Electrical Safety

Safe digging starts when you call Georgia 811.

By law, everyone – including homeowners – must contact Georgia 811 by dialing 811 or 1-800-282-7411 at least 48 hours before beginning any mechanized digging on your property. If you are unsure as to whether you should notify Georgia 811 before you break ground, remember, even if your digging project is small, it is always best to call!

Every year several Georgia residents are killed and dozens are injured when they accidentally come in contact with an overhead electric line. All electric lines should be respected, regardless of voltage. However, the distribution lines or “primary” lines that carry power down the road-side to residential or rural areas are very high voltage lines. If you come in contact with one of these lines, and if you are well-grounded (in solid contact with the earth), you can be assured of severe injury or death.
Always remember that electricity is continually looking for a path to the earth. If you are standing on the ground or on an object that is a good conductor of electricity, and if you touch an electric power source with your body or with a good conductor, the electricity will pass through your body to the earth. Injury or death can be the result. Many objects are especially good conductors of electricity and therefore very hazardous around power lines. Wet wood, a freshly cut tree limb, or any other wet object can also be a good conductor.