Weekly Safety Tip - 12-20-08
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12-29-08
Ladder Safety and
Power Lines
Ladders are necessary tools for installing and cleaning gutters. But sometimes the work areas also include electric lines -- usually the drop lines from nearby utility poles, and sometimes even nearby overhead utility power lines. And these lines don't mix with ladders or long gutter sections..
Here are some tips to keep you safe:
- Keep all ladders and gutter pieces in the SAFE ZONE, at least 10 feet from any power lines.
- Never extend or lift the gutter pieces over power lines to get them into position on the home. There have been fatalities in our industry due to this.
- Never count on a power line to be insulated, no matter what it looks like. Most utility power lines are not insulated.
- Don't count on a ladder made of any certain material to protect you. Even wood will conduct electricity. So will wet, dirty and defective ladders of any kind. Fiberglass ladders are best to resist electric, but even they are no guarantee of safety.
- Before you use a ladder, check the area carefully for power lines or other electrical equipment. Pick a safe route to carry the ladder to the work area, then carry it horizontally--never upright. Put it up only where you have to work. Always make sure that, if the ladder fell, it would not contact any power lines or other electrical equipment.
- When you're on a ladder, balance and control aren't at their best. Be careful with gutters or other long objects. Never hold them in a position where they could fall onto a power line. Remember that distances are deceiving from the top of a ladder and make sure you don't lift the gutter or other object up into an overhead line.
