With warmer weather returning for the next few months, National Grid reminds its customers to stay safe when working outdoors or having fun.

“Spring is here, and summer will be upon us soon,” said Monica Alston, Vice President of Safety, Health and Environment for National Grid. “Whether it’s gardening, clearing leaves from the gutters, or just soaking in the sunshine, we want our customers to be safe and avoid preventable injuries and damage to their homes and our equipment.”

Simple projects like tending to your garden or using a ladder may present hazards if you’re not paying attention to what’s around you.

“Situational awareness is important to your safety,” Alston said. “Assessing what’s going on above, below, and all around you before you begin any project is the first step in successfully and safely completing your task.”

National Grid offers the following tips to work and play safely this spring and summer:

Make the Right Call Before Digging

Every digging project, no matter how large or small, requires a call to 811 to avoid damage, service outages, and potential injury. Calling 811 before you start your project dispatches a utility representative to mark the location of underground utilities, including electric, gas, telecommunications, water, and sewer. While supply lines are often laid 12 to 18 inches below ground, frost heaves, erosion, or other digging projects may cause them to move. Locally, UDigNY provides this a free service to ensure your safety and the safety of your infrastructure.

If you’re working with a contractor, do not let them dig until your underground utilities have been marked. You could be held liable for any injuries or damage they cause. Contacting 811 between three and seven days before your project is more than just about staying safe. It’s the law. Digging without calling 811 is punishable by fines, and you could be responsible for the repair costs for any underground utilities you damage.

• In Massachusetts, call 811 or 1-888-DIG-SAFE (344-7233), or visit digsafe.com
• In Upstate New York, call 811 or 1-800-962-7962, or visit UDigNY.org.

Look Up Before Climbing

Overhead power lines running have a weatherproof coating, but it’s not enough to prevent a serious injury or a fatal electrocution if you come in contact with one.

• When using a ladder, make sure you are at least 10 feet away from the power line and connecting equipment on your home. Ensure you are far enough away from the line that you will not come in contact with it.
• Even wooden ladders can conduct electricity. Many wooden ladders have metal reinforcements, brackets, and hinges. Additionally, wood can retain moisture, which can also conduct electricity. Never set your ladder in a puddle of water or on damp ground to prevent slippage or risk of conducting electricity.
• Never attempt to use a ladder to clear debris from a power line running along your street. These lines carry higher levels of electricity, and contact between the line and you or your ladder could be fatal. Call National Grid at 1-800-642-4272 (NY) or 1-800-322-3223 (MA) to report your issue.
• Never attach or tie anything to power lines or the connecting equipment on your home, including flags, decorative lights, or party decorations.
• Keep away from wires when working with tools, pipes, lumber, or siding, all of which may conduct electricity.
• Stay away from electric lines when pruning or trimming trees. Contact an electric-qualified tree contractor that employs specialists trained to work near power lines to do the work.

Think Before You Play

• Kites, personal drones, model airplanes, and other toys should be flown only in open fields, far from trees and power lines. If a toy gets tangled in a tree or power line, the safest thing to do is leave it there and call 911. Do not attempt to retrieve it on your own.
• Don’t fly toys on damp or rainy days. Wet string can conduct electricity. Don’t use metal string or a kite that has metal in its construction. If it touches a power line, the life of the person holding it could be in danger.
• When sailing and fishing, be alert near shorelines, inlets, and marinas for overhead lines that could come in contact with masts or antennae. Before casting fishing line, check for nearby electric lines.
• If you notice a downed wire, stay as far away from it. Always assume downed wires are live and carrying electricity. Immediately call 911 or call National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 (NY) or 1-800-465-1212 (MA).

Thunderstorm Safety

Summertime thunderstorms can mean dangerous lightning, hazardous winds and sudden rains that can cause flooding.

Staying informed of weather conditions and National Weather Service watches and warnings can keep you safe, along with these tips from National Grid:

• Assemble and update your disaster supply kit before the stormy season approaches including: a first-aid kit and medications, specialty items like dog food and diapers, non-perishable foods, a can opener, and at least three gallons of water per person. Make sure to have flashlights, batteries, and a portable radio to listen for emergency alerts. Also, make a list of your insurance companies, policy numbers and contact information, valuables and other records and keep it in a waterproof container.
• Secure or bring indoors patio furniture, grills, toys, and trash cans to prevent them from becoming storm debris and causing damage.
• Identify the lowest point in your home or an interior room with no windows that you can use if you are in a National Weather Service issued Severe Thunderstorm Warning or Tornado Warning.

Downed Wire Safety

High winds can cause utility lines to fall to the ground. A downed line could be bringing cable or television to your home or distributing electricity to your area.

For your safety, always assume that a downed wire carries electricity and is energized. National Grid offers these downed power line safety tips, including:

• Keep at least 30 feet between you and the wire and report it to 911 or National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 (NY) or 1-800-465-1212 (MA).
• Water is a natural conductor of electricity, and a downed line in a puddle or flooded area can electrify it, creating a deadly hazard. Even non-conducting materials like cloth or wood can conduct electricity when wet.
• Do not attempt to clear tree damage or broken utility poles from your yard. Wires could be caught in them, and wood can conduct electricity when wet. If you are unsure if a wire caught in a tree is an electric wire, contact National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 (NY) or 1-800-465-1212 (MA).
• Never drive over a downed wire. If you are driving in an area with downed trees or utility poles, slow down, scan the road and try to avoid debris caught in a downed wire.
• If your vehicle comes in contact with a downed wire, do not exit the vehicle. Call 911 for assistance. If someone attempts to approach your vehicle, roll down the window and tell them to stay back.
• If your vehicle is on fire and you suspect a downed power line is nearby, exit the vehicle quickly by opening the door and jumping out with both feet together while avoiding contact with its frame and the power line. Move as quickly as possible away from the car by keeping both feet on the ground at all times and shuffling your feet.

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.