Safety is our top priority. For our customers at home and work, but also for our employees who brave extreme conditions to provide reliable power. From the customer communications we send to the gear our crews wear, we take the responsibility of safety and awareness very serious. But how can these safety practices apply to customers when they aren't the ones working around power lines?

Educating on safety around electrical equipment at a young age is incredibly important. What may look like a fun tree to climb, might be up against live power lines. Or your seat at the bus stop might be a green transformer box. Being alert of your surroundings is the first step but understanding what to stay away from or how some equipment can be dangerous can form good safety habits for the future.  

At Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), we provide hands-on opportunities to learn more about electrical safety. Through our safety trailer, crews highlight ways to stay safe around electrical equipment. From safe digging to what happens if a car accident involves a pole or wires, this live demonstration provides long-last awareness. And students love the life-like sights and sounds of each part. 

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The safety trailer was created in 2010 and is currently used across I&M's footprint to educate police and fire departments, community organizations, local event attendees and school corporations. But relaying safety messages to our communities starts with safe crews.

To stay safe as they work around electrical equipment, lineworkers require a significant amount of personal protective equipment (PPE). If you see our crews working in the area, you may easily observe certain gear, like their hard hat or rubber gloves. This is just part of the roughly 57 pounds of equipment they wear. In freezing temperatures or triple digit heat, our linecrews will also sport safety glasses, rubber gloves and sleeves and appropriate footwear - to name a few.

By wearing this gear, crews can stay safe as they work on routine projects to enhance reliable power. Butt also during storm restoration efforts, where debris and tree limbs might be left scattered following strong winds. Crews also rely on the community to help keep them safe by giving them the appropriate space to work and remaining behind barriers they have set to complete a job.

For more safety tips around electrical equipment you can use year round, visit I&M’s safety page.