How should you treat an overhead line as a hazard?

• A. Maintain a safe distance, follow permit-to-work requirements, and never touch or touch tools near the line.
• B. Touch the line to test.
• C. Ignore it if it seems far away.
• D. Paint the line.

Answer: (A)

Overhead electrical lines are a live electrical hazard and must be treated with active precautions. The correct approach is to keep a safe distance, follow permit-to-work requirements to ensure proper isolation and control measures, and never touch the line or use tools near it. Electricity can arc to you or follow conductive paths even without direct contact, and conditions can change—weather, equipment movement, or nearby work can bring you within danger. A permit-to-work process ensures that work is planned, authorized, and that lines are confirmed de-energized or adequately protected before any activity begins. Touching the line or testing it, ignoring the hazard because it seems far away, or painting the line does not address the real risk and can create false security.