 Safety First - Safety Tips for Natural Gas, Electric and Storm Preparedness
NIPSCO's commitment to delivering a safe and reliable source of electricity and natural gas also extends to providing our customers with timely and useful information - such as natural gas, electricity and storm preparedness tips detailed below - from which they can truly benefit.
Electric & Natural Gas Safety Tips
- Be a Painter, Not a Conductor. Take care when using ladders outdoors. Never use ladders during inclement weather and do not touch or even come close to power lines with any part of your body or the ladder. Even ladders made of wood act as conductors.
View "Be a Painter, Not a Conductor" Safety Ad
- Call Before Digging. Before digging, be sure there are no underground utilities by contacting the "Call Before You Dig" center at 1-800-382-5544 when planning for and before starting outdoor projects that may involve digging.
View "Hit the Ground, and Nothing Else" Safety Ad
- Downed Power Lines. Stay away from downed power lines and assume all downed wires are "live." Call NIPSCO at 1-800-4-NIPSCO and 911 immediately. If a power lines falls on your car, stay INSIDE the vehicle until rescue workers arrive or call 911 from your cellular telephone.
- Clear Spaces for Kites. Look for wide-open spaces, free of power lines, for kite flying. Never fly a kite near a power line or during inclement weather as kites can act as conductors.
- Extension Cords & GFCIs. Only use weather-resistant, heavy gauge extension cords that are clearly marked "For Outdoor Use." Never remove the third prong of a three-pronged plug as it can protect you from electrical shock and turn off electrical products if a cord overheats. Install outdoor outlets with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI).
- Power Tools & GFCI's. Electric power tools, including electric lawnmowers, should never be used in the rain, near a sprinkler or pool, or on wet surfaces. Always keep the blades away from electrical cords.
Storm Preparedness Safety Tips
View "Storm Season, We're on It" Safety Ad
- Watch the Weather. Always keep an eye on the weather and know what type of weather is forecast for your area.
- Back-up Energy. If someone in your home requires life support, make prior arrangements for back-up energy service.
- Preparedness Kits. Compile a storm preparedness kit, which should include essential medicines, non-perishable food items and water, flashlights, portable radios, and a manual can opener or Swiss Army knife set.
- Service Interruptions. If your electrical service is interrupted, call NIPSCO at 1-800-4-NIPSCO to report the outage. Some cordless phones may not work, so it's wise to have at least one corded telephone installed.
- Refrigerators & Freezers. Refrain from opening refrigerator and/or freezer doors as cool air can escape every time the door is opened and the contents will be susceptible to spoilage.
- Downed Power Lines. Stay away from downed power lines and assume all downed wires are "live." Call NIPSCO at 1-800-4-NIPSCO and 911 immediately. If a power lines falls on your car, stay INSIDE the vehicle until rescue workers arrive or call 911 from your cellular telephone.
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