Electricity is an important part of our everyday lives, but it’s also extremely dangerous. If you have a utility pole near your home, keep your distance.
If a downed #powerline occurs nearby, never approach the area.
Why are Utility Poles Dangerous?
• Leaning poles: Whether caused by old age, insect damage or high wind, leaning wooden utility poles are liable to crack with the transformer crashing down, potentially damaging property or hurting someone in the process.
• Dangerous voltage: Power lines strung between utility poles in urban areas are typically 4 to 25 kilovolts. Even at this lower voltage, touching a power line can causes severe injuries.
• Stray voltage: When the insulation surrounding old wires
underground begins to degrade, the wires become exposed to the soil.
Stray electrical currents can travel through the soil and into metal objects on the surface, including steel utility poles, streetlights, fire hydrants and manhole covers.
• Chemical toxins: Wood utility poles are treated with preservatives to help them last longer and keep bugs away. These preservatives contain dangerous chemicals that harm humans, animals, and the environment.
If you’re concerned about a leaning utility pole near your home, or you suspect another problem such as stray voltage or chemical treatment is putting you or your family in danger, please contact Got Electric.
#GotElectric #utilitypole #utilitypoledange
