June is National Safety Month and is the official start of the summer home improvement season

BALTIMORE (June 24, 2016) – As part of National Safety Month and its ongoing efforts to promote safety around electric and natural gas facilities, BGE reminds customers to be aware of their surroundings when planning projects near electric or natural gas equipment. Contacting an overhead or underground electric line or underground natural gas line can cause serious injury, damage and service interruptions. It is essential for anyone who is working near this equipment to take the necessary preparations before beginning their work.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are nearly 400 electrocutions in the United States each year.

• 8% of consumer product-related electrocutions each year are attributed to electrical accidents with power drills, saws, sanders, hedge trimmers, and other electric power tools. 
• 9% of consumer product-related electrocutions each year are caused by accidents involving the use of lawn and garden equipment and ladders, which come into contact with overhead power lines.

Follow these tips: 

• Before digging for any project, call Miss Utility at 811 to arrange for any utility lines to be marked
• Contact BGE at 1-800-685-0123 if you are planning any work or activity that may bring yourself, your equipment, and anything you carry within 10 feet of a power line. When unsure, call BGE. 
• Keep ladders and other tools at least 10 feet from overhead power lines. 
• Do not climb or trim trees near power lines. 
• Keep electric tools and appliances away from wet surfaces, including pools and patios. 
• Never approach a downed power line. Always assume a power line is energized and extremely dangerous. 
• If you encounter a downed power line, immediately report it to BGE at 1-877-778-2222.

 “Safety is part of our culture at BGE and something we prioritize each and every day,” said Stephen J. Woerner, BGE president and chief operating officer. “We not only stress safety with our employees, but we also work hard to educate our customers and contractors on how to be safe when working around electric and natural gas facilities and when traveling through utility work zones.”

As part of BGE’s safety commitment, the company has a public safety advertising campaign to educate those who work around overhead and underground power lines, hosts numerous safety education events and contests, and provides information to customers and contractors each year in bill inserts and informational mailings. Two safety contests in particular, the Wires Down Video Challenge and the Captain Mercaptan Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge, are geared toward elementary school students in BGE’s service territory and provide important tips on electric safety and natural gas safety.

For more safety information, visit bge.com/safety.

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