Outdoor Safety Tips

Stay Away from Power Lines

Use ladders made out of wood or fiberglass, NOT METAL, when working near power lines. And never set a ladder where it can fall into power lines!

When you carry a ladder, hold it low enough to avoid hitting overhead power lines.

Don't install an antenna where it would hit a power line if it falls.

Stay Away from Downed Power Lines

Never go near downed power lines! If you come across a power line that has fallen, call EDL immediately at 1707.

If a power line falls on your car, stay inside the car unless the car catches fire. If this should happen, jump clear of the car without touching metal and the ground at the same time.

If someone comes in contact with a live outdoor power line, call the emergency immediately so that the power can be shut off. Don't touch the victim or the power line!

Call Before You Dig

Always call EDL before you plan to dig. The number is 1707. Whether it's a small or a large construction or home owner project (such as putting up a fence or clothes line, planting a garden, building a home addition, deck or foundation, etc.) you must call two full working days (not counting weekends or holidays) prior to digging.

Electricity of Lebanon subscribes to this service, and we will be informed of your call. Since you must call two full working days in advance, you give us time to mark the location of any underground electric lines. IF YOU DIG INTO EDL'S LINES, YOU NOT ONLY EXPOSE YOURSELF TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, BUT YOU'LL ALSO BE CHARGED FOR ALL REPAIRS

Check Your Electrical Equipment

Make sure your power tools are properly grounded when you plug them in, and that you only use heavy-duty extension cords that are rated for outdoor use.

Only install lights outside that are intended for outdoor use. (This goes for Christmas lights too!)

Keep electrical power tools away from water. Never use power tools if you're standing in water or on a wet surface. Stay Away From Substations and Transformers.

Stay and teach your children to stay away from utility substations and transformers. These high voltage areas can be very dangerous! Also, teach your children to recognize the "DANGER" signs that are on all high voltage equipment, and to stay away.

If you notice a substation fence or transformer cabinet has been damaged, call EDL at 1707.

Never climb utility poles or transmission towers.

Watch Out for Lightning

If you are caught outdoors during a thunderstorm, get indoors as fast as possible. If you can't get indoors, try to stay away from trees. Wet wood and tall objects attract lightning.

If you are outdoors in a thunderstorm and you are the tallest object around, sit or lie down. You won't be very comfortable, but it may just save your life!

Indoor Safety Tips

Ground Wire

The appliance will operate normally without the ground wire because it is not a part of the conducting path which supplies electricity to the appliance. In fact, if the ground wire is broken or removed, you will normally not be able to tell the difference. But if voltage has gotten in contact with the case, there may be a shock hazard. In the absence of the ground wire, shock hazard conditions will often not cause the breaker to trip unless the circuit has a ground fault interrupter in it. Part of the role of the ground wire is to force the breaker to trip by supplying a path to ground if a "hot" wire comes in contact with the metal case of the appliance.

Check your wiring

- All electric wiring must be installed and inspected by a licensed electrician

Circuit breaker and fuses

Fuses and circuit breakers control the electricity that flows to various areas of your house. For instance, one fuse or circuit breaker might control the electricity to your kitchen while another controls the flow of electricity to your living room. Fuses and circuit breakers also shut off the electricity automatically in the event of any of the following: 

Short Circuits, which can occur when a bare wire allows the electricity to take a shortcut.

Overloads, which are caused by plugging too many appliances into one outlet.

Defective Parts, which can cause a fire, or present a risk of electric shock.

By shutting themselves off, fuses and circuit breakers help prevent fires and/or injuries in your home or business.

Using Extension Cords

Make sure that you use an extension cord that has been approved by a testing laboratory. You will also need to make sure that the extension cord is the right one for the location where it will be used, and for the type of electrical load it will be carrying. For instance, you'll need a heavy-duty cord for power tools, a weather resistant cord for outdoor use, or a three-wire cord with a three-prong plug for tools or appliances that need grounding.

Never remove the third prong on a three-prong plug to make it fit into a standard household outlet! The third prong is the ground wire.

