Geocaching In, On and Around Electrical Equipment

DISCLAIMER


Updated July 01, 2008




Are you a geocacher(LINK) that sometimes caches in, on or around green power boxes, lamp post caches (LPC's), electrical transmission tower legs and sometimes even FAKE electrical boxes/equipment?

If you do, I feel you may be placing yourself and possibly others in an unsafe situation.

It is that added risk that should not be in our hobby.

Before I give you my opinion on the subject and explain to why I know it's unsafe, I want to thank you for stopping by and I want to share two sides of me.

First off, I’m a geocacher. Love the hobby.
I've been caching since early 2005. I'm fortunate to say I've cached from coast to coast, as far South as Mexico and over seas. I've hidden over 30 caches and have over 900 finds. Some of my favorite caches are in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia(love the Island), Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia and throughout the UK. I enjoy caching because it takes me to places where a travel guide or tour booklet may of never taken me.
I'm proud to say some of my best friends are also geocachers.


Second, I’m also a Health and Safety Consultant for a large power utility company.
One of my job duties is to respond and investigate powerline contacts. When someone from the general public contacts an overhead powerline or digs and hits an underground high voltage power cable I’ll be on the scene to conduct a full investigation. An electrical contact fatality is the most difficult type of investigation to conduct. I’ve seen the first hand results of what electricity can do to the human body and it’s not pretty.

I read about geocachers from all across North America hiding caches on High Voltage transmission tower legs, magnetic key holder caches tucked away on those green power boxes in the neighborhoods(padmount transformers), under skirts of lamp posts and I also read about those cachers that create fake electrical boxes to hide caches in. ALL that stuff scares me. Yes, even fake electrical boxes... I'll explain.
Children tend to stick their hands in any where and if a child can open a cover to something they’ll do it cause they’re curious. They also learn what's safe by watching adults. If we teach kids that it’s okay to open up fake electrical boxes because caches are hidden in them, then I feel that we are placing them in danger. If that child comes across real electrical equipment that was left open because it was vandalized, would they know to stay away from it? I would say no. Would you stay away from it? Do you know the difference between real and fake electrical equipment? I've seen some very realistic stuff out there.
It’s not okay for children(and adults for that matter) to get-use-to playing around electrical equipment.

Kids are always playing on those green power boxes. Are they meant for playing on? The answer is no. Take a look at some of the labels on that green box. Look familiar.
Generally those boxes are safe. (Again, that does not mean kids should play on it) but the question comes up… Could they be unsafe? The answer is a definite yes. Cars hit this type of equipment all the time by drivers (possibly drunk) and they’re not reported right-away. They can be sitting there with their metal case energized. As soon as a person touches a piece of equipment in that state they would be electrocuted.
Vandals that destroy equipment just for the fun of it or because of copper theft leave this equipment in very dangerous shape as well.
Also, a city can have the best electrical maintenance program in the world and still have the odd piece of equipment fail. This could be a green electrical box in front of your house or a lamp post.

Take a look at this… link

I enjoy the question that comes from others, "there's risk in everything we do, why should this type of risk matter?" I agree, there is risk in everything we do (driving, walking on a sidewalk, reaching into a hole to pull out a cache), but do we need to add this risk (electrical) to geocaching? Let's talk about probability and severity. What's the chance that a piece of electrical equipment will fail? (Probability) Low? Okay, I could agree with that.

Let's say it failed. What is the consequence when a person touches a failed piece of electrical equipment and gives electricity that path to ground? I know from experience that there's usually no second chance.

There's no need to jeopardize yourself and others to this added risk.

Another thing to think about… In www.geocaching.com guidelines there’s a line that states, “By submitting a cache listing, you assure us that you have adequate permission to hide your cache in the selected location.”
I don’t know of any power utilities or municipalities that would give permission to hide a game-piece in or on their electrical equipment. Just would not happen.


I write this Blog so everyone’s aware of the dangers and possible dangers.
I'd like to know that if a dangerous situation appears before a geocacher they will know how to properly react to it. Please refer to some of my other posts below(i.e. power line down on the ground, lightning, etc)

In this Blog these are my opinions that are influenced from what I’ve seen doing my job, being in the electrical industry for almost 20 years and reading through countless articles and reports that come in from all across North America on people getting injured and killed by electricity.

I don't want to come-off as telling people what or what not to do.
Although, I will ASK you of two things.
(1)I’m asking you here and in other spots in the Blog not to geocache in or on electrical equipment. There are so many other places we can hide our caches.
(2)I’m also asking you to take read through the info below this post and hopefully you’ll carry something away with you that’s important, not only for geocaching but for other hobbies that you do as well. If you have children, please quiz them to see how well they know the dangers on electricity and guide them how to stay safe.

If, by writing this Blog, one person is prevented from getting injured then I know I've done my job.

Thank you for visiting,


Johnnygeo



(Please email me to tell me what you think of the Blog @ johnnygeo@gmail.com or comment here at the bottom of this post. I look forward in hearing from you.