The utility industry requires numerous workers to perform different duties. Many of these workers must work in boom trucks and work with or near power lines. To handle these duties, you must have the proper training to ensure the job is done properly and that you remain safe.

Anyone working with a boom truck, there are some specific precautions that must be given consideration. Here are some basic safety procedures for any situation where you will use a boom truck:

• Always wear a body belt as part of your restraint or tethering and make sure there is a lanyard secured to the basket or boom.
• Test the lift controls every day before they are used to ensure that they work properly.
• Don’t sit on the basket sides or climb on the basket, and always keep feet firm on the floor.
• Don’t exceed the maximum load set by the boom lift manufacturer.
• Be sure any jerky, sudden movements are avoided so the basket doesn’t collide with power lines or other nearby objects.

Follow Safety Protocol

When you are working in a boom lift near or on power lines, you should always use all the proper protective gear. That gear includes:

• Tools that are insulated
• Rubber sleeves and gloves
• Insulated hard hat
• Voltage-rated shoes

When working near power lines, use a boom lift that is designed for electrical work. These boom lifts have additional insultation to protect the workers from electrical currents, but remember, only certain parts of the lift may be protected by the insulation.

Here are some details about the insulated buckets:

• You should never try to alter or modify the basket insulation, as the protection level could be reduced.
• The portion completely covered by the basket liner is the only potion that is covered by it. Any conductive materials that extend beyond the extend farther than the liner can cause electricity conduction, making it ineffective.

Associated Training Schools (ATS), which was founded in 1959, offers specialized training, including training for individuals who plan to work with cherry pickers, boom lifts, and in the electrical industry. To learn more about the training programs, call (800) 383-7364.

For heavy equipment operators, safety on all work sites should be the first priority. After all, there is a lot happening at any given moment, and most of the action involves heavy, dangerous pieces of equipment. Heavy equipment alone is dangerous to the operator and others on the work site, but there are often unseen dangers on a construction site. Power lines are often found near construction sites, and sometimes even high voltage lines which can be a serious danger to a heavy equipment operator.

In some instances, these lines can be buried under the ground, yet in other areas they will be over head supported by poles. Both of these situations can be dangerous for a heavy equipment operator . The underground power lines can be easily hit by a backhoe or excavator. To prevent this, the power company should be contacted to mark the ground where the lines are buried. Even after the lines are marked, extreme caution must be used when digging in the area.

Overhead power lines can also be a danger to operators. They can be easily forgotten as they are out of sight. The main two pieces of heavy equipment that are susceptible to these overhead wires are the crane and, believe it or not, the dump truck. The dump truck operator can actually hit a power line when lifting the load up to dump it. To prevent accidents related to the overhead power lines, preferably, the power can be shut down to the area. If this is not possible, enough warning signage must be used to ensure operators are constantly aware of the lines and where they are located.

There are many dangers on a work site, power lines may be one of the most dangerous due to the voltage they may carry. The proper procedures and precautions must be taken at all times when working near them. Safety around these dangerous power lines must be every worker’s main priority on the work site at all times.

Have you ever paid any attention to heavy equipment safety campaigns like the ‘Look Up and Live’ campaign? One of the leading causes of death to heavy equipment operators is by accidentally coming into contact with overhead power-lines. Whilst the experience for the operator is not that great, energy consumers in the area won’t be thrilled either when they lose their power.

Whether you operate a farm tractor, an excavator, crane or any other heavy equipment, being aware of power-lines has always got to be at the back of your mind. Those working around you have also got to be aware of those power-lines so they can guide you safely around them. As one of the leading causes of death for heavy equipment operators, it is not an issue that can be taken lightly.

Most heavy equipment safety training programs include a component on overhead power-lines. This is because of the number of deaths and injuries that occur each and every year. Unfortunately, there is not a lot that can be done to protect operators should they come into contact with those power-lines. The simple solution of course is to avoid contact with them.

This is just one of many issues that heavy equipment operators need to consider in their day-to-day working lives. If you are planning on training to become a heavy equipment operator, one attribute that is going to be very important is your ability to pay attention to factors not directly related to what you are doing.

Heavy equipment training will always focus on three areas – the equipment itself, providing skills to operate that equipment, and knowledge of heavy equipment safety.