In my travels, I get involved with safety from time to time. Recently, a couple of my students were called out on a fire in an aerial terminal, and the root cause was an open neutral wire on the distribution power. If the field technicians had not used their voltage tester to identify a hot strand one of them could have been electrocuted. I think it is time to talk a bit about safety.

I was fortunate to start my career on the line crew. Working line crew is your basic safety training ground. From day one, working as a grunt for a man aloft, safety glasses, gloves, hard hats, boots, and proper clothes are a must. This apprentice job requires learning to properly and safely handle heavy equipment, strand stresses and strains, cables and drops. Cutting a wire without relieving the strain can mean a trip through the air or down a telephone pole in a second. Trenchers, back hoes, boom trucks, and myriad other heavy equipment can, in a quick moment, remove or damage appendages, slice, scrape, and otherwise make a bad day for any lineman who drops his guard.

Fortunately, safety has been a big part of most telco training programs. New regulations affect everything from working with lead cables to hazardous materials in manholes. But time constraints preclude spoonfeeding safety considerations to the technicians. Keep in mind that it’s always up to the individual to be aware of and absorb the information.

Many of the following safety tips are well known, but over the years we often lose sight of their purpose. Understanding the reason for these safety precautions may encourage you to pay more attention to them:

Hard Hats: Hard hats are designed to act both as a shield and a shock absorber to protect against head injuries. They also provide protection against electric shock in case of accidental contact with electricity. But the use of safety headgear no way reduces the need for good job planning and observing the safety requirements the task demands.

Safety headgear should be worn whenever engaged in outside plant or installation and repair work whenever you are subjected to conditions that could result in head injuries from moving or falling objects, striking against stationary objects, or when the possibility of electrical shock exists. In other words: Watch your head buddy. You’ll keep it longer.

Be sure to look for potential electrical hazards before climbing or working in joint use plant. It is imperative that you recognize, test, and eliminate the possibility of electrical shock before exposing yourself to a potential electrical hazard.

Eye Protection: Use eye protection whenever performing, observing or supervising a work operation where there is any possibility of injury to the eyes.

There are 2 types of eye protection:
1. Regular Protection consists of frontal eye protection against flying or moving objects.
2. Special Protection consists of side as well as frontal eye protection from flying or moving objects and irritating liquids, dust, and splashes.

Body Belts: Body belts are required when working more than 4 feet above the ground on poles, ladders, platforms, aerial lift buckets, cable cars, towers, and terminal balconies. These belts have improved dramatically from the old leather belts, but they require careful periodic inspection. It’s up to you to make sure they are in good condition.

Climbers: Climbers require care and maintenance, but this is directed more to the line crews than to the average Ladder Technician. It’s both illegal and hard to climb in tennis shoes, but we all know someone who wears them on the job.

Manhole Safety: Manhole safety is of the utmost importance. The process of testing and ventilation has come a long way from the wolf lamp and the sailcloth. New testing systems can indicate hazards ranging from combustible gas and petroleum products, to an unsatisfactory atmosphere. Even the proper methods of removing and placing manhole covers are important safety procedures. Handling of gas cylinders and propane torches require training and a conscious effort to protect the technicians and the public.

Remember that safety is an ongoing daily effort. Work safe every day and then you can go home to your family.

Signing off
What gear do you use, and what safety tips can you share? Send me an email at dmccarty@mccartyinc.com.