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Major Hazards of Overhead Lines

Overhead power lines pose a safety risk to many people. People in the construction industry frequently work on or near overhead power lines, and neighborhood residents can come in contact with them while working in their yard. The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration along with the Overhead Power Lines Task Force created the "Don't Get Zapped" program in 2003 to raise awareness of some of the dangers overhead power lines.

  1. Contact

    • Overhead power lines, as well as any electrical distribution equipment, should never be touched. According to the Electrical Safety Authority, "High voltage transmission and distribution lines carry a lot of energy or power and if not treated with respect can be fatal." The insulation or cladding on overhead power lines is to protect from power surges and usually not rated safely for people, and years of weather and heat can break this thin barrier down, posing a serious risk to anyone who touches the line.

    Proximity Flash-Over

    • Contact is not necessary to create an electrical circuit. Electricity tries to take the path of least resistance in its journey to get to the ground. If a person gets too close to an overhead power line, the electricity can jump from the line to the person. This is known as a flash-over.

    Wet Weather / Water

    • Electricity travels its path when it finds a conductor with the least resistance, with metal being the best option. Water is also an excellent conductor of electricity and dangers are abundant when there has been damp or wet weather. The human body contains a large amount of the excellent conductor water, as well as trees that may come in contact with power lines when the wind blows.

    EMF

    • Electric and Magnetic Fields have been found to pose severe risks to the health of people living near overhead power lines. Risks can include leukemia and brain cancer. A British Medical Journal study of June 2005 showed that children who are born and live within 200 meters of overhead power lines have a 70 percent increased risk of leukemia. Many other studies exist pertaining to the possible negative health effects on people living near overhead power lines and the effect that electric and magnetic fields may have.

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