Look Up & Live Overhead Power Line Safety Initiative

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Look Up LiveOverhead Power Line Safety
Initiative

• 3RD Draft-Jan.23,06

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Committee Members

• S.C. Electric Gas
• S.C. Department of Transportation
• C.R. Jackson, Inc. / N.W. White Company
• Carolinas Association of General Contractors
• Wilbur Smith Associates
• S.C. Chapter of The American Society of Safety
  Engineers
• S.C. Occupational Safety Council
• Santee Cooper
• Sloan Construction Company
• Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina
• SET Solutions, LLC
• Broad River Electric Cooperative
• S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing, and
  Regulation

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Look Up Live

• HOW TO USE THIS TRAINING MODULE

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Program Guidelines for theInstructor

• This program is designed to be downloadable from
  various web sites and used by local training
  personnel to train their employees on the dangers
  of working around overhead power lines.
• Slides in this presentation with a royal blue
  background and yellow colored text provide
  guidance for the instructor of this program.
• The program should take about one hour to teach,
  however trainers should add to their program as
  needed for local needs.
• Their list a short quiz at the end of the program
  to check learning.

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Program Guidelines for the Instructor

• There is a downloadable Pre-construction Site
  Assessment titled Look Up Live for use when
  employees conduct work around overhead power
  lines.
• This Site Assessment, should be downloaded and
  used as a handout for this training, will guide
  field personnel in acting safely around power
  lines and reduce fatalities and injuries.
• Organizations should contact their local power
  company for any questions or concerns about
  working near or around power lines.

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• Class
• Objectives

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• The student shall identify
• The injuries and fatalities in SC for working
  near overhead power lines.
• Basic electrical principles.
• Workers at risk.
• Basic electrical hazards associated with overhead
  power lines. ) Safe work practices associated
  with overhead power lines.
• Where to get additional information concerning
  working near overhead power lines.

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• The Problem

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Crane contacts overhead lines causes fire tires
begin to burn
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Look Up Live

• Each year contact with overhead power lines
  result in fatalities, serious injury and property
  damage.
• Unintentional contact with overhead power lines
  resulted in the following
• Based on SC accident statistics (SCLLR)
• 19 serious accidents from July 1999 through
  September 2005.
• 16 fatalities.
• Based on national statistics (NSC2004)
• 309 fatalities occurred from 1999 to 2001.

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Look Up Live

• These statistics only represent facts that have
  been reported to these agencies the actual
  number of fatalities and suffering are far
  greater.

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Electricity - The Dangers

• About 5 workers are electrocuted every week
• Causes 12 of young worker workplace deaths
• Takes very little electricity to cause harm
• Significant risk of causing fires

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• Fact an electrical arc generates temperatures
  in excess of 35,000 degrees F.
• This is hot enough to vaporize steel.

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Electrical Shock Injury Note entry and exit
point

• These accidents can be prevented with improved
  supervisor and worker safety training and better
  coordination of work with all utilities involved.

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Same injury a few days later
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Exit point on bottom of foot
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• At-Risk Workers

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At-Risk Workers

• Equipment operators for mobile equipment, dump
  trucks, drill rigs, cranes, etc. and employees
  who work around this equipment
• Emergency service personnel who respond to car
  crashes involving power poles and overhead lines,
  downed power lines, respond to fires involving
  electrical lines near structures
• Employees working from ladders

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At-Risk Workers

• Employees working from roofs where power lines
  enter building
• Employees who work from scaffolds
• Employees who work from Man lifts or bucket
  trucks around power lines
• And Any employee who is near overhead power lines
  for any reason such as tree trimmers, highway
  workers, forklift operators, house movers, etc.

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• Electrical Hazards

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Electrical Shock

• An electrical shock is received when electrical
• current passes through the body.
• You will get an electrical shock if a part of
  your
• body completes an electrical circuit by
• Touching a live wire and an electrical ground, or
• Touching a live wire and another wire at a
  different voltage.

