10 Things to Consider When Buying Overhead Line
Living or buying near overhead lines | Electric and magnetic fields
Are there any risks?
A vast amount of research has been carried out over the past 40 years investigating the potential health effects of EMFs. Despite all that research, there are no proven health effects below the exposure limits. However, there is one area where some uncertainty exists and that’s around childhood leukaemia.
The evidence for this comes from statistical studies, which have found a small increased risk in childhood leukaemia incidence, for children born within 200 m of an overhead line or those with higher average daily exposure (more than 0.4 µT).
Studies have been conducted on mice and rats which show they do not develop the disease when exposed to EMFs in the laboratory. It is unclear whether the increase in childhood leukaemia is caused by EMFs or something else entirely. Therefore, the uncertainty is a weak statistical association only and no causation has been found.
The World Health Organization has classified magnetic fields as “possibly carcinogenic” which is the third lowest of four classifications due to this statistical evidence.
Recognising that there is this possibility, the UK introduced precautionary measures for overhead line designs to address that potential risk.
As the weight of the scientific evidence is against health effects, the UK Government confirmed that other than the exposure limits and precautionary design measure, no further restrictions to exposures are necessary.
What EMFs do overhead lines produce?
Electric and magnetic fields are produced wherever electricity is used – they are around us all the time in modern life. Overhead power lines – specifically, the wires, not the pylons that hold them up – are one source of these fields.
Electric fields are produced by voltage and magnetic fields by the current flowing through a conductor (wire). Most questions around EMFs relate to magnetic fields.
People are mostly exposed to EMFs from the distribution wires in their neighbourhoods and from wiring in homes. People are also exposed to higher fields for short durations when passing close to electrical appliances that are actively in use.
From the electricity system, high-voltage (transmission) power lines produce higher fields than substations. In the population as a whole, not many people live within 100 – 150 m of a transmission power line. But for those who do, this will also be a source of exposure in the home.
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EMFs exposure limits in the UK
The UK Government set exposure guidelines at a national level for EMFs and the electricity system complies with these. The limits are designed to prevent all established effects of EMFs on the body.
The limits followed in the UK stem from an international body called ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) and are the same limits set by the EU and used in many other countries around the world. ICNIRP is self-constituted but is formally recognised by the World Health Organisation.
The guideline limits for public exposure are expressed in volts per metre (V/m) for electric fields and microteslas (µT) for magnetic fields. All overhead lines are designed to comply with these limits, even directly underneath them – there is no need for any extra “safe distance” between a property and an overhead line to achieve compliance, and there are no restrictions on how close a property can be to an overhead line. This was looked at by a group called SAGE, but they concluded these measures were not necessary in light of the science.
What sort of overhead line is near me?
Overhead lines range from lower-voltage distribution lines on wood poles to higher-voltage transmission lines on lattice steel pylons.
Largest overhead lines on steel pylons – 400 kV
EMFs nearly always decrease to background levels in homes within 150 m of 400 kV overhead lines, but most of the time this distance is much shorter.
Overhead Powerline Safety - Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative
Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative wants to remind everyone that you should always be aware of the location of overhead power lines. Many workplace fatalities are caused by overhead power lines. Imagine how easy it is for us at home, who are not trained to avoid these obstacles, to run into danger! From cleaning the pool, to working at heights around the house, or using large equipment, all could put you in the path of danger if too close to overhead power lines.
When working on an outdoor project, stay at least 10 feet away from overhead lines. If your ladder or piece of equipment touches an overhead line, both you and the equipment can become a path for the electricity. Look up and look out in front of you before using a pool cleaning net, a ladder, or large machinery. If power lines are present, always carry ladders and long poles horizontally. Using large tools or machinery can make it harder to avoid overhead power lines.
Always consider where power lines are before you begin a project. Scanning the area should be part of your plan from the start. If you’ve struck a power line and must get off a piece of equipment, jump as far away from the equipment as you can and land with both feet together. No part of your body should touch the equipment and the ground at the same time. Hop or shuffle away from the equipment with your feet together to reduce the risk of electric shock. If you come across someone who’s hit an overhead power line, stay away and warn others around to not touch him or her, or you could get shocked, too. Immediately call 911 and then contact your electric cooperative to turn off the electricity at your location.
If you know you’re going to be working near power lines, contact your electric cooperative so the experts there can properly inform you on safety precautions you should be taking in your area. Electrical safety is our top priority.
When should you “look up” for overhead power lines?
- Before raising a ladder and when using outdoor equipment of any kind, especially when trees are nearby. Branches can hide power lines from view.
- When using cranes or other lifting devices that approach working distance within 20 feet of power lines.
- When putting up scaffolding, framing a building, painting, pruning trees or picking fruit.
- Before moving a ladder, long-handled brushes and the like. Always carry these items horizontally when power lines are near.
- When working on top of buildings
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Article Sourced from KEC
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