Overhead Electrical Hazards for Trainers and Supervisors

Tailgate Safety Training for Landscaping and Horticultural Services

AEX-892.2.34

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Date:

06/05/2018

Agricultural Safety and Health Program

Objective: Prevent contact with overhead power lines.

Trainer’s Note

Overhead power lines are a constant danger in any outdoor work. For this module:

Review the information below on the hazards of overhead electrical lines and how to avoid them.
Give examples from your own firm or area of incidents involving overhead electrical lines. Ask workers to share examples they have.
Invite a guest speaker from the local power company.
Review the important points.
Have workers take the True/False quiz to check their learning.

Background

Long, tall, or large equipment can come in contact with overhead power lines, such as:

ladders
long-handled trim saws
portable elevators
augers
irrigation pipes
dump trucks

When equipment contacts power lines, workers can be electrocuted and badly injured, even killed. Irrigation pipes and other machinery only need to be near an overhead power line to kill.

Check the Location of Overhead Power Lines When

pulling or installing pump casing and pipe
raising or lowering machines
moving irrigation pipes
raising or moving ladders
pruning trees from the ground
working in trees
constructing buildings
performing building maintenance

Remember These Cautions

Always look up for overhead hazards like power lines, especially high-voltage lines.
Always assume that overhead power lines don’t have protective insulation, so any contact is dangerous.
Work as a team. One worker on the ground should be on the lookout for possible contact between equipment and power lines.
Nonmetallic materials can conduct electricity. These are lumber, tree limbs, tires, and ropes.
Electricity seeks one or more paths of least resistance. This includes going through people.
Do not touch power lines.
Untrained workers must stay at least 10 feet away from unguarded equipment.
Never store anything under power lines—no equipment, no tools, no vehicles, no materials, nothing.
Stay away from fallen overhead wires. Notify the power company right away.
Ladders should not be used near overhead power lines.
Plan a travel route for equipment that avoids overhead power lines.
The ground level should not be raised under overhead power lines.

If You Are in a Vehicle That Comes into Contact With a Power Line

Most important: stay in the vehicle or in the boom or crane. Do not try to get out unless the vehicle is on fire.
If you can, disconnect from the power line. Back the vehicle or swing the boom or crane away from the power line.
Get help from the power company—use your cell phone to call or yell to others nearby. Make sure no one else approaches the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle until the power company tells you the line is de-energized. You can never know for sure if the line is going to come back on or not.
If the vehicle catches on fire, exit the vehicle very carefully:
—Jump out of the vehicle. Don’t worry about how far you jump, as long as you clear the vehicle.
—Be sure to land on both feet and keep your balance when you land. This is more important than how far away you jump.
—Don’t touch anything with your hands; use your hands for balance only.
—Keep both feet on the ground at all times. Hop away from the vehicle—be sure to keep both feet together. Use your hands for balance only.
—If you cannot hop, shuffle away—and keep both feet on the ground at all times. Do not lift one foot off the ground to step forward. Instead, drag one foot forward keeping it in touch with the ground.
—Keep hopping or shuffling away until you get to where other people are standing safely.

Review These Important Points

Assume overhead power lines have no protective insulation and contact may be fatal.
Work as a team. One worker on the ground spots for the worker on raised equipment.
Electricity always seeks one or more paths of least resistance.
Never touch fallen overhead wires. Notify the power company right away.
Workers should check for overhead power lines before doing any work.
Plan your route of travel to avoid power lines.

About These Modules
The author team for the training modules in the landscape and horticultural tailgate training series includes Dee Jepsen, Program Director, Agricultural Safety and Health, Ohio State University Extension; Michael Wonacott, Research Specialist, Vocational Education; Peter Ling, Greenhouse Specialist; and Thomas Bean, Agricultural Safety Specialist. Modules were developed with funding from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Grant Number 46E3-HT09.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the U.S. Department of Labor.