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Electrical Harm
PATH Harm is related to the path by which
current passes through the body.
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Dangers of Electrical Shock

• Currents greater than 75 mA can cause
  ventricular fibrillation (rapid, ineffective
  heartbeat).
• Will cause death in a few minutes unless a
  defibrillator is used.
• 75 mA is not much current a small power drill
  uses 30 times as much current.

Defibrillator in use
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Electrocution Triangle
Level of current
Path for current to flow
Time
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Electricity How it Works

• Electricity is the flow of energy from one place
  to another.
• Requires a source of power usually a generating
  station.
• A flow of electrons (current) travels through a
  conductor.
• Travels in a closed circuit.

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Electrical Terms

• Current -- electrical movement (measured in amps)
• Circuit -- complete path of the current.
  Includes electricity source, a conductor,
  and the output device or load (such as a lamp,
  tool, or heater)
• Resistance -- restriction to electrical flow

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Electrical terms (cont)

• Conductors substances, like metals, with little
  resistance to electricity that allow electricity
  to flow
• Grounding a conductive connection to the earth
  which acts as a protective measure
• Insulators -- substances with high resistance to
  electricity like glass, porcelain, plastic, and
  dry wood that prevent electricity from getting to
  unwanted areas

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Current (AMPS)

• The organized flow of electrons.
• Measured in Amperes / Amps
• Designated by I or A
• It is Amps that kills!

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Voltage

• The pressure that causes Electrons (current) to
  flow.
• Aka potential difference between two points
• Measured in Volts
• Designated by E or V
• It is the voltage that pushes (pressure) the amps
  (current) through the conductor.

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Resistance
Opposition to the flow of current due to the 4
physical properties of the wire/ conductor.

• Wire size / gage
• Wire length
• Material - copper, aluminum etc.
• Temperature
• It is the Resistance of the conductor that allows
  the proper amps and voltage to be used safely or
  to be overloaded, causing excessive heat and
  possibly fires and electrocution.

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Fundamentals of Electrical Hazards

• To flow electricity must have a complete path.
• Electricity flows through conductors
• water,
• metal,
• the human body
• Insulators are non-conductors.
• The human body is a conductor.

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Electrical Injuries

• There are four main types of electrical injuries
• Direct
• Electrocution or death due to electrical shock
• Electrical shock
• Burns
• Indirect - Falls

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Burns

• Most common shock-related injury.
• Occurs when you touch electrical wiring or
  equipment that is improperly used or maintained.
• Typically occurs on hands.
• Very serious injury that needs immediate
  attention

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Hit live wire changing a light ballast lost
right index finger
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Overhead Powerlines
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MINIMUM 10' Distance
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Hazard - Overhead Power Lines

• Usually not insulated
• Examples of equipment that can contact power
  lines
• Crane
• Ladder
• Scaffold
• Backhoe
• Scissors lift
• Raised dump truck bed
• Aluminum paint roller

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Maintain Safe Working Clearance

• All equipment ladders, scaffolds, cranes,
  trucks, forklifts, etc. MUST maintain a minimum
  10 foot clearance from 50 kV or less
• Add .4 inches for every kV over 50 kV

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Ensure Adequate Clearance

• Install flag warnings at proper distances
• If it is difficult for an operator to see the
  power lines, designate a spotter
• If you cannot maintain adequate clearances, you
  must have the power company insulate, move or
  de-energize the line

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Birds on power lines

• Fact
• Birds sitting on overhead electrical wires are at
  the same electrical potential as long as they
  touch only one wire.
• If a bird makes contact with a grounded object or
  another wire at a different electrical potential,
  current will flow and a electrical shock will
  occur.

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If Contact Occurs

• Stay on the machine if possible
• Warn all others to stay away
• Notify power company immediately
• Attempt to move away but assure line is not
  connected

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The Ground May Be Hot!

