Preventing Energized Conductor Exposure in Washed-Out Terrain

The Challenge

During a routine transformer inspection, a field team member observed a primary wire exposed in a creek bed—a conductor that actively fed the transformer. The wire had become visible due to soil erosion, where flowing water had washed out the surrounding bank, leaving the energized line partially uncovered. This posed significant safety and reliability risks:

Electrical hazard to the public or wildlife
Potential conductor damage from environmental exposure
Service disruption or energized faults in the event of physical contact

The Solution

The field team member immediately followed safety protocol:

Stopped work and escalated the issue
Reported the exposed wire to the appropriate utility contacts
Provided the location and hazard details so the issue could be remediated

By acting quickly, the field team helped prevent possible injury or equipment damage, despite the conductor not yet causing a visible failure.

Key Benefits

Mitigated a high-risk public safety threat in a natural, unprotected setting
Demonstrated the importance of STAR protocol (Stop, Think, Act, Review)
Reinforced the value of inspection crews as hazard spotters, not just task executors
Prevented environmental damage escalation before the next rain or flood event worsened exposure

The Results

No incident occurred, and the exposed conductor was reported for remediation
The event was documented as a model case of situational awareness and early reporting

Used internally as a reminder that terrain and weather-related changes can quickly create new, energized hazards

Customer

Location

Highlights

Preventing Energized Conductor Exposure in Washed-Out Terrain

The Challenge

The Solution

Key Benefits

The Results

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