If you’ve lived in the Midwest for any length of time, you know this section of the country has a reputation for being a place where tornadoes are relatively common, especially in the warmer months. Although tornadoes are more common in the Midwest and the Central Plains, they have been reported in all 50 states…. Continue reading.
Spring has arrived with its profusion of color: whites and pinks … and orange — lots of orange — as in the orange of work zones. National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 17-21) reminds motorists to be careful around those whose jobs put them along the roadways. Indiana’s electric cooperatives remind motorists that work zones… Continue reading.
Planting season is at hand for many of Indiana’s roughly 94,000 farmers. While you prepare to plant the crops that keep the world fed, Indiana Electric Cooperatives reminds you to keep safety in mind — especially when working around electricity. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 62 farm workers… Continue reading.
Don’t rely on extension cords to solve the problem of inadequate electrical outlets. Recognize the signs of an overloaded outlet; if your outlets are overloaded, head to your circuit panel and reset them. Familiarize yourself with your circuit panel before problems could occur. It’s a common problem for most of us: relying on a handy… Continue reading.
When winter arrives, Hoosiers are never sure of what to expect. Indiana winters include everything from heavy snows, to freezing rain, to ice storms — sometimes all in one day. All of those forms of winter weather can create electrical hazards, warns Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “Being safe around electricity is a year-round need, but Indiana… Continue reading.
Electric space heaters and blankets are great ways to stay toasty warm when the temperature drops. But don’t forget about safety before you plug in these chill-chasers. During these winter months, when space heaters and electric blankets come out of hibernation, home fires increase. “Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires in… Continue reading.
Keep your family safe during these joyful times by learning some basic holiday food preparation safety tips before you start cooking. During the holidays, family and friends gather to celebrate. Usually, food is involved. But not all feasts turn out festive. The United States Fire Administration estimates more than 2,000 residential fires are reported each… Continue reading.
Follow these guidelines to prevent the most common mistakes made near overhead power lines. Whether you’re on the job or working on an outdoor project around your home, you should always be aware of overhead electrical lines. Many workplace fatalities are caused by overhead power lines. Imagine how easy it is for us at home,… Continue reading.
With the arrival of harvest time, Indiana’s farmers are shifting into high gear as they move into their fields to bring in their crops. All that increased activity puts farmers and farm workers at greater risk, warns Jon Elkins, vice president of safety, training and compliance at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “Combines and grain augers are… Continue reading.
Trees and power lines often coexist without problems. However, there are precautions to take when planting a tree. Not only do dangers lurk for the person planting the tree, nearby power lines and trees can be harmed as well. Trees growing too close to electrical lines are the primary cause of momentary short circuits and… Continue reading.
Ground-mounted transformers may seem like something else kids can play on in the yard, but they are necessary infrastructure for buried power lines and shouldn’t be played on or tampered with. In almost every suburban neighborhood one can find one of those green boxes that are usually situated near the street between every other house…. Continue reading.
A lot of people won’t plug in their new TV or toaster without reading the instruction book at least once. But many will move into a new home without understanding the electrical system that makes everything work. Would you know how to trip the main circuit if someone was being shocked at an outlet somewhere? … Continue reading.
If you drive the same route to work every day, odds are you don’t give the road itself a lot of thought. It’s always there; until it’s not. If you suddenly come upon a big orange “road closed” sign with barricades, what do you do? You stop, think about an alternative route, and take it…. Continue reading.
