This paper presents electric potential rise on the surface of the earth due to ground currents. It is the aim of this paper to propose fundamental data relevant to the earth surface potentials depending on the soil structures. The earth potential rise, touch and step voltages in the immediate vicinity of the ground rod of a distribution pole were measured and analyzed. The results described in this paper are based on laboratory measurements which were intended to simulate conditions existing in actual installations. As a result, the earth surface potential rise, touch and step voltages strongly depend on the soil structure. The highest earth surface potential occurred in the vicinity of the top of ground rod. When the ground rod was installed in the distance range of $1{sim}1.5;m$ from distribution pole, the highest touch voltages appeared near the place of 1 m on the straight line connecting the distribution pole to ground rod.