Safety Tips

Electrical Safety & Awareness

Electricity surrounds us and makes most aspects of our daily lives possible. We sometimes take it for granted and forget that it can be dangerous and deserves our respect.

Below are some things to keep in mind and precautions to take while using electricity.

If your school, group, or organization would like to schedule an electrical safety demonstration, please contact our Member Services department.

Safety & Precautions

Electricity powers our lives but can pose risks if not handled properly. Use these everyday safety tips to protect yourself and your home.

Around the Home

Check appliances and equipment for the label of a national testing laboratory, such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories). The UL mark means samples of the product met safety requirements.
Frequently check your electrical cords and appliances; replace any that are worn or damaged.
Don’t use electronics near water.
- If you use electric appliances in your bathroom, garage, at an outdoor outlet, or anywhere there is potential for moisture, plug into a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter).
- This small, inexpensive, life-saving device detects the smallest electric current leak and reacts by stopping the flow of electricity fast enough to prevent serious injury or death from electrical shock.
Never overload electrical outlets. Unplug appliances when not in use.
Turn off lights and appliances when leaving the house and going to bed.
Before starting any project that requires digging, call 811 to have utilities mark underground service lines.
- One wrong move can cause you and your neighbors to be cut off from vital services or cause death or injury from electric shock or explosion.

Outdoor Awareness

Never fly a kite in stormy or wet weather.
Fly kites and model airplanes away from power lines.
If a string or wire becomes tangled in a power line, call Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (PSREC) to remove it.
Do not try to remove anything from power lines yourself—you could be electrocuted.
A wooden power pole may seem like a great place to put up a sign, but it is dangerous to line workers who have to climb the pole — and it is illegal in many states.
Staples, tacks, or nails used to attach signs can trip a line worker or pierce safety equipment, possibly resulting in electrocution.
They also prematurely damage poles.
Never climb trees near power lines. Wood can be a conductor of electricity if the right conditions exist.
Stay away from downed power lines. Never touch a person or object that is touching a power line. Call 911.
Electricity is always trying to get to ground by the path of least resistance. Sometimes that path can be through you.

Emergencies & Seasonal Safety

If a power line has fallen on or near your car:
- Stay in the car until help arrives.
- Tell others who may want to help to stay away and call for help.
- If you must leave the car because of fire or another danger, jump as far as you can with both feet together.
- Electricity can travel through the ground from the line, and voltage becomes less the farther away you are.
- Shuffle or roll away—never touch the ground and the car at the same time.
Electrical “backfeed” from a generator can injure or kill utility workers repairing power lines.
- Hire a licensed electrician to install a transfer switch that safely distributes power from the generator to the home’s circuit box.
- For more information on generator safety, see the generators section on the Outage Center page.
Winter storms can cause damage to electrical systems.
- Be aware of, and avoid, service wires when removing snow and ice from your roof.
- If you notice damage to wires or other service equipment from sliding snow or branches, contact Plumas -Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (PSREC) immediately.
- Repair crews are on call around the clock to quickly and efficiently repair electrical hazards caused by storms.
Recognize and respect warning signs. Stay clear of substations and other high-voltage electrical equipment.