During the hot season, be careful to avoid electric shock accidents.

Many electric shock accidents have occurred during the hot season, leading to tragic deaths. Currently, it is the peak of the hot season, so people need to be cautious with their home electrical systems.

The scene of the incident where a Viettel employee pulling a cable got entangled in a 110KV high-voltage line, causing a short circuit and killing one person. Photo: Duc Hoang.

Deaths from electricity

Residents of Group 19, Hoa Khanh Nam Ward (Lien Chieu District, Da Nang) are still reeling from a fatal electric shock accident that occurred about two weeks ago. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong An recounted: On the afternoon of May 20th, a sudden explosion occurred at the main power pole located at the end of Ngo Van So Street, intersecting with Doan Phu Tu Street. Following this, the electrical systems of many households in Group 19 short-circuited and caught fire. At that time, Mr. Bui Phuc Hiep (born in 1990, residing in Hoa Khanh Bac Ward, Lien Chieu District) was charging his phone when he was electrocuted and died.

“After the loud explosion, the electrical system in my house caught fire, flames flew everywhere, everyone panicked and ran outside. Many items in the house, such as the TV and laptop, were severely damaged,” recounted Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong An.

The initial cause has been identified: on the afternoon of May 20th, two Viettel employees were laying television cables when, while throwing the cable over overhead power lines, they unexpectedly snagged a 110KV high-voltage power line. Although the employees escaped death, the incident caused a short circuit, resulting in fires and damage to household appliances in 60 households.

Another tragic case of death by electric shock is that of Vo Nguyen Ngoc Minh (born in 1997, residing in Son Tra district, Da Nang; a 12th-grade student at Phan Chu Trinh High School). At around 5 PM on March 30th, while showering at home, Minh was suddenly electrocuted and died.

People should be cautious.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Ngo Cong Thanh, Head of Safety Department - Central Vietnam Power Corporation, stated that some of the main behaviors leading to electrical accidents include children flying kites that get entangled in high-voltage power lines, causing electrical discharges and accidents; children climbing to catch birds nesting on top of high-voltage power poles, violating the safe distance for electrical discharges and causing accidents; construction units pulling steel bars for building houses close to the safety protection corridor of high-voltage power lines, causing the steel bars to come into contact with power lines, violating the safe distance and causing accidents; and units hanging telecommunication cables on power poles without specific safety measures for each task during construction, without qualified personnel to supervise electrical safety, and without registering their work with the power industry's operation and management unit.

According to Mr. Thanh, in the first five months of 2015, four electrical accidents involving the public occurred on the power grid managed by the Central Vietnam Power Corporation, mainly due to violations by the public. None of the accidents were due to grid safety issues.

"To ensure the safe use of electricity among the people, the Central Vietnam Power Corporation has regularly organized electricity safety awareness campaigns for the public through various forms such as distributing electricity safety leaflets to electricity customers, publicizing the dangers of electricity through images of electrical accidents on radio and television, as well as giving talks in schools about the dangers of electricity and the principles of electricity safety...", Mr. Thanh said.

The power sector also advises households living near or within the safety protection corridor of high-voltage power lines to strictly comply with regulations. Particular attention should be paid to avoiding unauthorized construction or installation of equipment near high-voltage lines that could compromise safety, or climbing power poles that the power sector has marked with prohibition signs or warnings of danger. Telecommunications companies, when installing cables, need to coordinate with the power grid management and operation unit of the power sector to survey the construction site, develop a specific construction plan ensuring safety for people and equipment, and provide appropriate equipment for personnel.

According to Giadinh.net