Stay safe when working on home DIY projects

Being aware of electrical safety can help you be better prepared for do-it-yourself home projects. 

You have a good reason for wanting to take on a do-it-yourself home project. You may have acquired the skills to do the work on your own, want to save money or enjoy the challenge.

When working on these projects, keeping safety in mind is essential. You can quickly put yourself in a dangerous situation if you don’t take proper safety precautions and understand what you’re doing before you start.

With the arrival of harvest time, Indiana’s farmers are shifting into high gear as they move into their fields to bring in crops. All that increased activity puts farmers and farm workers at greater risk, warned Kodi Swafford, Manager of Safety, Compliance, and Training at Hendricks Power Cooperative.

As harvest season ramps up in Indiana, farmers and their crews are busy moving equipment to and from the fields. This increased activity, however, raises the risk of accidents, especially involving electricity.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is one of the most beloved holiday comedies. But if you love cats, there’s one scene that’s something of a nightmare.

Is your home and its electrical service ready for winter? The best time to find out is long before you hear about the season’s first approaching winter storm, suggests Kodi Swafford, Manager of Safety, Training, and Compliance at Hendricks Power.

With the arrival of harvest time, Indiana’s farmers are shifting into high gear as they move into their fields to bring in crops. All that increased activity puts farmers and farm workers at greater risk, warned Kodi Swafford, Manager of Safety, Compliance, and Training at Hendricks Power Cooperative.

“Combines and grain augers are large pieces of equipment,” Swafford said. “People assume that everything will fit under the power lines, but that isn’t always the case. The biggest cause of electrocutions on farms is equipment accidentally touching power lines.”

When planning home improvement projects — especially those that involve electrical work — do you know when to DIY and when to hire a professional?

Take care charging your electric vehicle

Do you recall all the safety rules you were taught about refueling when you first learned to drive: shut off the engine; don’t smoke; don’t leave the pump unattended; don’t overfill?

It’s a common problem for most of us: relying on a handy dandy extension cord since we have so many devices and not enough outlets to plug them all into. But we at Hendricks Power warn you for safety’s sake, extension cords should only be used short-term.

When winter arrives, Hoosiers are never sure of what to expect. Indiana winters include everything from heavy snows, to freezing rain, to ice storms — sometimes all in one day. All of those forms of winter weather can create electrical hazards, warns Kodi Swafford, Manager of Safety, Training and Compliance of Hendricks Power.

Electric space heaters and blankets are great ways to stay toasty warm when the temperature drops. But don’t forget about safety before you plug in these chill-chasers.