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Electrical Safety... Not!!!
Another member recently posted a blog that brought to attention hidden dangers when it comes to electrical wiring behind walls. But what other clues might you have when evaluating potential electrical safety hazards?
When using elevated lighting or performing truck company operations where the ladder is extended, we always remember to Look Up, Look Down and Look Around. Why? Overhead wiring can ruin your day if you make intimate contact with charged wires.
The most dangerous time to do any overhead work is at night when you cannot see the wires, but you know they may be there. This is why it is important to know your district and pay attention to any overhead wires.
Overhead Powerline Hazards
Most people do not realize that overhead powerlines are usually not insulated. More than half of all electrocutions are caused by direct worker contact with energized powerlines. Powerline workers must be especially aware of the dangers of overhead lines. In the past, 80% of all lineman deaths were caused by contacting a live wire with a bare hand. Due to such incidents, all linemen now wear special rubber gloves that protect them up to 34,500 volts. Today, most electrocutions involving overhead powerlines are caused by failure to maintain proper work distances.
Shocks and electrocutions occur where physical barriers are not in place to prevent contact with the wires. When dump trucks, cranes, work platforms, or other conductive materials (such as pipes and ladders) contact overhead wires, the equipment operator or other workers can be killed. If you do not maintain required clearance distances from powerlines, you can be shocked and killed. (The minimum distance for voltages up to 50kV is 10 feet. For voltages over 50kV, the minimum distance is 10 feet plus 4 inches for every 10 kV over 50kV.) Never store materials and equipment under or near over-head powerlines. You need to recognize that overhead powerlines are a hazard.
Always think Safety!
TCSS, CBz
When using elevated lighting or performing truck company operations where the ladder is extended, we always remember to Look Up, Look Down and Look Around. Why? Overhead wiring can ruin your day if you make intimate contact with charged wires.
The most dangerous time to do any overhead work is at night when you cannot see the wires, but you know they may be there. This is why it is important to know your district and pay attention to any overhead wires.
Overhead Powerline Hazards
Most people do not realize that overhead powerlines are usually not insulated. More than half of all electrocutions are caused by direct worker contact with energized powerlines. Powerline workers must be especially aware of the dangers of overhead lines. In the past, 80% of all lineman deaths were caused by contacting a live wire with a bare hand. Due to such incidents, all linemen now wear special rubber gloves that protect them up to 34,500 volts. Today, most electrocutions involving overhead powerlines are caused by failure to maintain proper work distances.
Shocks and electrocutions occur where physical barriers are not in place to prevent contact with the wires. When dump trucks, cranes, work platforms, or other conductive materials (such as pipes and ladders) contact overhead wires, the equipment operator or other workers can be killed. If you do not maintain required clearance distances from powerlines, you can be shocked and killed. (The minimum distance for voltages up to 50kV is 10 feet. For voltages over 50kV, the minimum distance is 10 feet plus 4 inches for every 10 kV over 50kV.) Never store materials and equipment under or near over-head powerlines. You need to recognize that overhead powerlines are a hazard.
Always think Safety!
TCSS, CBz
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Christian Cossey on
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I completely agree with you.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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simple increased awareness is the goal of this post!
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doesn't it just amaze you sometimes at the stupid things people do? and done just to save a buck... take for instance this low cost approach to smoke detectors... where will it end? CBz
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Permalink Reply by Tony P on
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Safe distances to downed electrical wiring is part of our basic training - something that should be easy to remember. Do we always remember? No. We had an incident recently where a number of people completely ignored the safety distance and went too close - luckily nobody was injured.
What came out of the near miss was a short training run for everybody. Input welcomed from all members. After one of the electricians we have in the Brigade spoke, a lot of us have decided to forget the safe distance as quoted in our training - from now on I will not go any closer than 16 metres (say 17.5 yards if you don't use metric) to a downed cable. Yes, a longer distance. This is what our industrial sparkies go by apparently!
We can add to the discusion; when is it safe to pick up a downed cable? As far as I'm concerned, it's safe when the power company tech picks it up with bare hands - then as he (or she) has already picked it up, they can move it out of the way as well...
Those pics? They really do show how things are in some countries, don't they. It makes me so glad to live where there are strict regulations on overhead cable instalation.
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Do you carry HotSticks? We do on all of our equipment including structural and brush rigs. We also have them on our air lighting unit due to the telescoping lighting as well as our truck companies.
TAC Stick
The TAC Stick is an invaluable tool for detecting unshielded AC current at all natural disasters. Typical site situations include floods hurricanes, tornados, snow/ice storms, severe thunderstorms and earthquakes.
Fire Fighters and Rescue Squads depend on the TAC Stick to be certain of safe conditions before entering burned out structures and crash sites such as vehicular accidents, airline disasters, train wrecks, and terrorist bombings.
Senses current up to 50ft. (150m) typical unshielded transmission lines.
Senses current up to 15ft. (5m) away from 120 volt power leaks.
Audio and visual danger signals.
Rugged PVC plastic outer housing-lanyard and rubber grip.
UL Approved
Day or night TAC Stick helps keep you safe on the front line. Simple to use, this lightweight, hand-held AC current-sensing device can be used in natural disaster situations, transportation accidents, and other emergency rescue operations. Three --settings high sensitivity, low sensitivity and front focused -- TAC Stick enables you to sense AC currents from near or far, providing one of the most effective tools on the market today.
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I've heard of them CBz - but they aren't issued to us. The electricians we have in the brigade of course know about the sticks, but have never seemed too keen on us buying our own.
The problem of live wires in a structure fire is always going to be with us. Standard procedure for us is to have someone pull the outside main house fuse (we have five members qualified to do so in the Brigade - including the poor bunny writing this...) with the long pole we carry. Power company is always called, but it often takes them an hour to arrive - not much use to us. Houses/factories with illicit drug manufacturing? Another problem of course as they often find ways to bipass the obvious wiring :-(
Downed wires in the street, we simply block the road and request urgent police attendance and power company. When the police arrive, we leave.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Dudan on
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This Philidelphia Truck Co. found out the hard way.
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Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on
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They never did like that piece.
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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An that goes for lines that are down as well. Always, Always, Always treat any wires as if they are energized until the power company arrives and tells you its de-energized or the proper authority confirms that they are not a hazard. Be Safe-ISH!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Jason Hoevelmann on
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Wow, nice post.
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Permalink Reply by BillySFCVFD on
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Ah, electricity, the quick invisible killer. Thanks for the reminder Mike.
PS Those meter readers must be busy.
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