Following severe weather events, electrical contractors’ customers may be faced with everything from downed wires in their neighborhoods to power outages. Here are some ways your electricians can help to keep themselves and their customers safe following a storm.
- Create awareness about generator safety. If your electricians walk into a home with a generator, make sure it is not in an enclosed space and is well maintained. Georgia Power also says if not used properly, generators can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, electric shock, or fire. Electrical devices must be turned off before being connected to a generator. They can then be switched on one by one.
- Urge customers to shut off appliances. To avoid overloading circuits when the power comes back on, homeowners should consider unplugging or turning off any appliances that will start up automatically. By taking this approach, they can eliminate a fire hazard.
- Take care when repairing a meter box. Following a storm, a homeowner may call upon an electrician to repair a meter box and bring it up to Code. The utilities are not able to restore power until the repairs are complete.
- Beware of downed lines. On route during a service call, electricians may encounter a downed wire blocking a road. If they come across such a situation, they should assume the line is live, call 911, and find an alternative route. They should never get out of their car or move the power line or they could risk being electrocuted.
By following these four tips, electricians can not only help their customers return to normalcy, but also prevent any vehicular or electrical shock accidents during the work day.
Fischbach is a freelance writer based in Overland Park, Kan. She can be reached at [email protected].
