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| Power Lines Too Close for Tree Work? |
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| Tree work near power lines is dangerous. If you are unable to keep your body, tools, equipment, and all tree limbs and branches the required distance from power lines, don’t do the job until you call Duke Energy at 800.769.3766 for help. By working together, we can help prevent power outages, injuries, and deaths from power line contacts. |
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| To Help You Work Safely: |
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We will identify the power line voltage so that you can obtain OSHA clearance-distance requirements. |
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We will clear a safety zone for you between trees and power lines above 600 volts—for free! |
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With advanced scheduling and customer approval, we will temporarily disconnect or de-energize service drops (wires that run from utility poles to buildings/property). |
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| To Protect Yourself, Your Crew, and Our Communities: |
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Never trim or remove trees within 10 feet of overhead power lines up to 50 kV. Higher voltage requires greater distance. Only qualified line-clearance tree-trimming contractors may work closer than 10 feet from power lines. These workers receive extensive training and perform rigorous equipment maintenance and inspections. |
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Always check for overhead power lines, utility poles, and support wires before starting every job, and point them out to your crew. Consider all utility lines energized and dangerous—even the service drops. |
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Begin all tree work by reviewing procedures for working safely around power lines with your crew. Plan all operations to remove any chance of trees or branches falling onto or even being blown onto power lines. |
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Always use a dedicated spotter. Use a spotter on the ground as a second pair of eyes to judge the distance between equipment and power lines safely and help you stay clear. |
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| Would You Like to Know More? |
| Additional utility safety tips, case studies, instructional videos and educational tools can all be found, at no charge to you, on Duke Energy's Worker Beware website. |
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