Worker Safety When the Power is Out

A power outage is a call to arms for emergency electrical workers. No matter the time, day, or weather, the power doesn’t stay out too long, thanks to their diligent efforts. Unfortunately, the rush and complexity of the task can lead to failures in electrical worker safety during a power outage. Power outages present special safety hazards that don’t exist under regular conditions and require a special kind of vigilance.

Below, we’ll discuss some unique hazards of power outages as well as the emergency procedures key to preventing electrical shock during power restoration.

Electrical Worker Safety Hazards During a Power Outage

The first step in learning how to stay safe working on electrical lines during an outage is to understand the potential hazards.

During a power outage, many of the everyday electrical hazards still apply. On top of that, the very condition of the power outage can give a false sense of security that leads to mistakes.

Even during a blackout, there are several circumstances under which electrical workers may encounter hazardous energy sources.

Generator Backfeed

While generators are a common solution during a power outage, many people don’t realize that improperly installing a generator can result in a serious safety issue – not just for their own home, but for the surrounding area and any electrical workers performing power restoration.

During normal conditions, electricity entering a home is isolated and filtered for safety. When a portable generator is plugged into an appliance socket, these safety precautions get circumvented, and the energy from the generator goes straight into the home’s wiring. This puts the home at risk for short-circuiting and electrical fires, but it can also cause electricity to flow backward from the home into the surrounding area.

This is called backfeed.

The use of a manual or automatic transfer switch can prevent backfeeding, but this isn’t understood by the general public.

As a result, emergency electrical workers can’t assume that power lines are dead during a blackout because people inside the home or business may have generators back-feeding electricity to the main line.

Islanding from Distributed Energy Resources

Similar to backfeeding, there is the problem of islanding. Islanding is when a distributed energy resource (DER) continues to supply power to the local electrical grid even when the main grid is down.

DERs are small-scale technologies that can generate, store, and feed electricity back to the power grid from the consumer’s side. Popular examples include home solar- and wind-powered generators.

As with backfeeding, islanding may result in powered electrical lines even during a power outage, therefore presenting an electrical shock hazard during power restoration.

Emergency Procedures for Electrical Workers in Outages

Luckily there are a number of steps we can take to protect electrical worker safety during a power outage. Below, we’ll outline best practice emergency procedures.

Assume All Lines May Be "Hot"

The most important precaution for preventing electrical shock during power restoration is that all power lines may still be “hot.” Workers who approach their job with that idea in mind reduce the chance of accidental electrocution. Since any of the lines could have current, it’s worth acting as if they all do until proven otherwise.

Wear Properly-Rated PPE

During a power outage, all electrical workers must ensure they have the proper personal protective equipment, including properly-rated gloves and sleeves that undergo regular testing and inspection.

Without this gear in place, repairs should not be attempted because of the risk of electrocution. 

Lockout/Tagout Procedures for Power Outages

Not all power outages are accidental. During a planned power plant outage for maintenance, lockout/tagout procedures become critical for electrical worker safety.

Lockout/Tagout, or LOTO, is a safety program that prevents “hazardous energy release” during maintenance or repair. These procedures ensure that all equipment is shut down and de-energized before work begins. It removes the temptation to “save time” by working on live equipment and protects workers from injury by unexpected startup or the release of stored energy that can occur even when machinery is shut down.

Conduct Standard Tests for Low Voltage

It pays to conduct standard tests on the lines. These tests will determine whether high-voltage electricity is active. Voltages between 601 and 230,000 volts are known as “high voltage,” and any number higher than 230,000 is called “extra high voltage.”

High voltage and extra high voltage readings represent a genuine risk of electrocution, but lower voltages may also be deadly, so it’s not sufficient to merely test for high voltage. The recommendation is for the worker to check lines for low voltage as well as using light-emitting diode-type equipment. 

The Public Should Play Their Part

The public can also help keep emergency electrical workers safe. The main thing they can do is have their backup electrical generators installed to spec by professionals. They should also ensure that they have their main circuit breaker is in the off position before they turn on the backup. These simple steps help create a safe environment for emergency workers.

Electrical Safety Training for Power Outages

Education is one of the best tools for preventing electrical shock during power restoration. Electrical workers should undergo annual formal training, but they should also undergo a pre-outage meeting where training in safety topics including PPE and lockout/tagout procedures.

Get LOTO Training Online

As an OSHA-authorized training provider for over 20 years, our Lockout/Tagout courses are up-to-date, effective, and convenient. Learners will be able to study at their own pace, anywhere and anytime that works best for them. This allows for greater attention to and retention of the material.

Get started today and learn how to stay safe during a power outage.