defective overhead lines
Damaged and defective overhead lines pose a serious risk. If you notice any of these, please take note of the following safety instructions:
Keep your distance: Keep a distance of at least 20 metres from the damaged overhead line and warn others in the vicinity.
Do not touch: Do not touch any fallen or hanging parts, objects or people that have come into contact with them. This could result in death!
Secure the environment: Cordon off a large perimeter around the hazard area (20 m).
Place an emergency call: Contact the emergency number 117 or the relevant grid operator immediately.
The following sketches show lattice masts. Please note that concrete, steel and wooden masts are also used in the ewz grid. The safety information applies to all mast types.
Never climb masts
Unauthorised persons are strictly forbidden to climb electricity masts. There is a risk of death due to electric shock or a fall from a great height!
Keep your distance from transmission lines and power masts during thunderstorms
If you are surprised by a thunderstorm while walking, jogging or hiking, make sure you keep your distance from masts and transmission lines. If lightning strikes a mast, there is an increased risk of an electric shock in the immediate vicinity of the transmission line.
Keep your distance when flying in aircraft
Aircraft can get caught in transmission lines and trigger an electric shock. In addition, recovering them is time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, when using aircraft, you must always maintain a safe distance of at least 20 meters from transmission lines.
Exercise caution when doing leisure activities near transmission lines
Whether camping, fishing or making a fire: exercise caution when doing leisure activities near transmission lines. Ideally, you should always maintain a distance of at least 20 metres from the transmission line. There is a risk of electric shock, for example, if a fishing rod gets caught in the transmission line or if the transmission line is damaged by fire.
Never set off fireworks near transmission lines
Burning fireworks near transmission lines is strictly forbidden.
General information
Do you have any questions, concerns or uncertainties about working near overhead lines? If so, please contact the relevant grid operator. You will find the information on the nearest mast sign.
Maintain a minimum distance
Always maintain a distance of 7 metres from the overhead lines.
Tree work
Do not plant trees under overhead lines. And when felling or pruning trees, make sure that no branches fall near such lines. We can help you with construction work near ewz overhead lines: send us an email.
Construction and installation work
Cranes, lifting platforms or other tall equipment must not come near overhead lines. The SUVA document Achtung, Stromschlag! [Warning, electric shock!] contains the rules of conduct for working near overhead lines. We assist you in planning work involving ewz overhead lines. Please get in touch with us.
Vehicles and agricultural machinery
Ensure that tall vehicles or machines and their payloads do not come within the safety distance of 7 metres when passing under overhead lines.
Do not store any material under masts and transmission lines
Electricity masts must be accessible around the clock – for example, so that faults can be remedied quickly. In addition, heavy materials such as silo bales, gravel and construction debris can weaken the stability of the base mast. Wood can catch fire, damage masts or cause transmission lines to fall down – there is a risk of electric shock!
Caution with electric livestock fences near masts
Never attach a cattle fence to a power mast. A lightning strike or a short circuit with the transmission line could cause a discharge of electricity that could be fatal to humans and animals. If you are installing a livestock fence near a transmission line, you must ground it until it is put into operation: the fence could charge due to the magnetic field of the transmission line and cause an electric shock.
Structures on or under the masts are prohibited or require approval
Do not install any structures such as birdhouses or huts on masts or directly under transmission lines. They impair the accessibility and stability of the masts. The installation of small ecological structures such as biotopes under masts is possible, but requires permission.
Secure covering materials against strong gusts of wind
If you cover building materials, wood or vegetable fields with fleece, tarpaulin or similar in the vicinity of transmission lines or power poles, they need to be particularly well protected against gusts of wind. If they are blown away by the wind and get into the transmission line, there is a risk of disruptions or electric shocks.
Caution when planting trees near transmission lines
A tree planted in the wrong place can become a source of danger over the years. For example, branches that have grown close to the transmission line can cause a malfunction or fire. The easement agreement between ewz and the property owner specifies the distances to be observed when planting trees.
Do not use large machines near transmission lines
Avoid large agricultural and construction machinery such as mobile cranes or snow blowers near power lines if possible. Make sure that retractable elements such as lifting platforms or telescopic arms never get close to transmission lines – there is a risk of death! If you have any questions about the use of such machines, please contact us.
Observe legal requirements for buildings near transmission lines
Are you planning a building or infrastructure near a transmission line, or are you responsible for the corresponding construction work? Please note that there is a comprehensive set of rules (see links below). Compliance is mandatory. If you have any questions about construction projects in the vicinity of ewz overhead lines, please contact us as soon as possible.
Do you have any questions about an overhead line in your area? Are you planning to build a building or temporary infrastructure (e.g. livestock fence or biotope) near a transmission line? Our experts will be happy to answer your questions.
