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| Aerial lift safety near power lines |
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| Aerial lifts enable you to access elevated areas and perform your overhead tasks more efficiently. However, if not used with proper preparation and precautions, they can be dangerous. Here are some tips to consider when using lifts near power lines and other utility infrastructure. |
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kit on the PPL Electric Utilities
e‑SMARTworkers website. |
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| Look up and look around |
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Always assume overhead power lines are energized. |
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Before using any aerial lift, carefully examine your work site for: |
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Power lines and other utility infrastructure |
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Work zone hazards such as drop-offs, holes, debris, cords and pedestrians nearby |
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Point out all electrical facilities and work zone hazards to your coworkers. |
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| Stay alert |
| When operating an aerial lift: |
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Keep the lift and all tools and materials at least 10 feet away from all power lines up to 50 kV at all times. Higher voltages require greater clearance distances. |
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If you must work closer than the required distance from power lines, contact PPL Electric Utilities at 1-800-342-5775 (1-800-DIAL-PPL) to make safety arrangements, and be sure to: |
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Use insulated and grounded lifts designed to work near energized power lines. (Consult with a safety supervisor for specific grounding requirements for your situation.) |
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Make sure you are properly trained to operate lifts safely near power lines. |
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Use fall protection, such as a body harness appropriately attached to the equipment with a lanyard. Consult the operation and safety manual and osha.gov for details. |
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Secure tools, materials and any other objects on the platform. |
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Operate only from the basket. A lone operator on the ground cannot properly judge the safe clearance distance or may not see the power lines. |
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Use a spotter on the ground as a second pair of eyes to help keep you, your tools and the lift a safe distance from all power lines and other electrical facilities. |
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Lower the aerial lift close to the ground before moving it to a new position, paying attention to the “elbow” to avoid power lines and other objects and prevent excessive swinging. |
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| If your aerial lift contacts a power line |
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If you can do so safely, move the lift away from the line. |
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If it cannot be safely moved: |
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Stay in the basket. Do not attempt to exit by climbing onto a nearby tree or building. |
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Warn others to stay far away from the lift. Anyone on the ground who contacts the lift could be seriously injured or even killed. |
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Contact 911 and PPL Electric Utilities at 1-800-342-5775 immediately. |
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Do not exit the basket until utility personnel give you the all clear. |
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| Would you like to know more? |
| Additional utility safety tips, case studies, instructional videos and educational tools can all be found, at no charge to you, on PPL Electric Utilities' e‑SMARTworkers website. |
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