Holtsville, NY - May 19, 2016 - In celebration of National Electrical Safety Month, PSEG Long Island and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1049 worked together to demonstrate the hazards of electricity and electrical equipment to more than 80 third grade students from Smithtown Central School District. The joint event was held at IBEW Local 1049’s headquarters in Holtsville.

Electrical Safety Day with Smithtown students at IBEW Headquarters in Holtsville, NY. Photo by PSEG Long Island, via Flickr.

Electricity is essential to modern life, yet it can sometimes be taken for granted. The Electrical Safety Day presentations and events provided an opportunity for children to learn how to be safe around electricity and the dangers of handling it improperly. The interactive demonstrations helped teach children what to do in dangerous situations and what precautions should be taken to avoid getting hurt.

Smithtown students learning about electrical safety at the IBEW Headquarters in Holtsville, NY. Photo by PSEG Long Island, via Flickr.

“The Electrical Safety Day event is a great opportunity to teach our youngest customers how to stay safe around electricity and electrical equipment,” said Dan Eichhorn, vice president, customer services, PSEG Long Island. “Through PSEG Long Island’s partnership with Local 1049, we are able to help promote electrical safety education through a variety of channels and highlight why safety is our top priority year-round.”

“May is National Electrical Safety Month and, together with PSEG Long Island, it is our goal to educate young people on how to prevent accidental electrocutions,” said Don Daley, Business Manager, IBEW Local 1049. “Electrocutions rank high among all causes of accidental injury in the United States and we want to teach safe practices to our Long Island neighbors. Let’s make safety a daily habit.”

There were several stations at the event, including electric safety demonstrations, a demonstration of a pole top rescue, videos on how power is generated, touch-a-truck and more. Through these stations children learned safety tips that they could take back to their family and friends including:

• Make sure all outlets have a safety covering to protect small children and pets
• Check all cords and wires for damage and do not place them under rugs or furniture
• Never leave electric heaters unattended when on
• Don't touch appliances with wet hands or when standing on wet surfaces
• Never work on electric equipment with the power on
• Never touch a downed power line or go near one

The safety of PSEG Long Island’s employees and customers is always the top priority. The utility is excited to continue these presentations to children. For information on having a presenter speak at your school, camp or event, please complete the Community Partnership Program request form on PSEG Long Island’s website here or send a request via email.

PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system under a 12-year contract. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company with annual revenues of approximately $10.4 billion.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 1049 represents approximately 2000 proud members who perform utility work for PSEG Long Island and their contractors. IBEW Local 1049 is committed to being the best, most qualified, dedicated and competitive workforce. They are working men and women who serve their fellow Long Islanders with pride, dedication and distinction.