| Everyone's resources have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You can help prevent locate delays by pre-marking your proposed dig area in white and notifying 811 of your planned excavation with as much lead time as possible: up to 10 business days in Pennsylvania. |
| To learn more about Duquesne Light's response to COVID-19, click here. |
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| Review these tips with coworkers at your tailgate or toolbox meetings before work
begins to help avoid potential hazards when working near overhead and underground
power lines. |
| What's a Weatherhead? |
| A weatherhead is a waterproof cap that protects a service drop—the point where overhead electric wires from a power pole enter a building, usually via a hollow metal pole called a service mast. (You may also hear it called a weather cap, service head or service entrance cap.) The weatherhead is shaped like a hood, with one side sloping down so that moisture will flow off and away from the connection. The electric wires enter the mast through the underside of this hood, typically through watertight rubberized gaskets. |
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| Know the Risks |
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| While weatherheads are designed to stand up to wind, rain and snow, they are vulnerable to impact from solid objects like tools or ladders. Also, especially if the fittings are older, there may be fine cracks in a gasket so that it will still keep out moisture from above or to one side, but may let in water under pressure from below, like from a hose or sprayer. And, of course, if you slip and fall against the service mast, pulling wires loose, you risk being severely shocked or electrocuted. |
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| Keep Your Distance |
If you're going to be working on or around a roof, locate the weatherhead and the power lines that feed into it and plan your job so you can keep all workers, tools and equipment at least 10 feet away. If that's not possible—say, you're re-roofing the entire house or replacing the gutters in that area—contact Duquesne Light Co. (DLC) at 412-393-7100 well in advance. We will
de-energize the service wires or make other arrangements to help you
work safely. |
| Do You Like This Email Series? |
| Do you find the information helpful? We'd like to know. Check out other Tips of the Trade on our website. Sign up to tell us what you think, or let us know what topics you'd like to see in future emails. |
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