• Electricity dissipates with the resistance of the
  ground
• As potential drops, fields develop around the
  electrified machine
• If you step across a line of unequal potential,
  you could be electrocuted

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Bail Out Procedures

• If you must get out, jump with your feet together
• Do not touch the machine
• Hop or shuffle out of the area

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High Voltage Electricity Follows the Path of
Least Resistance to Ground

• Fact
• High Voltage Electricity Follows all Paths to
• Ground

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Electrical Arc
Molten Metal gt 1800 F
35,000 F
Pressure Waves gt 2000 lb/psf
Sound Waves gt140db
Shrapnel gt 740 mph
Copper Vapor Solid to Vapor Expands by 67,000
times
Hot Air gt500 F
Intense Light
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Worker subjected to arc flash
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Fire resistant shirt
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Electrical Damage to the Body

• If you touch a power line, electricity will
  attempt to travel through your body
• When electricity travels through the body, it
  heats up and burns body tissue internally
• Electricity leaves the body violently, causing
  burns or even blowing an exit hole

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The Sad Reality- this victim contacted an
overhead power line while working from an aerial
bucket
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Instructor Note (slide 1 of 2)

• Use the following two slides for discussion
  purposes and point out to the class that
• Anyone touching the crane or bus is in the most
  danger
• Anyone near the bus or crane is also in
  potentially fatal danger and
• Anyone still on crane or bus should remain there
  until power company shuts off electrical power to
  power lines.
• Unless the crane or bus is on fire. If this
  occurs the person must jump clear of the
  crane/bus never touching the crane/bus at the
  same time and hop away from the site with both
  feet together.

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Instructor Note (slide 1 of 2)

• Other discussion points that can be made are
• Electricity will flow along the ground and when
  employees walk or take a step, it can produce a
  difference in potential (step potential) and
  therefore, allow current to flow across the feet.
• Employees can rabbit-hop or jump with both feet
  together as best practice to prevent hazardous
  step potential.

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Instructor Note (slide 2 of 2)

• Do not assume that the rubber tires on the
  equipment will prevent the ground or the
  equipment from becoming energized.
• Tires can burn and therefore, allow metal rims to
  touch the ground.
• It is best to stay on crane or equipment until
  power company shuts off current if possible. DO
  NOT JUMP AND RUN!
• Always assume lines are energized, even if they
  are not moving.

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Whos in trouble here?
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Downed Power line on Bus-Whos in Danger?
12 kv
100k ohms
50k ohms
12kv
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Myths About Power lines
You Can Safely Shove a Person Away From Contact
With an Energized Power line

• Fact
• Possibly Dead Wrong! Electricity Travels at the
  speed of light, 186,000 miles per second.
• If you touch another person that is in contact
• with a high voltage wire you will instantly
• become part of the electrical circuit.

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Car and Truck Tires Are Made of Rubber and Are
Non-Conductive
Myths About Power lines

• Fact
• Tires contain Carbon Black. Carbon Black is a
  conductive material used to make the tires
  conductive for a better radio signal and to make
  them last longer.
• If an overhead electrical line falls upon your
  vehicle stay on or inside the vehicle if at all
  possible.
• If you must leave your vehicle do not touch the
  vehicle and ground at the same time.
• Jump clear and Keep both feet together and hop
  away.

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I Can Safely Use a Tree Limb To Move an Overhead
Powerline
Myths About Power lines

• Fact
• Tree limbs are conductive. Fresh tree limbs are
  very electrically conductive due to the moisture
  content.
• High voltage electricity will conduct through
  most items that have contamination or moisture.

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Overhead Powerlines Laying on the Ground Are Safe
To Be Near.
Myths About Power lines

• Fact
• Just because a power line is laying on the ground
  does not mean it is not energized.
• Always consider downed power lines live!
• High voltage electricity can enter the ground
  from the power line.
• This can create different electrical potentials
  near the wire that could cause electrocution by
  contact through your footwear.