Pick a Safe Spot

Don't put an extension cord where it's likely to be stepped on or damaged. And make sure to keep all extension cords away from heat sources and from water.

Don't use extension cords as a substitute for electrical outlets. Overloading your outlet with too many appliances can cause a fire!

Check Extension Cords for Wear

Make sure the cord isn't showing any signs of wear before and after you use it. Pay special attention to the plug to make sure it isn't pulling loose. If you see any signs of wear, don't use the cord. Worn out extension cords can cause shorts, shocks or fires.

Handle With Care

Don't twist, crush or kink the extension cord. This could break the wires inside the cord. When you unplug an extension cord (or any other plug) pull on the plug, not the cord!

Safety & Household Appliances

All household appliances should have a label from a testing laboratory  to show that it has passed the necessary safety standard tests. Before you use a new appliance, read the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Large appliances need circuits of various types and sizes. If you will be bringing a large appliance into your home, and you're not sure if you have an adequate outlet or proper wiring, call a service person or a licensed electrician. Your owner's manual will also help you find out what you need.

General Safety Tips

Always connect all the household appliance body to the ground wire.

Never use an electric appliance while touching metal (especially plumbing), standing on a wet surface, or while taking a shower or bath.

Make sure to unplug appliances before you clean them, repair them, or when they aren't being used.

Keep the appliance motors clean. NOTE: If an appliance smokes, sparks or gives you a shock, unplug it immediately! Call a service person to repair it before you try to use it again.

Never put metal objects into an appliance or an electrical outlet.

Teach your children not to play with electrical cords and wall outlets. If you have small children, cover your wall outlets with plastic safety caps. These are very affordable, and are available at most hardware stores.

A severe electric shock may knock a person unconscious, burn him, cause internal damage and may stop breathing.

If you see a person getting an electrical shock, your first instinct is to grab them away from the current, but don’t! You will be joined into the electrical current and not be able to help him. Your first step is to call the emergency, than switch the current off, if you can. If this is not possible, you need to get a nonconductive item like a wooden stick, or a broom handle and push away or lift off the source of the current. Push it far enough away so that it won’t re-conduct, then quickly run back to the victim.

Now that the current is disconnected from the victim, check to see if he is breathing. To do this put your finger under the jaw to feel a pulse and your ear by their nose, watch for the rise and fall of their chest. If they are not breathing start Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation and call for emergency medical help.

If they are breathing you should take them into the emergency room for an examination. There can be internal injuries that you cannot see, even if the external burn looks minor. You can treat the burn, if it looks minor, like a normal burn. But, going to the emergency room is necessary in case of a severe shock

If the victim is electrocuted with high tension source, do not try to remove the person from the wire and stay at least 6 meters away. Call the emergency, try to state the location of the high voltage wire, and then contact EDL right away. Act quickly.

Emergency First Aid Tips

A severe electric shock may knock a person unconscious, burn them, cause internal damage and may stop breathing.

If you see a person getting an electrical shock your first instinct is to grab them away from the current, but don’t! You will be joined into the electrical current and not be able to help him. Your first step is to call the emergency, than switch the current off, if you can. If this is not possible, you need to get a nonconductive item like a wooden stick, or a broom handle and push away or lift off the source of the current. Push it far enough away so that it won’t re-conduct, then quickly run back to the victim.

Now that the current is disconnected from the victim, check to see if he is breathing. To do this put your finger under the jaw to feel a pulse and your ear by their nose, watch for the rise and fall of their chest. If they are not breathing start Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation and call for emergency medical help.

If they are breathing you should take them into the emergency room for an examination. There can be internal injuries that you can not see, even if the external burn looks minor. You can treat the burn, if it looks minor, like a normal burn. But, going to the emergency room should preclude this if it was a severe shock.

If the victim is electrocuted with high tension source, do not try to remove the person from the wire and stay at least 6 meters away. Call the emergency, try to state the location of the high voltage wire, and them to contact EDL right away. Act fast.

Emergency phone number:

Internal Security: 112

Red Cross: 140

Civil defense: 125