Respect the marks
Contractors & Landscapers
Keep your crew safe, whether they’re digging, building, landscaping or performing routine maintenance outdoors.
Five steps to a safe excavation
Survey and mark — Survey proposed excavation areas, and mark the dig sites with white paint, flags or stakes.
Call before you dig — Call 811 or use the online request system at or.itic.occinc.com at least two full business days prior to starting work.
Wait the required time — Allow utilities time to locate and mark their lines.
Respect the marks — Maintain the marks, and respect them when digging.
Dig with care — Follow hand-excavating rules.
Electrical safety information
Protect yourself, your crew and the public. Urge your employees to follow these safety tips when they work around electric lines.
Download Worker Beware® safety posters and visitor cards for contractors and agricultural workers.
Beware of overhead power lines
Consider ALL power lines energized and dangerous.
Survey your job site every day to find overhead power lines, poles and guy wires, and point them out to coworkers. Contact Portland General Electric at 800-544-1795 for power line assistance or questions.
Keep yourself and all tools, equipment and materials at least 10 feet away from ALL overhead power lines carrying up to 50 kV. Higher voltages require greater distance.
When cranes are involved: Keep the crane boom and load at least 20 feet away if you don’t know the line’s voltage. Always assume the line is energized, and allow nothing closer than 20 feet unless you have confirmed with PGE the line has been de-energized or specific requirements are met. For specific requirements, consult osha.oregon.gov. Reference the Overhead Line Safety Act for more information.
Review your emergency plan before work begins so everyone knows what to do in case of a power line contact.
Don’t risk it! Use a spotter
A spotter helps you stay clear of overhead lines.
No equipment operator working alone can safely judge the distance from the equipment to overhead power lines.
When a crane or other equipment hits an overhead power line, workers on the ground guiding the load are in the most danger. Electricity can travel through the tag line and through you.
Don’t risk injury or death by trying to guide a load and spot at the same time. Rely on a dedicated spotter to help keep you clear of power lines.
Crane and derrick operators: Always use a dedicated, qualified spotter when working near overhead power lines.
If your equipment contacts a power line
Stay on the equipment and warn others to stay away.
Move the equipment away from the line, if you can do so safely.
Stay on the equipment until crew workers say it’s safe to get off.
Warn others to stay away. Anyone on the ground who touches the equipment may be injured or killed.
Have someone first call 911 then PGE to report the emergency.
If fire or other imminent danger forces you off, do not touch the equipment and the ground at the same time. Jump clear, land with your feet together and shuffle away, keeping your feet together and on the ground at all times. Do not return to the equipment.
Call before you dig
Call well in advance so you can work safely.
Call 811 at least two business days before starting any digging project so crews have time to locate and mark underground wires, pipes and other utilities.
If you don’t call and you hit an underground line, you could be injured or killed. You may be held liable for damages.
Use white marking paint to outline the area where you’ll be digging so locators can easily mark the affected utilities.
Leave a “tolerance zone” of at least 24 inches beyond the outside edge of the utility. Local laws may require wider clearance.
Respect the marks, and dig with care.
Hitting an electric line has serious consequences, including injury or death.
Stay safe near overhead lines
Always look for power lines before you start work.
Assume ALL lines are energized and potentially dangerous.
Mark a safety boundary to keep workers and equipment at least 10 feet* away from overhead power lines of up to 50,000 volts. Reference the Oregon Overhead Safety Act for more information.
Higher voltages require greater clearances. Oregon OSHA provides minimum clearance distances. Call PGE to verify voltages before work begins.
Use a dedicated spotter when operating heavy equipment.
Do not try to guide a load and be a spotter at the same time.
Know what to do if your equipment contacts a power line.
* Cranes and derricks used in construction may require clearances greater than 20 feet and encroachment prevention precautions unless specific requirements are met. Call PGE or Oregon OSHA for specific clearance requirements.
Water and electricity don’t mix!
Keep electrical equipment away from pools, fountains and standing water.
Beware of anything metal around wires
Watch out for aluminum ladders, tree pruners, metal antennas, gutters and metal irrigation pipe.
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