ARE POWERLINES SAFE By Austin Fenter Brad Hurd

ARE POWERLINES SAFE? By Austin Fenter, Brad Hurd, Jordan Lion

What are power lines? • Power lines can either be overhead or underground • Power lines transmit electricity • Electric current is hazardous to workers with the most common hazard being electrocution

Power Line Hazards • Everyone’s at risk when near power lines Common hazards include: Electrical shock Fires Falls • As a result of contact with electricity Living near power lines for a long period can also cause diseases like leukemia and other cancers

Is living near power lines safe? • Living near power lines has been known to increase the risk of leukemia and other cancers since 1979 • Size of the power line isn’t the issue but the strength of the electromagnetic field of where you live is • One way to measure EMF is by using a gauss meter

How long does it take for power line EMF to cause cancer? • Health damage from power lines takes years • A small percentage of people who live close to power lines will become sick within 3 to 5 years • Leukemia is most vulnerable to children

How close is too close? • Measure the field strength outdoors, where you sit, and where children play • Wherever your meter reads more than 0. 5 m. G from power line radiation alone is a cause for concern • If your EMF values are above 0. 5 m. G you may want to consider moving

Why can birds touch power lines and still be safe? • Main objective of electricity is to reach the ground using the most direct route • Birds do not represent a path to the ground so there for they don’t get electricuted

Electricity can jump • Just because you don’t touch a power line doesn’t mean you can’t get shocked, electricity can jump • When working near power lines or are near them it is safe to maintain a distance of 10 feet all around

Fallen Power line preventation • If there is a fallen power line here’s what you should do: • Stay away electricity can jump • Call for help • Shuffle you’re feet together to minimize shock

Cost of Power line Safety • One way or another the cost of power must be higher if we demand lower EMFs, so there will be economic consequences • This is why power line safety hasn’t became an issue