Safety on construction sites: Equatorial provides guidance on how to care for the power grid

Electricity is essential in everyday life, but its use without due care can pose risks, especially during works and renovations carried out close to the electricity grid. Equatorial Maranhão continually reinforces the importance of adopting safety measures, focusing on preventing electrical accidents and protecting workers and the population in general. According to the Brazilian Association of Electricity Distributors (Abradee), civil construction is the sector that records the most accidents with the electricity grid in Brazil. In 2025, the segment led the ranking of deaths in electrical accidents, accounting for 227 accidents in construction or building maintenance in the country, 68 of which were fatal, which demonstrates the persistence of the risk. Safety on construction sites: Equatorial advises on care with the electrical grid Disclosure/Equatorial In an expanded scenario of accidents with electrical energy and the general numbers involving other sectors, data from the Brazilian Association for Awareness for the Dangers of Electricity (Abracopel) indicate that, in 2025, the sum of occurrences involving electric shocks, fires and atmospheric discharges totaled 2,322 accidents, resulting in 725 deaths. Pay extra attention during construction work During renovations, construction or building maintenance, accidental contact with live wires can cause serious accidents. Therefore, prior planning of the work and observation of the building's proximity to the energy network are essential measures to ensure the safety of painters, bricklayers and other construction professionals. The safety distance between the construction and the electrical network must be at least 3 meters in height and 1.5 meters laterally. Disclosure/Equatorial Essential precautions in works close to the electrical network • Maintain a safe distance between the construction and the electrical network, at least 3 meters in height and 1.5 meters laterally. The measure applies to the scaffolding, to those working on it and to any object being manipulated; • Do not handle rebar, metal bars, scaffolding or long tools close to wiring; • Pay extra attention to services at height, such as slabs, roofs and facades; • Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and rely on trained professionals; • Never make clandestine, improvised or scam connections. In situations where the work is very close to the electrical network and the safety distance is not respected, the recommendation is to contact the Distributor, at the in-person service agencies, to request a technical visit. Safety begins in planning Equatorial Maranhão highlights that prevention begins in the planning phase of the work. Assessing the site in advance, identifying the proximity to the electrical network, following technical standards, properly organizing the construction site and hiring qualified professionals are fundamental measures to reduce risks and ensure safer works. “Works and renovations require extra attention from the planning stage, especially when they occur close to the electricity grid. A simple oversight can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, it is essential that professionals assess the risks and respect the safety distance from the electrical network", advised Gabriel Vieira, Safety Executive at Equatorial Maranhão. In cases of victims of electric shock: Do not touch the affected person. The best way to provide assistance is to turn off the circuit breaker or the installations' main switch and immediately contact the Fire Department (193) or SAMU (192). If the accident occurs on public roads and is caused by the electrical network, it is also important to call the Equatorial Maranhão by Central 116 so that the power is turned off and all safety measures are adopted. VC+ Seguro Movement Equatorial Maranhão reinforces that these guidelines are part of the “Vc+ Seguro” Movement, an initiative that acts in a preventive manner, guiding its customers and reinforcing the importance of safety with electricity to avoid accidents. Distributor with safety, accident prevention and community well-being. Red August During the month of August, the movement's actions are reinforced with the Red August campaign, an initiative promoted by the Brazilian Association of Electricity Distributors (Abradee), aimed at raising awareness among the population about the risks of accidents involving the electricity grid.