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I Can Look-Up and Estimate the Distance to The
Powerline.
Myths About Power lines

• Fact
• Few people have the ability to judge vertical
  distance accurately.
• Dont take a chance with your safety and the
  safety of those working around you.
• Call the owner of the powerlines at least 72
  hours prior to working within 50 feet of
  energized overhead power lines.

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Ive Been Shocked by Electricity Before, So I
Know What Electricity Will Do.
Myths About Power lines

• Fact
• Unless you have seen the destructive power of
  High Voltage Electricity first hand you have no
  idea what it can do to material, objects and to
  people compared to household voltages.

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A Dump Truck Operator That Allows The Raised Bed
of the Truck to Contact an Overhead Line Is Only
Endangering His Life.
Myths About Power lines

• Fact
• Electricity may enter the ground through the
  truck tires and endanger everyone walking near
  the truck.

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A Powerline Falls Across Your Vehicle, You Should
Not Try to Drive Away.
Myths About Power lines

• Fact
• You should try to drive away if at all possible.
  
• If your vehicle will not start stay inside and
  warn others to stay away until an electrical line
  worker tell you it is safe to leave the vehicle.

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• Safe Work Practices for Overhead Power Lines

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• INSTRUCTOR NOTE
• THE NEXT SLIDE CONTAINS A SHORT VIDEO CLIP
  ILLUSTRATING SOME BASIC WORK PRACTICES TO BE USED
  AROUND OVERHEAD POWER LINES.
• USE THIS VIDEO CLIP TO INTRODUCE THE WORK
  PRACTICES SECTION.

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Overhead Power line Video Clip
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Control - Overhead Power Lines

• Stay at least 10 feet away for 50 kV or less.
• Best rule is 50 feet away!
• Post warning signs.
• Place items (cones, barricades, etc.) on the
  ground to identify the location of overhead
  lines.
• Assume that lines are energized.
• Power line workers need special training PPE.

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Scaffold Too Close to Power Lines

• The possibility of electrocution is a serious
  consideration when working near overhead power
  lines.
• Check the clearance distances listed in the OSHA
  standards.

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Ladder Too Close to Energized Electrical
Equipment
If using ladders where the employee or the ladder
could contact exposed energized electrical
equipment, they must have nonconductive siderails
such as wood or fiberglass.
This is an unsafe condition
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Utility Notification and Site Assessment is
Required
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Crane Too Close to Overhead Power Lines
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Tree Contacts Overhead Power Lines
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Overhead Equipment Too Close!
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Working At Night Where are the Overhead Lines?
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Dump Truck Bed Too Close to Overhead Lines!
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Its up to you to prevent contacts with overhead
power lines.Call before you work near overhead
power lines!Contact the local utility 72 hours
in advance if you will be working within 50 feet
of overhead power lines.
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Dont Put Your Life on the Line!
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Instructor Note

• Instructor should reference and give as a
  handout, the Look Up Live Overhead Power Line
  Safety Initiative Brochure that is downloadable
  from sites listed at the end of this presentation
  in the Where to Go for More Information
  section.
• Use Brochure as a reference to discuss safety
  precautions and to
• Conduct a pre-construction site assessment of
  the work.
• Reference how the local power company should be
  contacted.

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Summary of Recommended Work Practices

• Always maintain a minimum of 10 feet from
  overhead power lines more distance is required
  if lines are over 50 kv.
• Train employees who work near power lines in
  safety practices.
• Contact your local power company at least 72
  hours prior to working within 50 feet of overhead
  power lines.
• Always conduct a pre-construction site assessment
  when work will be performed near overhead power
  lines.

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Summary of Work Practices (continued)

• If a piece of equipment contacts a power line and
  becomes energized, follow these procedures
• Do not leave the equipment until, if possible,
  the contact between the equipment and electric
  wires is broken.
• If it becomes necessary to leave the equipment,
  jump entirely free so that no parts of the body
  are in contact with the equipment and the ground
  at the same time. Shuffle or hop away keeping
  both feet together.

