Quick Start Guide Electric Utilities

SECTION 03: KEY SAFETY MESSAGES

Overhead Lines: Boat Mast Safety

Why Address This Issue? The NESC and utility construction standards specify clearances for electric lines over waterways and boat launch areas. However, electrical contact incidents involving boat masts and overhead lines may occur among boaters who do not understand how to recognize and avoid these hazards. Boat mast contact incidents sometimes occur at sites not typically used for boat launching because these locations may not be recognized as such by utility companies, and thus may have lower line-to-ground clearances than boaters have come to expect at designated launch areas. Public safety messages can educate boaters about these hazards.

32

Developing a Public Safety Communications Program