From the crews at Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative to you, the consumer-members we serve, we recognize that everyone has a part to play in prioritizing safety.
According to Electrical Safety Foundation International, thousands of people in the U.S. are critically injured or electrocuted as a result of electrical fires and accidents in their own homes every year. Many of these accidents are preventable. Electricity is a necessity, and it powers our daily lives. But we know firsthand how dangerous electricity can be because we work with it every day.
To me, safety is more than a catchphrase. As TVEC’s CEO and general manager, it’s my responsibility to keep co-op employees safe. But we all want to help keep you and our entire community safe as well.
That’s why you’ll see TVEC hosting safety demonstrations at community events and in schools throughout the year, demonstrating the dangers of electricity. We discuss emergency scenarios, such as what to do in a car wreck involving a utility pole and downed power lines. We caution students on the dangers of padmounted transformers and overloaded circuits.
I don’t need to tell you that electricity is an integral part of modern life. In fact, it’s so common that we can sometimes forget the dangers that electricity presents, so I’d like to pass along a few practical safety tips.
Frayed wires pose a serious safety hazard. Power cords can become damaged or frayed from age, heavy use or excessive current flow through the wiring. If cords become frayed or cut, replace them before they cause a shock.
Label circuit breakers to understand the circuits in your home.
Avoid overloading circuits. Circuits can only cope with a limited amount of electricity. Overloads happen when you draw more electricity than a circuit can safely handle—by having too many devices running on one circuit. Contact a qualified electrician if your home is more than 40 years old and you need to install multiple large appliances that consume large amounts of electricity.
Use extension cords properly. Never plug an extension cord into another extension cord. If you daisy chain them together, it could lead to overheating, creating a potential fire hazard. Don’t exceed the wattage of the cord. Doing so also creates a risk of overloading the cord and starting a fire.
Extension cords should not be used as permanent solutions. If you need more outlets, contact a licensed electrician to help.
I encourage you to talk with your kids about playing it safe and smart around electricity. Help them be aware of overhead power lines near where they play outdoors.
Our top priority is providing an uninterrupted energy supply year-round. But equally important is keeping our community safe around electricity.
Contact TVEC or visit tvec.net for additional electrical safety tips or if you would like us to provide a safety demonstration at your school or upcoming community event.
