In almost all occupations, electrical hazards exist in some form. Those hazards are multiplied for workers involved in cleanup and recovery efforts following major disasters. A particular life-threatening danger exists around downed and low-hanging electrical wires caused from high winds, ice storms, or other weather-related troubles.
Some Safety Tips:
- First, contact appropriate utility personnel.
- Do not assume that a downed conductor is safe simply because it is on the ground, or not sparking. Always consider all equipment, lines and conductors to be energized.
- The circuits don’t always turn off when a power line falls into a tree or on the ground. These downed power lines can kill you if you touch them, or the ground nearby.
- Low-hanging wires still have voltage potential even if they aren’t touching the ground.
- Never go near a downed or fallen electric power line. Always assume that it is energized. Fences, water pipes, bushes and trees, buildings, telephone/fiber optic cables, aluminum roofs, siding, sheds, etc., can also be energized by downed wires.
- Some sources that create electrical backfeed are: circuit ties/switch points, lightning, generators, and downstream events.
- Remember that electricity can travel away from its source.
- Don’t touch anything that is touching the wire.
- Never touch a person injured by a downed power line. Call 911 immediately.
- If you are in your car, stay inside and use a cell phone for help. Do not touch the outside of the car.
- Finally, never drive over downed power lines.
OSHA
Tagged as:
electrical,
electricity,
Safety
“Prevention through Design” is a national initiative for preventing and controlling occupational illnesses, injuries and fatalities being led by The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Several national organizations have partnered with NIOSH in promoting this process of recognizing the hazards of each industry and designing more effective prevention measures.
Partners in this process are:
American Industrial Hygiene Association, the American Society of Safety Engineers, the Center to Protect Workers’ Rights, Kaiser Permanente, Liberty Mutual, the National Safety Council, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, ORC Worldwide, and the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering. The list is expected to grow.
Stakeholders whose input is needed in this process are:
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Mining, Construction, Manufacturing, Wholesale, Retail, Transportation, Warehousing, Utilities, Services, Healthcare and Social Assistance.
The ultimate goal of PtD is: Prevent or Reduce occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities through:
1. Research
2. Education
3. Practice
4. Policy
Through the inclusion of prevention deliberations into all designs that impact workers, intermediate goals will be identified to provide a path toward achieving the ultimate goal.
NIOSH will serve as a catalyst to establish this Plan, but in the end, the partners and stakeholders must actively participate in addressing these goals to make PtD business as usual in the 21st century.
If this is successful, all workers will benefit from the planning that is put into it; however, it will take teamwork from all industries.
Tagged as:
prevention,
safety policy
