WorldWide Drilling Resource

53 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® MARCH 2018 What to do if you are Trapped Information Provided by America’s Electric Cooperatives Do you know what to do if your vehicle has crashed into a utility pole? What if you see a car trapped under downed lines? Knowing what to do can be the difference between life and death. Do you exit the vehicle or stay inside? Although your initial thought may be to get out of the car, in vehicle accidents involving downed power lines, that decision can lead to tragic, if not deadly, results. Your best bet is to stay in the vehicle, call 911, and wait until the local electric utility company arrives to de- energize the line. Then you can safely exit the vehicle. You see, the vehicle itself will act as a path for the electrical current to travel to the ground. So, you are safe inside the ve- hicle, but if you get out, you could get shocked or electrocuted. Remember, there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY to tell if a line is energized just by looking at it. So, you should treat every power line as if it is energized and dangerous until utility crews tell you otherwise. If you come upon or witness an accident involving downed power lines, don’t leave your vehicle. Stay far away and keep others away as well. Don’t drive over downed power lines either. There is one exception and it involves fire. If you are inside a vehicle with a downed power line on it and it catches on fire, then you must get out. However, you have to exit care- fully by following these steps: 1) Jump out of the vehicle making sure no part of your body touches the ground and the vehicle at the same time. 2) Make sure you land with both feet together and in small, shuffling steps, move at least 40 feet away from the vehicle. 3) The ground may be energized, so shuffling with both feet together decreases your risk of electrical shock. It isn’t only accidents which cause power lines to fall, trees and limbs falling onto lines could also cause them to land across a road or into your yard. Your best bet is to stay away from downed power lines and anything that might be touching them. It is also important to remember the ground around a downed line could be also be energized. Under no circum- stances should you try to move a downed power line, or anything else in contact with it. Even nonconductive materials like wood or cloth can conduct electricity if it’s even slightly wet. Editor’s Note: In between our print issues, the WWDR Team prepares an electronic newsletter called E-News Flash . Based on readership, this was the most popular E-News Flash article of the month. Get in on the action and subscribe today at: www.worldwidedrillingresource.com Safety Companies Merge Adapted from a Press Release by Checkers Safety Group Justrite Safety Group and Checkers Safety Group, both part of Audax Private Equity, have merged creating a leading manufacturer of industrial and environmental safety products. Since 1906, Justrite ® has provided products for the safe management of flammable liquids and other hazardous materials. Products include safety cabinets and large outdoor storage build- ings; safety vessels and containers for laboratory and industrial applications; spill containment; safety showers and eye/face wash; and other products to help industrial customers maintain safe practices. Founded in 1987, Checkers is a leading provider of branded industrial safety products dedicated to vehicular safety, asset protection, and workplace safety. Their products include wheel chocks, warning whips, cable management systems, ergonomic antifatigue and entrance matting, temporary access mats, as well as ground protection solutions through their four power brands of Monster™, Linebacker ® , Notrax ® , and TuffTrak ® . For now, both Justrite and Checkers distributors will continue to connect with their current sales or customer service representative as there is no change in the com- mercial relationship with either business. Visit us online! worldwidedrillingresource.com