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Steer clear of power lines when picking fruit this summer

Recent fruit-picking injury underscores need to be cautious

Hawaiian Electric reminds customers to use extreme caution when picking fruit near overhead power lines. An incident in Wahiawa last week left a man injured after a metal fruit picker he was using contacted a power line.

With summer right around the corner, many residents look forward to harvesting local fruits across Hawaiian Electric's five-island service territory. But the company wants residents to stay safe and avoid serious injury -- or death -- when picking fruits near power lines.

Since 2014, Hawaiian Electric has annually reported anywhere from zero to two incidents in which a member of the public was seriously injured or died due to contact with electrical equipment.

To avoid risk, follow these tips:

  • Always look up and around for power lines before starting any harvesting or trimming activity. If any part of the tree is touching overhead power lines, the tree can become energized and you should not touch the tree.
  • Use the 10-foot-rule: Always keep your body and any ladders, tools or other implements at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines.
  • Don't use ladders or fruit pickers near power lines. Keep any type of ladders, fruit pickers, poles or other tools at least ten feet away from the lines.
  • Never trim trees that have power lines going through them or touch any tree limb that may fall into a power line. It is strongly recommended that a qualified arborist be used to trim and maintain your trees, especially trees near power lines.
  • If a person comes into contact with a power line, assume the line is energized and dangerous. Do not attempt to free the person from the power line. Steer clear and warn others to keep away. Call 911 immediately for emergency help.
  • If you see any object caught in a power line, assume the line is energized and do not attempt to free it yourself. Call Hawaiian Electric's Trouble Line at one of the following or call 911 in an emergency.

Oahu: 1-855-304-1212
Maui: (808) 871-7777
Molokai/Lanai: 1-877-871-8461
Hawaii Island: (808) 969-6666



About Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO)
For more than 100 years, Hawaiian Electric Company has provided the energy that has fueled the islands' development from a Hawaiian kingdom to a modern state. Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HECO), and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric Company, Ltd. (MECO), and Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO), serves 95% of the state's 1.2 million residents on the islands of O`ahu, Maui, Hawai`i Island, Lana`i and Moloka`i.

The energy we use is an essential but limited resource necessary to maintaining our quality of life. In a changing world, Hawaiian Electric has evolved to offer more than electricity.

Today, the company also provides energy solutions to help customers save money and use energy more efficiently. Hawaiian Electric also continues to pursue the use of more clean, renewable energy alternatives to help ensure a sustainable future for our islands.

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT

Hawaiian Electric Company is dedicated to our community in which we live, work and serve. Rooted in Hawaii and one of the largest companies in the State, Hawaiian Electric takes the concept of malama pono -- to care for and serve -- to heart. The company and our employees have a long tradition of contributing with dollars, time and talent. Corporate citizenship is crucial to Hawaiian Electric's overall business plan because strong communities are essential to the success of the company, our employees and our customers.

Company and employee volunteerism is encouraged and every month, employees walk, run or provide manpower to dozens of non-profits throughout the State. Hawaiian Electric's corporate giving philosophy gives priority to projects that help families, promote education and protect the environment.

The company also sponsors robotics programs and events that promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) education, as well as the SunPower for Schools program bringing solar electric power to select schools, the Solar Sprint event where students design, build and race cars using solar power, and the Home Energy Challenge, a school-based competition encouraging elementary school students and their families to reduce energy use at home, among other programs.

For nearly a decade, Hawaiian Electric volunteers have provided manpower, bucket trucks and ladders to install Christmas lights at the Kaimuki Community Park and playground before the annual Kaimuki Christmas Parade in December.
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