Safety is one of SMECO’s core values. We want to ensure that the services we provide do not endanger the health of our employees or present a hazard to the general public. We train our workforce to identify and correct hazards in their daily job duties.
SMECO also wants the general public to be able to identify possible hazards with our electric lines and equipment, and to notify SMECO when necessary.
Browse the resources below to learn about staying safe around electric equipment when digging in your yard, during inclement weather, or after vehicle collisions with electric equipment.
SMECO also offers safety demonstrations to further educate adults and children. For more information or to schedule a demonstration, contact SMECO’s Safety Director, Brian Lazarchick, at 1-888-440-3311.
Downed Power Lines:
Never touch a downed power line or anything near it. Should a power line fall on your car when you’re driving, slowly continue to move completely clear of it. If your car can’t move away from the power line, stay in the car until help arrives. The video from Puget Sound Energy shows how to stay safe around downed power lines.
Transcript of Downed Power Line video
[Music playing as WOMAN is driving and texting. MAN is driving in another car, and his phone rings.]
MAN on phone: Hello? Sorry, my meeting ran late. I should be home in about half an hour.
[WOMAN continues texting.]
MAN on phone: Sure, I can pick up dinner. What do you want?
[WOMAN continues texting.]
MAN on phone: Hot and spicy, that’s what I’m talking about.
[WOMAN continues texting.]
MAN on phone: I will.
[WOMAN continues texting.]
MAN on phone: I love you too.
[MAN hangs up. The two cars nearly run into one another. MAN’s vehicle hits a utility pole.]
[Caption: “This Might Shock You”]
[MAN awakens]
MAN, voiceover: Whoa, wow, oh MAN. So that’s what an airbag feels like. [looks at car] My car. Great. I should probably get out and see how bad the damage is.
[MAN reaches for door handle, hesitates.]
MAN, voiceover: Wait.
[MAN sees wires outside his windshield.]
MAN, voiceover: Are those telephone wires or power wires? Either way they could be hot. No way to be sure, don’t take any chances, just stay in the car and call 911. Good thing I actually paid attention during that safety meeting
[MAN dials phone.]
MAN on phone: Hi, this is Stephen Stonebanks, I’ve been in a car accident. I hit a power pole. I’m on Highway 18 somewhere east of the 356th street exit a couple of miles. No, I’m okay but there are power lines on my car. Okay, I know, I won’t move until you tell me the line is de-energized. Yes, I will stay put, please hurry. Thank you.
[MAN hangs up his phone. WOMAN gets out of her car. MAN makes another call.]
MAN on phone. Honey listen I’ve been in an accident. I’m fine, I’m fine. I hit a power pole the car is a mess but I’m okay. I called 9-1-1 they are on the way.
[MAN notices WOMAN approaching his car.]
MAN: Oh no, hey.
WOMAN: Are you okay?
MAN: Hey, stay back, don’t come any closer. You could get shocked by the ground around these downed power lines. Stay back about 35 feet and make sure no one else comes near.
WOMAN: Okay.
MAN: I’ve called 911, they’re on their way, thank you.
[MAN dials phone.]
MAN back on phone: Honey? No, no, no, I’m fine. Don’t worry, the police are on their way. So all I’ve got to do now is sit and… [notices smoke inside car]… wait. Uh, honey? I gotta call you back in couple of minutes.
[MAN hangs up phone.]
MAN: Oh boy, ah, not good.
WOMAN: Oh my God
[MAN exits the vehicle, coughing.]
MAN, voiceover: Okay, Plan B. Exit the vehicle, but now I’ve got to worry about touch potential.
[Caption: “Touch Potential”]
MAN, voiceover: Touch potential is the risk of electrocution based on one part of the body touching an energized object like a car while simultaneously touching the ground. Electricity flows from the vehicle through the body and into the ground, essentially making me into a human jumper cable which would be bad.
MAN, voiceover: I gotta jump and land with both feet together.
[MAN jumps and lands with both feet together. WOMAN sighs in relief.]
MAN, voiceover: Whew, OK. Now, step potential.
[Caption: “Step Potential”]
MAN, voiceover: Because the ground is energized, electrical current can travel through me if my feet aren’t close together. Electrical current enters through one foot and out the other. The further apart my feet are, the greater my chances of getting shocked. So I must move away using short shuffling steps.
[MAN shuffles away from car. WOMAN watches.]
MAN, voiceover: Shuffle. Shuffle. Shuffle. There you go, you got this, Steven. No large steps, just keep on shuffling. [sings] Everyday I’m shuffling.
[Phone rings and MAN loses balance.]
MAN, voiceover: I’m sorry, I can’t come to the phone right now. I’m busy trying to stay alive at the moment.
[MAN continues shuffling.]
MAN, voiceover: Almost there.
[MAN reaches safe zone, stops, and gasps in relief. WOMAN holds hand to her head in relief. Phone rings again and MAN answers.]
MAN on phone: Hi, honey no everything is okay. No, no, nobody got hurt today. Well, except the…[looks at crashed car]…uh, remember how we were talking about getting me a new car?
[Caption: “If you encounter downed power lines: Assume all downed lines are energized. Do not drive over downed power lines. Stay in your car. If in danger, jump away from car and land with both feet together. Shuffle away to safety (at least 35 feet away).”]
[Caption: “Puget Sound Energy”]
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