Water Fed Pole Electrical Hazards

When working near electrical hazards, safety isn’t optional—it’s essential. This guide outlines crucial steps to protect yourself and your team, covering jobsite evaluations, personal protective equipment (PPE), equipment selection, and safe working distances.

You’ll learn how to identify electrical hazards, choose the right gear, and establish safe zones to minimize risks. By following these best practices, you’ll not only comply with safety standards but also help prevent potentially life-threatening accidents. Dive into the details below to ensure every jobsite is a safe site.

The success of any safety program relies on the process of proper job site hazard assessments. In the case of electrical hazards, the first step is to determine if there is indeed an electrical hazard on or near our jobsite. At this point in the process, we shouldn’t worry about establishing Minimum Approach Distances or Establishing Drop Zones. In the jobsite evaluation we are just establishing that an electrical hazard is present. If you are an owner operator this should prompt you to follow the below steps, however if you are an employer this hazard must be conveyed to your employee(s). This is done by utilizing a Job Hazard Analysis and a Work Site Specific Safety Plan.

REFERENCES

• SAMPLE JHA

There isn’t a substitute for establishing a minimum approach distance to an electric hazard and great care should be taken to prevent an accidental touch or arch of an overhead power line. As explained below that nonconductive poles and PPE should be worn, this doesn’t negate the fact that the hazard should be avoided altogether. 

Minimum Approach Distances are established by first determining the voltage that is near the worksite. This information will provide a guide to follow to help establish MAD. Power poles are often a good indicator of voltages. Once we know the voltages, we then can establish how far we need to stay away from the lines to avoid contact or possible arching.

REFERENCES

• OSHA - Selection and Use of Work Practices - 1910.333

Once we have established MAD for our worksite the next step is to establish a drop zone for the areas near the overhead lines. We can do this by considering where we are working and then give enough space around us that if we were to drop the pole in any 360-degree location we would have sufficient clearance.  

To ensure the MAD is allowed for, this simple calculation will help you: 

Extended Length of Pole +1/3 of the extended length +10ft

For Example:

If using a 40ft pole but it is extended 30ft to work area we would establish a drop zone in a 360-degree angle of 50ft. 

Here is the calculation:  

30ft+10ft (1/3 of extended length) +10ft (minimum MAD) = 50ft of Drop Area

If an electrical hazard is present, an operator or employee should wear PPE. This would include wearing the proper electric rated gloves, as well as dielectric footwear. Given the nature of water fed work that happens with an extended pole, it is advised that PPE always be worn when an electrical hazard is present or near the jobsite. Several accidents have caught users off guard as the extended length of the pole caused an issue, or with higher voltages arching can occur where the pole doesn’t have to contact the lines for an electrocution to occur. In several cases by the time the user was aware of such hazards it was too late and serious injury or death occurred. The gloves provide protection to the hands and help prevent electric current from entering the body. The boots will prevent the body from being grounded. They should have an ASTM label on them with the letters EH for electrical hazard (see image below). A user should always use properly rated and manufacturer approved PPE and not make conductivity assumptions based on materials alone. 

REFERENCES:

• OSHA - Foot Protection - 1910.136
• OSHA - Hand Protection - 1910.138

REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET FOR BOOTS:

• ASTM F-2412-2011 ASTM F-2413-2011
• Non-Slip/Non-Conductive Safety Sole
• 6" High Ankle Support
• Steel/Composite Toe

When working around electrical hazards normal equipment may not provide sufficient protection to a worker. When choosing a water fed pole for this type of work, in addition to proper PPE, one should utilize a WFP that has insulating properties. At a bare minimum, the base section of the pole should be constructed of materials that are non-conductive. The use of a non-conductive pole in addition to proper PPE stated above will give the user the best protection while working around electrical hazards.

REFERENCES:

• OSHA - Selection and Use of Work Practices - 1910.333
• OSHA - Safeguards for Personnel Protection - 1910.335