If You Make Overhead Contact

What Happens When…?

You’ve followed all mandatory safety guidelines but, despite your best efforts, your equipment still contacts an overhead power line. What do you do now?

• If you can do so safely, move the equipment away from the line.
• Stay on the equipment until utility workers say it is safe to get off.
• Warn others away. Anyone who touches the equipment or even the ground nearby may be injured or killed.
• Have someone call 911 and Westar Energy immediately.

If you must leave your equipment due to fire or other danger:

• Jump as far away as possible so you don’t touch the equipment and the ground at the same time.
• Land with your feet together.
• Shuffle away with your feet close together and on the ground, or hop away on two feet, keeping both feet together.

Once you’re clear of your equipment, don’t return for any reason until you are advised by electric utility workers that the area is safe.

Would You Like to Know More?

Additional overhead and digging guidelines, case studies, instructional videos, and training tools can all be found, at no charge to you, on Westar Energy’s e-SMARTworkers website..

For more contractor safety information,
visit westarsafety.com/contractors.

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