Urgent notice! You can’t use an umbrella here!

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Can’t you use an umbrella at the high-speed train station? “The WeChat official account of the Ping’an Fenghua Railway recently posted a warning tweet stating that there is a high-voltage contact network above electrified railways; by standing near the yellow line on the platform with an umbrella, one puts themselves within the reach of this electrical system, which can lead to electric shock – it’s extremely dangerous! For many netizens, it’s really the first time they’ve heard that using an umbrella while waiting for a bus can cause electric shock. Is this true? A reporter received a response from the staff at Xuzhou High-Speed Railway Station stating that it was true, and passengers should be careful while waiting. The reason is right here! At Xuzhou High-Speed Railway Station, the reporter observed that high-voltage contact wires were distributed just above the safety white lines on the platforms. Han Zhaoyang, the secretary of the Party general branch at Xuzhou High-Speed Railway Station, said that on rainy days, it is easy to come into close contact with high-voltage electricity when using an umbrella outside the safety zone, as compared to sunny days. “Our high-voltage power supply system operates at 27,500 volts, and the required safety distance from this high voltage is two meters. If passengers use umbrellas, the raindrops and moist air in rainy conditions being conductive, the pointed shape of the umbrellas can facilitate the flow of electric current, thus posing certain dangers.” ” Secretary Han said that there is a certain range associated with normal voltage levels; on clear days, the “harmful radius” of the power grid might be only 0.5 meters, so even if passengers stand outside that line, there should be no major problems. However, in humid weather or during rain and snow, high-voltage electricity can break down some raindrops, significantly expanding the range of electrical conduction; a radius of 0.5 meters may increase to 1 meter or even 2 meters, making it very dangerous to be outside the safety zone. Additionally, another drawback of holding an umbrella on the platform is that the strong wind generated by the passing train can cause the umbrella to slip from one’s hand and fall onto the tracks, thereby posing a safety risk to train operations. Han Zhaoyang gave an example: \"On rainy days, whether it’s the high-voltage contact lines on railways or those in other public areas, we should not carry any rod-shaped or conductive objects, including fishing rods, bamboo poles, and the like.\" Things such as flying kites near high-speed rail lines are not allowed. ” The reporter noticed that Xuzhou High-Speed Railway Station has semi-enclosed, open-air platforms; in case of heavy rain, it is necessary to bring an umbrella when going outside. What should passengers waiting on the platforms pay attention to then? Han Zhaoyang advises travelers to avoid using umbrellas with pointed tips when traveling in rainy weather, and instead opt for foldable, flat-top umbrellas. While waiting on the platform, they should stay within the (white) safety area; once the train arrives, they should quickly fold up their umbrellas before boarding. So, besides the risk of electric shock from using an umbrella on a rainy day at high-speed train stations, is it possible to get an electric shock as well when walking with an umbrella near transformers in residential areas? Wang Xiang, director of the Distribution Operation and Maintenance Department at State Grid Huai’an Power Supply Company, explained that the voltage at the high-voltage terminal of the distribution transformer is 10,000 volts. The distance from the bottom of the transformer to the ground is not less than 2.5 meters; adding the height of the transformer itself, the height of its terminal above the ground is around 3.5 meters, which fully meets the requirements for safe distances. Therefore, unless a person deliberately climbs up to touch the switch post or the transformer post, walking by the transformer while holding an umbrella will not result in discharge that could harm the person. Furthermore, for box-type transformers placed on the ground, first, their incoming and outgoing wires as well as switches are insulated, and second, the transformers have proper grounding; as long as the enclosure is not deliberately opened, it will cause no harm to humans. ——END——