PG&E Tips of the Trade

May 2026

Avoid Wet-Weather Electrical Hazards

During this rainy season, follow these tips to protect yourself and your coworkers from wet-weather electrical hazards.

Get your complimentary worker safety kit on the PG&E
e-SMARTworkers website.

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Stay away from downed wires

Stormy weather can cause electrical wires to fall. Always assume any downed wire is energized and dangerous, and stay far away! Do not drive over a downed wire, and do not touch the wire or anything in contact with it—including water. Call 911 and tell the operator it’s an electrical emergency.

Learn how to react if a wire falls on your vehicle

If a wire comes down on or near your vehicle, call 911 and stay put until utility workers tell you to exit. Warn bystanders to stay far away; anyone who touches the vehicle or even comes close to it could be severely injured or even killed.

If you must get out due to fire or other danger, exit through a door that is free of electrical wires and anything in contact with the ground (such as a tree or fire hydrant), and take these steps:

•	Jump clear without touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Be careful not to fall back against the vehicle.

•	Avoid any downed or sagging wires.

•	Land with your feet together and shuffle away with small steps, keeping your feet close together and on the ground at all times.

Don’t mix water and electricity

Water conducts electricity, so keep your power tools dry and use them in a dry location. If you must work in wet conditions, use tools and extension cords that are suitable for outdoor use, and plug them into ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) for shock protection.

Want to know more?

Additional utility safety tips, case studies, instructional videos and educational tools can all be found, at no charge to you, on PG&E’s e‑SMARTworkers website.

For more contractor safety information, visit
pgesafetyeducation.com/contractor.

Contact 811 and dig safely

Call 811 or use the online ticket system at california811.org at least two working days prior to starting work (not including the date of your request, weekends and legal holidays).

Report all damage

If you suspect a gas leak or if you contact a gas pipeline or electric power line, call 911 immediately and then PG&E at 1-800-743-5000. You must also file a damage report with the Underground Safety Board at california811.org within two hours.

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