When determining how to apply HIF detection for downed conductors, one must consider all of the trade-offs involved. Unlike most forms of relay protection, downed conductor protection is primarily employed for safety reasons since high impedance faults rarely cause secondary equipment damage. As discussed in previous sections, HIFs exist because of an energized conductor contacting a poor conducting surface such as the earth or pavement. An HIF usually will not be detected using conventional protection such as overcurrent relays, reclosers, or fuses. While reported instances of HIF may be significantly less than those resulting in the proper operation of the conventional protection, IEEE surveys indicate that these cases do exist. Therefore, step one in determining whether to employ this detection involves reviewing the circuit in question to see if conventional protection is adequate. A utility's experience with the soil conditions, type of circuit construction, past experience with energized downed conductors, and the nature of the load on the circuit give an indication of the priority for the application of HIF detectors.