Dennis Gleason My day started out like any other day I had experienced as a lineman for more than 10 years. Once I arrived at the job site, I prepared to perform the small simple task of repairing an elbow on a cable, like I had done a thousand times previously.
However, when I came in direct contact with a 7,620-volt power line, which blew a 140-amp fuse, my life was changed forever. The next thing I knew I was in the back of an ambulance and being air lifted to a local hospital, where I spent the next two months. I was treated for second and third degree burns over 20 percent of my body.
As a survivor of the devastating effects of an electrical contact injury, a training specialist for PECO Energy and a member of the Burn Foundation's Survivors' Advisory Council in the Philadelphia region, I feel compelled to share my experience and knowledge with contractors and others in the construction industry in an effort to keep you and your co-workers safe on the job site.
Applying the below safety rules consistently at your job site can save your life and the lives of your co-workers:
Always assume power lines are live. This applies to power lines on utility poles as well as those near homes and buildings. Even though you may notice a covering on a line, never assume it is safe to touch. Even momentary contact with power lines can cause injury or death.
Never stand ladders near power lines. When working on or near ladders, keep the ladder, tools and anything else you may be carrying at least 10 feet from power lines.
Keep all cranes, scaffolding and high reach equipment away from power lines. Contact with a power line can cause serious burns or electrocution. Remember to work a safe distance from all power lines. When performing construction activities, keep equipment at least 10 feet from power lines and 25 feet from transmission tower lines. Use a spotter to ensure compliance with the line clearance. If clearance cannot be obtained, request that the utility de-energize the lines.
Keep yourself and others away from any fallen power lines. Because it is difficult to know whether a fallen power line is live or not, it is imperative that you call your local utility right away and report the location of the down wires. If a line falls on your car, stay in your car. If you must get out of the car, be sure to jump clear, being careful not to touch any part of the car and the ground at the same time, while staying clear of the fallen line.
Do not climb or trim trees near power lines. Hire a qualified contractor to trim trees near power lines. If you have any questions about removing limbs or trees near power lines, call the local utility.
Call your local Underground Utility Locating Service. By law, most states require you call your local utility to identify any gas, electric, telephone and other utility facilities before you dig. Last year, a nationwide 8-1-1 Call Before You Dig number went into operation. Whether you are planting a tree, building a fence or laying foundation, contacting a line with a shovel, pick or other piece of equipment can result in injury or death.
How often has a Tri-Axle come to the job site to drop off a load of stone near the construction entrance, backed up, raised the dump bed, and began moving forward? All the time, watching where the stones were to be dumped, being sure not to strike anyone? The attention to detail such as the overhead power lines is often overlooked. If the dump bed tears down power lines, exposing personnel to dangers not normally encountered, how should you react?
However, when I came in direct contact with a 7,620-volt power line, which blew a 140-amp fuse, my life was changed forever. The next thing I knew I was in the back of an ambulance and being air lifted to a local hospital, where I spent the next two months. I was treated for second and third degree burns over 20 percent of my body.
As a survivor of the devastating effects of an electrical contact injury, a training specialist for PECO Energy and a member of the Burn Foundation's Survivors' Advisory Council in the Philadelphia region, I feel compelled to share my experience and knowledge with contractors and others in the construction industry in an effort to keep you and your co-workers safe on the job site.
Applying the below safety rules consistently at your job site can save your life and the lives of your co-workers:
Always assume power lines are live. This applies to power lines on utility poles as well as those near homes and buildings. Even though you may notice a covering on a line, never assume it is safe to touch. Even momentary contact with power lines can cause injury or death.
Never stand ladders near power lines. When working on or near ladders, keep the ladder, tools and anything else you may be carrying at least 10 feet from power lines.
Keep all cranes, scaffolding and high reach equipment away from power lines. Contact with a power line can cause serious burns or electrocution. Remember to work a safe distance from all power lines. When performing construction activities, keep equipment at least 10 feet from power lines and 25 feet from transmission tower lines. Use a spotter to ensure compliance with the line clearance. If clearance cannot be obtained, request that the utility de-energize the lines.
Keep yourself and others away from any fallen power lines. Because it is difficult to know whether a fallen power line is live or not, it is imperative that you call your local utility right away and report the location of the down wires. If a line falls on your car, stay in your car. If you must get out of the car, be sure to jump clear, being careful not to touch any part of the car and the ground at the same time, while staying clear of the fallen line.
Do not climb or trim trees near power lines. Hire a qualified contractor to trim trees near power lines. If you have any questions about removing limbs or trees near power lines, call the local utility.
Call your local Underground Utility Locating Service. By law, most states require you call your local utility to identify any gas, electric, telephone and other utility facilities before you dig. Last year, a nationwide 8-1-1 Call Before You Dig number went into operation. Whether you are planting a tree, building a fence or laying foundation, contacting a line with a shovel, pick or other piece of equipment can result in injury or death.
How often has a Tri-Axle come to the job site to drop off a load of stone near the construction entrance, backed up, raised the dump bed, and began moving forward? All the time, watching where the stones were to be dumped, being sure not to strike anyone? The attention to detail such as the overhead power lines is often overlooked. If the dump bed tears down power lines, exposing personnel to dangers not normally encountered, how should you react?
If you are in the vehicle, staying in it until help arrives is your safest option.
If you can move the vehicle away from the lines, do so cautiously. Otherwise, do not move until the lines have been de-energized.
Only exit the vehicle due to fire or other life-threatening circumstances. Be sure to jump free of the vehicle and hop away. Never touch the ground and the equipment at the same time.
If the line has fallen on the ground or a piece of equipment, assume it is energized, stay clear and contact your local utility.
Keeping heavy equipment at least 10 feet from power lines is essential to ensuring safety. Even if you don't use heavy equipment on a daily basis, you need to maintain the 10-foot circle of safety. Long tools and equipment such as metal conduits, scaffolding, rebar, bull-floats, and aluminum ladders are just a few examples of conductive tools that can be dangerous if used without caution on the job.
Remember, the 10-foot circle of safety applies to your body as well as to the farthest end of anything you may be carrying or working with. It only takes a split second to turn your tool of the trade into an energized conductor, resulting in catastrophic injuries.
Regardless of the project, electrical safety is paramount to ensure going home safely at the end of the day. No task is so urgent and no job so important that safety is forsaken in order to "get it done."
The best assurance against injury from power lines is personal commitment to safety. The most value on any job is not the material, the equipment, the deadline or even the profit. The most value on any job is and always should be human life.
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