In construction or utility jobs, safety is of the utmost importance. This is especially true with regard to any type of electrical work, as the risk of electrocution is high if proper safety precautions are not taken. There are numerous injuries and deaths each year related to utility work, many of which are caused by electrocution while working on power lines. However, many protective measures can be taken to lessen such risks, including the use of special safety equipment such as insulated buckets on any forklift.
caution needed
Insulated overhead forklift safety equipment is an essential component for crews working on or near live power lines. It is made up of three fiberglass-clad parts that work together to prevent shock in the event of accidental contact with live cables. For a unit to be considered protected, its safety equipment must be ANSI and OSHA approved. Together, these specific parts protect a worker from any current should the bucket or boom touch a live electrical wire.
isolated components
The components that need to be insulated on a typical boom truck are the bucket liner and upper and lower boom. The liner sits inside the aerial lift and a worker stands inside the liner, protected in case live current somehow touches the bucket. The top boom guard prevents current from passing through the top of the boom from the tip to the elbow. The lower boom insulation prevents current from passing through the rest of the crane and into the truck chassis. To have adequate protection, all three components must be used simultaneously or the current can still pass through the vehicle and affect a bucket worker or other work on the ground who may be touching the vehicle during operation.
Training
Certain other equally important items must be considered when operating an insulated bucket truck to ensure proper safety. All drivers must be certified to operate this unique truck regardless of any other type of license that is required. Such certification is important because those who operate such vehicles obviously work around or with current and live safety training for such specific jobs is much more extensive.
Inspection
Insulated vehicles must be regularly inspected and tested for a truck’s protective features to ensure they are working properly at all times. If a unit fails an inspection, repairs must be made before it is allowed to perform any work. Unrepaired wear and tear can affect the protective properties of this vehicle over time; the only way to establish that it is still working properly is to periodically test and service the vehicle.
While insulated bucket trucks can cost more than a standard version, it’s for good reason. Every worker who gets on one of these aerial platforms to work, whether by phone or power lines, puts their life in the hands of all the training and safety equipment provided. The added cost is minuscule compared to the damage protection that insulated equipment provides, so no company should cut corners on this part of the vehicle. By using the correct accessories and keeping them in good condition, a business can more easily maintain high safety records and avoid devastating accidents. Hopefully this article has enlightened readers on how insulation helps keep this mighty forklift safe!