Power Line Down: Why Running Can Be Fatal and What to Do Instead

When something dangerous happens, the urge to run is almost automatic. Near a power line that has fallen to the ground, that instinct can kill. During the monsoon, when storms bring lines down and water lies everywhere, knowing why, and what to do instead, could save your life or someone else's.

This article is a public safety guide.

What happens when a live line touches the ground

A high-voltage line that falls to the ground does not simply stop being dangerous. Electricity flows from the point of contact out into the earth, and the voltage drops gradually with distance, forming invisible rings of decreasing voltage around the line.

How far the danger extends depends on the voltage and the ground conditions. Some guidance warns of a zone of around 20 metres. Utilities such as National Grid advise staying at least 30 feet (about 10 metres) from a fallen distribution line and 100 feet (about 30 metres) from a fallen transmission line. In India, follow the advice of your local electricity supplier and emergency services. If you are unsure, assume the zone is large.

Why running is so dangerous

Because the voltage changes with distance, each foot can stand on ground at a different voltage. The difference between them is called step voltage. With your feet apart, current can flow up one leg, through your body and down the other.

When you run, your stride is long, so your feet land far apart, on ground at very different voltages. The longer the stride, the greater the difference, and the greater the danger.

What to do instead

1. Stop and stay calm. Panic leads to long, fast steps. Take a breath.
2. Do not go any closer. If you feel a tingling or slight numbness in your feet or legs, you are already inside the danger zone. Stop moving towards the line.
3. Shuffle away. Keep your feet together and in contact with the ground, and move away in small, sliding steps, so the heel of one foot never passes the toe of the other. This keeps both feet on ground at almost the same voltage. Shuffling is the method power companies most widely recommend.
4. Avoid hopping or jumping. A fall would put your hands or body across the voltage rings, which is far more dangerous than shuffling.
5. Keep going until you are well clear of the area.
6. Call for help. Dial 112, and report the fallen line to your local electricity supplier.

Protect other people

• Warn others to stay away, from a safe distance.
• Never touch someone who is in contact with a line, or anything touching it. You could become a second casualty.
• Do not try to move the line, even with something you think is non-conductive. Wait for the electricity supplier to confirm it is safe.
• If a line falls on a vehicle you are in, stay inside and call for help unless fire forces you out. Our step voltage article explains how to leave a vehicle safely in that situation.

If someone has been hurt

It is natural to want to rush to an injured person, but going in too early can mean two casualties instead of one. Call 112 and the electricity supplier, tell them someone is injured, and keep everyone back. Only once the supplier confirms that the line is no longer live is it safe to approach. Then give first aid, and start CPR if the person is not breathing normally.

What it means for workplaces

Fallen or damaged lines are a particular risk on construction sites, in yards with overhead supplies, around temporary site power and wherever cranes or tall equipment work near overhead lines. Employers should:

• Brief workers before the monsoon on what to do if a line comes down, as a short toolbox talk.
• Include fallen lines in the emergency plan, with clear instructions to keep people back and call the supplier.
• Keep overhead lines in mind when planning lifts, access equipment and storage.
• Inspect temporary electrical installations regularly, especially after storms.

How Eduforce can help

Our Electrical Safety training covers the hazards of electrical energy, the isolation discipline that controls them and the working practices that apply around live equipment. To arrange a session, write to info@eduforce.in or message us on WhatsApp at 8779291591.

This article is for general awareness. Always follow instructions from emergency services and your electricity supplier. In an emergency, call 112.