To keep yourself and family members safe around electricity outside your home, it's important to observe the following basic safety rules:
- Never personally trim or remove trees near power lines. Hire a trained, qualified crew to do the work.
- Avoid planting new trees where they might grow into an overhead power line. Never use electrical tools if your hands or feet are wet or if you are standing on damp ground.
- Look up and check the clearance from overhead lines in all directions before installing or removing an antenna for TV or radio, or before using a ladder or a skimming rod to clean a swimming pool. The risk of fatal injury should be motivation to stay away from overhead power lines. However, if that is not enough clearance, you should know that disregarding electrical power line safety actually violates Kansas law. Violators can be punished by law with fines up to $1,000 per day per violation.
- For temporary overhead power line clearance, call us at 913-573-9531 or visit our offices in person seven working days prior to your clearance date.
- Teach children never to climb trees or fly kites near overhead lines.
- If an overhead line falls on your car as a result of an accident, stay in the car if you can and wait for help. If you must exit the car, jump away from it as far as you can, being careful not to touch the ground and the car at the same time.
- If you see a broken or fallen overhead line, assume it is "Live" and call 913-573-9522 at once. Call that same number if a kite, metallic balloon, or model airplane is caught in a power line. Never personally try to retrieve it.
- Use only non-metallic string or cord to fly kites.
- Keep children away from transformers and other utility equipment.
- Underground locates/Kansas One Call.
If you are planting trees, installing a sprinkler system or working on any other project that involves digging, call 1-800-DIG-SAFE or (1-800-344-7233). Use this number to locate all underground utility lines.