Electrical Safety
Before Digging, Go To The Phone and Call Gopher State One-Call  |
Gopher State One-Call (GSOC) is a nonprofit, state-wide utility notification center for excavation projects in Minnesota. GSOC gathers information from callers who plan to dig. GSOC contacts all utilities who have buried lines in that area. Each utility company then sends personnel to the site to locate their utility lines.
Not only is it important to notify GSOC to prevent personal injury, it is also required by state law. GSOC must "be contacted if digging will be 24 inches or deeper. If the party does not properly contact the agency before they dig, they risk the possibility of electrocution and are also responsible for any damage to the underground power lines as well.
Once GSOC notifies the utility companies about a project, the lines are located and then marked with colored flags or spray paint. Each utility line is color coded for identification purposes. Red is the color indicating underground power lines. Each utility company is responsible for only their lines -- any lines privately installed must be located by a contractor at the landowner's expense.
Please refer to the form below concerning what information you will be asked by GSOC.
Be safe; make the phone call first! It's the law!
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Think about these statistics:
• One person is electrocuted in the home every 36 hours, according to the Consumer
Product Safety Commission data.
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One person is electrocuted at the workplace every day, according to the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration data.
• An estimated 160,900 residential electrical fires claim more than 800 human lives, 7,660 injuries and $1.4 billion in personal property each year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission data.
Your electric cooperative hopes that its members are never among these statistics. Safety education is a top priority at the cooperative for members and its employees.
Member safety education
"While a photo is worth a thousand words, an actual live demonstration is worth a
million words," said the co-op's safety coordinator. "Our co-op has a tabletop
electrical safety demonstration that we use for school classrooms, 4-H clubs or other
organizations. We focus on farm and general electrical safety, but it can be adapted to
fit almost any group."
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• a kite is flying near power lines;
• farm equipment contacts overhead power lines;
• equipment digs into underground power lines;
• a hot dog that simulates human flesh touches a power line;
• a tree branch hits power lines and a lot more.
"Recently we participated in a farm safety day camp for kids," added the safety coordinator. "After a morning of rotating sessions, one youngster made our day when she said that our demonstration was the best. That's a great compliment, but the best compliment is if participants learn and use electrical safety in their daily lives."
In addition, the co-op offers other safety education communication tools:
• electrical safety reminders in CAP Connections each month;
• safety education video tapes aimed at children or adults;
• safety education coloring books, brochures and other printed materials;
• "Caution look up" stickers for augers and other farm equipment that could
contact overhead lines;
• employee safety education.
Safety training and education continues with the cooperative's employees, especially the linemen.
If you are interested in a safety education demonstration, video tape or other information, call the cooperative. If possible, please give the co-op advance notice for scheduling the safety demonstration.
