How to Stay Safe on Aerial Lifts When Working Near Power Lines |
Posted: January 18, 2020 |
Working on an aerial lift platform close to the power lines are risky business. There's the danger of electric shocks that lead to fatal accidents, and they likely occur when the boom or the operator makes contact with or gets too close to an overhead cable. And death by electrocution can happen anytime. From workers doing maintenance to working construction to trimming trees and other tasks. These accidents that involve power lines happen for many reasons. The most common reason is:
What are the risks of working near power lines?OSHA firmly states that aerial lift operators must receive training and be certified. This makes perfect sense; considering one of the biggest risks involves making contact with live cables. The best way to minimize the risk of getting shocked is to make sure the power to the cables are turned off. But sometimes this isn't possible if it would mean cutting off the public energy supply. Safety procedures for working with live cables include:
Don't forget that electricity can "jump" through the air too. If that happens, aerial lift operators can get shocked even without touching cables. The higher the voltage in the cable, the further the electricity can jump. Protect yourself and your team against these no-contact shocks through:
Safety Procedures for Aerial Lift OperatorsAfter determining the correct MSAD, take note of these safety measures when your aerial lift company is setting up the workplace and operating with AWP.
There will be work conditions that make it impossible to keep the correct MSAD. But when this happens, always stop work.
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