Emera Maine Logging & Farming Safety
Dear Member of the Logging or Farming
Community:
Recently, Emera Maine has experienced a number of incidents with logging
and farming machinery coming close to or having contact with power lines.
Situations like these can potentially have tragic consequences. There is
nothing more important to us than sending our employees home safe and well
each and every day. We are reaching out with information to help those in
the logging and farming industry do the same.
Operating any type of equipment that encroaches upon power lines can
potentially risk the safety of the operator and others nearby. Fortunately
there were no injuries associated with the recent events we've experienced.
However, extensive damage to machinery and power outages did result from
these incidents. In some cases, power outages affected local businesses,
schools, and emergency services. Expenses were also incurred from the time
and effort Emera Maine needed to determine the cause of the outage and
re-establish power.
Our Safety Around Power Lines guide includes important
information for logging, farming, or any activity that has the possibility
of coming near or contacting power lines. Some key things to remember are:
-
Stay
clear of lines. The
very best practice is to avoid power lines altogether, including
parking, loading, or storing any equipment under our power lines.
-
Look up! When working around power lines, signs to remind
workers of overhead lines can save a life.
-
Maintain
a distance of 20 feet.
Ensure no part of any vehicle, equipment, or person is operating
within 20 feet of power lines. For work that requires closer proximity,
please refer to OSHA rules and the Maine Overhead High Voltage Safety
Act.
-
No line
is safe to touch. Trees,
limbs, and equipment can all conduct electricity. You cannot tell if a
line is energized simply by looking at it.
In cases where work
distances are needed that are closer than outlined by OSHA and Maine State
rules, notify Emera Maine a minimum of 72 hours in advance so we can
evaluate and implement the needed safety arrangements. If a limb, tree, or
equipment comes in contact with or brings down a line, even if something
just brushes the lines, contact Emera Maine immediately. For all
life-threatening or emergency situations, contact emergency services before
calling Emera Maine.
Should you have any questions about operating safely around electrical
lines, please call our Customer Contact Center at 1-855-EMERA-11
(1-855-363-7211) or 1-207-973-2000.
Yours truly,
Stan Hartin
Manager of Safety
Brad Flannery
Manager of Line & Meter Operations
Emera Maine
www.emeramaine.com
1-855-EMERA-11 (1-855-363-7211)
1-207-973-2000
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