Safety first is important no matter what you’re doing, and this holds true while working around your house as well. Electrocution accounts for about 20% of all fatalities in construction, so even professionals need to pay close attention to the guidelines when working with electricity. So let’s discuss a few things you can keep in mind when working near power lines or an electrical item in or around your home.

Indoors:
• Unplug any electrical item before you clean it.
• Never plug numerous items into an outlet. Use a surge protector for multiple items.
• Never unplug or carry anything by its cord, and don't run cords under furniture. The cords could overheat and result in a fire.
• Make sure you properly insert all three prongs of your electrical plugs into the outlet. This can prevent damage to the appliance during a power surge.
• Train your children not to play with electrical outlets, toasters or any other appliance; whether they're on or off. Use plug covers or inserts in all of your outlets when not in use.
• Don’t use light bulbs with a higher wattage than the light fixture allows.
Outdoors:
• If you have overhead electrical service in your home, look for the drop line from the utility pole to your house. Don't touch it or let other wires be in close proximity to it.
• Overhead power lines may appear insulated, however numerous lines aren't. The black coating may be weather protection or oxidation, not insulation.
• Be careful when using electric mowers, or weed whips as cutting the cord could produce sparks or even result in an electrical fire.
• Outdoor outlets need to be on a circuit protected by a “ground fault circuit interrupter” (GFCI) which are required in newer homes in bathrooms, garages, outdoors and near sinks.
• Keep all antennas away from power lines and/or electrical cords. Keep them far enough away to be clear if they were blown down due to high wind.
• Teach your kids to identify "Danger" signs, as well as not to climb in trees that have power lines passing through them. Also the pad-mounted transformers (those metal boxes on concrete pads) are not safe places to play.

If you happen to notice a potential hazard with power lines in your neighborhood, call the SMUD tree division office at 916.732.5854. You could help prevent a life-threatening accident, or an outage for yourself and your fellow residents.