indoor Safety:
- Keep all appliances away from any contact with water. If a plugged-in appliance falls into water, never reach in to pull it out – even if it's turned off.
- Be careful not to overload power strips, extension cords or outlets. Make sure cords are not placed across areas where people walk. Cords should never be nailed or stapled to the wall, baseboard or to another object. Do not place cords under carpets, rugs or place any furniture on top of them.
Outdoor Safety:
- Use caution when pruning trees with long-handled pruning equipment, especially if it is made of metal. Tree limbs that grow into power lines may be carrying an electrical current.
- When planting near a transformer, be sure to keep a distance of 10 feet from any side with an opening and 3 feet from other sides. Electrical workers need space to safely open the transformer when working on underground power lines.
Work Zone Safety:
- The summer months mean crews will be outside doing work across Pittsburgh to ensure that the lights in your home and business stay on. Always be cautious and aware of DLC work zones and be sure to slow down when you see orange cones, DLC bucket trucks or any type of work zone to prevent an accident from occurring.
In case of emergency, always dial 9-1-1 and then call Duquesne Light at 1-888-393-7000. Never touch any person, vehicle, or equipment that is in contact with electrified wires. For more electrical safety tips, keep up with DLC on Facebook and Twitter throughout the month or visit us online at duquesnelight.com/safety.
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