How to Use Ladders when doing Work with Electrical Hazard

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 at 10:59 am

When workers do their activities around energized power lines, there's always a potential risk for electrical shock. When they are using a ladder, this risk is also increased, because there's a higher possibility to reach the power lines. In this article we describe the recommendations of the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) to prevent injuries and deaths when working with ladders, especially when metal ladders are in use.

The indications of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health are divided into sections dedicated to manufacturers, general contractors, workers and supervisors, and employers. Proper safety is a combination of factors and all these people are involved in making sure that the proper working conditions are met.

The first indication that is given to the employers is to give evidence of the presence and position of all the power lines that may be close to the working area. Since the activity may be done several days after site setup, the employer must make a written report with drawings for future reference.

Employers must check if there's the possibility to avoid working in proximity to powered lines, and this should take into account the extension of any ladders that will be in use. Any conductive objects must be kept at a distance of at least 10 feet from energized lines up to 50 kilovolts.

We have said that metal object must be kept at a distance from electrical powered lines; all metal ladders should be avoided when doing this kind of activities and it's up to the employer to purchase (if possible according to the kind of work) ladders made of non conductive materials.

Workers must note the position of powered lines at the beginning of any working activity. These lines are a potential source of hazard independently from the use of metal ladders, and special attention must be paid to this risk. In case of doubt, workers must assume that the lines are powered and dangerous.

When a worker gets in contact with a powered object, its dangerous for the other workers to touch or get close to him, because they may get injured as well. When moving a ladder, they don't have to be carried around in vertical position, but always lowered.

General contractors must make sure that all workers employed are properly trained on the safety procedures according to the hazard present in the workplace.

Since for many workers English is not their primary language, labelling of ladders should have safety instructions in more than a language; it's the manufacturer's responsibility to make sure that this requirement is met.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health provides statistical data on the number of incidents that every year involve electrical powered lines during work activities. The rules we have presented are a great help in reducing these hazards and must be strictly followed.

At the end you may find more information on the different ladders for sale available in the workplace in our website; for example you may look at our page dedicated to step ladders.. This article, How to Use Ladders when doing Work with Electrical Hazard is released under a creative commons attribution license.