As the warmer weather brings a longer list of outdoor projects to complete around the house, it is important to remember that power lines can be closer than they appear when setting up a ladder. Ameren Illinois Consulting Safety Supervisor Jeff Lott offers tips and tricks to stay safe:
“You have the service drop that comes from the pole into your house; there are other times when lines may run either to the building or near a building or through trees or branches that are surrounding a property, so just really pay attention to those things,” says Lott.
“The first step in any part of this process is when you get your ladder out, take a look at not only where you are going to be doing the work, but also the root from where the ladder is to where it needs to be and how you are going to set it up. Keep that distance from the line. The distance we recommend, in most cases, is a minimum of ten feet. Unless you know the voltage of a line, that is generally a good safe distance,” Lott adds.
According to Lott, utilizing a fiberglass ladder is best, but still be aware of your surroundings before propping that ladder up.