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Summary of Work Practices (continued)

• Never touch the ground and the energized
  equipment at the same time because electric
  current will flow through the body to the ground.
• Never touch anyone in contact with overhead lines
  or energized equipment.
• Always assume a power line is energized.
• Follow first aid/CPR procedures as needed once
  the scene becomes safe.
• Contact your local power company for assistance
  for working near overhead lines and training.

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• Summary and Student Quiz

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• 1)Based on South Carolina statistics, from July
  1999 to September 2005, there were ____serious
  accidents and _____ fatalities involving overhead
  power lines
• A) 19 and 5
• B) 19 and 16
• C) 4 and 5
• D) 1 and 4

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• 2)Electricity is defined as the organized flow of
  electrons and is measured in ______. The
  pressure that causes current to flow is ______.
  And it is the ____ that kills and injures people.
• A) Amps and voltage. Amps.
• B) Voltage and amps. Voltage.
• C) Amps and voltage. Voltage

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• 3) Conductors are substances, like metals, with
  little resistance to electricity that allow
  electricity to flow. Examples of good conductors
  are metal, water, tree limbs, and the human body.
• A) True
• B) False

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• 4) Examples of equipment that can contact
  overhead power lines are
• A) Ladders
• B) Scaffolds
• C) Scissors lifts
• D) Cranes
• E) All of the above are true

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• 5) Overhead Power lines are always insulated, and
  if these should fall to the ground, are safe to
  touch.
• A) true
• B) false
• C) depends on whether the line is 3 phase

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• 6) Which of the following statements is true?
• A) Overhead power lines laying on the ground are
  safe to be near, and if a power line falls on
  your vehicle, you should get out quickly and run.
• B) Overhead power lines laying on the ground are
  unsafe to be near, and if a power line falls on
  your vehicle, you should try to drive away if
  possible, if not remain inside until a power line
  worker tells you it is safe.

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• 7) According to the Federal OSHA Standards, Part
  1910.180 and 1926.550, you must have a minimum
  clearance of ______ feet when working near power
  lines.
• A) 30
• B) 25
• C) 10
• D) 15

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• 8) If a piece of equipment touches a power line
  and becomes electrified, which of the following
  procedures would be correct?
• A) Do not leave the equipment until, if possible,
  the contact between the equipment and the
  electric wires is broken.
• B) If is necessary to leave the equipment, jump
  entirely free so that no part of the body is in
  contact with the equipment and ground at the same
  time. Hop away keeping both feet together.
• C) Never touch anyone in contact with overhead
  power lines or electrified equipment.
• D) all of the above are correct.

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• 9) When work will be performed near overhead
  power lines, a pre-construction site assessment
  should be performed. Items that should be
  considered in this assessment include
• A) Will work be performed within 50 ft. of power
  lines?
• B) Will equipment be used that may reach overhead
  power lines?
• C) Have workers been trained to recognize hazards
  associated with power lines?
• D) Has the electric utility been notified prior
  to performing the work?
• E) All of the above are correct

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• 10) When the pre-construction site assessment
  determines that work will be performed within
  _____ feet of overhead power lines, the local
  utility should be notified within ___ hours prior
  to the work.
• A) 10 feet and 48 hours
• B) 50 feet and 72 hours
• C) 5 feet and 8 hours

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• ANSWER KEY

• 1) B
• 2) A
• 3) A
• 4) E
• 5) B
• 6) B
• 7) C
• 8) D
• 9) E
• 10) - B

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• Where Can You Go
• for Additional Information

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• Web Sites
• SC OSHA Office of Voluntary Programs provides
  free training and assistance
• www.scovp.state.sc.us
• Carolinas AGC
• www.cagc.org/safety_health/files/lookupandlive.pdf