Welcome to the Hard Hat Training Series! SAMPLE · Copyright Safety Provisions, Inc. INTRODUCTION EQUIPMENT SAFE OPERATIONS HAZARDS CONCLUSION Within this training, you will learn

Copyright Safety Provisions, Inc.

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION EQUIPMENT SAFE OPERATIONS CONCLUSIONHAZARDS

Welcome to the Hard Hat Training Series. Today we will talk about pole-top rescue. Pole-top rescue is an important safety procedure in the electrical industry and a vital skill for linemen to know. When you and those around you become competent in this skill, your own life and the lives of your crewmembers are in much better hands.

Welcome to the Hard Hat Training Series!

SAMPLE



As long as there have been power poles, there has been a need for pole top rescue. Consider how a well-practiced pole-top rescue procedure saved this man’s life.

SAMPLE



Jim, an electrical lineman, had just finished his rescue training atop a pole and was about to head down when he suffered a heart attack, lost consciousness, and fell back, limp, in his belt. Although horrified, his crew jumped to action to rescue him. While one person called emergency services, another suited up in his climbing tools and started up the pole.

SAMPLE



It was not long before Jim’s crewmember reached him at the top of the pole. Very soon after that, he was lowered to the ground and two other crewmembers administered CPR until paramedics arrived. Luckily, Jim was breathing upon their arrival and was transported to the hospital where he recovered.

SAMPLE



Jim is lucky to be alive thanks to the expertise and decisiveness of his coworkers. Unfortunately, incidents such as this happen quite often, and can result in tragedy if nobody on-site has the proper training. In fact, for every 100,000 electrical line workers in the industry, an average of 19.2 lose their lives and 1,990 are injured every year.

SAMPLE



Certain incidents may necessitate that you help a coworker to reach the ground safely, including illness, severe injury, equipment failure, or electric shock. These situations, among others, may require that you perform a pole-top rescue. You must be trained in the proper steps to take to protect yourself, as well as your injured coworker, during this type of rescue.

SAMPLE



It is important to note that linemen are trained to perform this type of rescue. Local authorities are generally not trained on these types of rescues. Emergency responders should stand back and wait for the victim to be safely lowered to the ground by a qualified person before attempting to perform any lifesaving services.

SAMPLE



Within this training, you will learn about the various pieces of equipment available to you during a pole-top rescue. These will be vital to your success and safety. In addition, you will also learn how to properly execute a pole-top rescue from start to finish, including safe practices while climbing and descending your pole, and the best ways to rig the victim to get them to the ground

SAMPLE



Finally, we will briefly discuss what hazards will be of the most danger to you while performing this type of rescue. Our goal is to make you aware of the best ways to reduce or eliminate these hazards in order to be as safe and efficient as possible.

SAMPLE



There are no specific standards concerning pole-top rescue because the conditions in which a rescue may be made vary so widely. However, Canada does require workers to be trained and familiar with all safety-related practices, procedures, and equipment that pertain to their job requirements, including pole top rescue.

• COHS 8.10 Poles and Elevated Structures

• COHS 12.10 Fall Protection Systems

SAMPLE



We offer this training as an overview of safe rescue techniques. That being said, your company may have developed their own rescue techniques and procedures, and it is your responsibility to know and understand them. Furthermore, other states, provinces, or jurisdictions may have their own standards. It is your responsibility to know and follow these, as well.

SAMPLE



No matter the situation, it is common to hear workers and even employers ask, “Where does it state we need to be trained?” Can’t a worker also be deemed “qualified” based on experience? The answer is “no.” Experience helps, yes, but it is very clear that employees must be trained (no matter how long they’ve been on the job) and that it is the employer who is responsible for overseeing safety training in order to confirm that the employees have the understanding, knowledge, and skills needed for operations.

Why Training?

SAMPLE



Initial training and refresher training, as well as any written and practical evaluations, must be documented and filed. At the very least, in the case of an investigation, authorities will want to see proof of proper and consistent training (in the way of training outlines, class lists, training goals, tests, certificates, and so on.) These documents should include the name of the person who taught the class or conducted the evaluation.

SAMPLE



Training is not just a one-and-done occurrence; it is ongoing. In fact, similar to the guidelines set down for when initial training is required, the regulations are very specific, as noted in this graphic.

SAMPLE



The extent of training will be determined by the employer, but at the very least it should include classroom instruction followed by a written and practical examination that prove continued competency.

SAMPLE



Never take your training for granted. The time and attention that you give this topic now could mean a world of difference to whoever is at the top of the pole in the future, with their life depending on you.

SAMPLE



Equipment

SAMPLE



There are quite a few pieces of equipment that will prove useful when performing a pole-top rescue. Some of these are common to a lineman for everyday work, while others are used only for pole-top rescues.

SAMPLE



You should use any and all equipment provided to you for a pole-top rescue. Whether the lines are energized or deenergized, there are still various dangers associated with this task. Your top priority while performing any rescue is your own safety, and proper equipment plays a big role in this.

SAMPLE



HarnessThere is not one specific type of harness required to rig a victim and lower them to the ground for a pole-top rescue. Any harness used for typical lineman work will do, such as a chest harness or full body harness.

SAMPLE



Although a special harness is not required, there is a special line that is required and used only for pole-top rescues. The line is a synthetic ½-inch handline that has a loop at one end and a safety snap at the other. It should be twice the height of the highest crossarm on site, plus 10 feet. Every worker should have their own personal handline, which is also their lifeline and should always be carried each time they are aloft.

Handline

SAMPLE



Personal Climbing EquipmentMost personal climbing equipment that you would use for a typical day’s work will most likely also be required during a pole-top rescue, including pole climbers and gaffs, straps, pads, footplates, body belts, and so on. You should already know what each of these items are as well as how to use them, so we will not discuss them in this training.

SAMPLE



Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as insulated gloves and sleeves, are required when attempting a rescue. These allow you to touch hot wires without being shocked and thus are quite useful when performing a rescue with energized wires. Always wear proper PPE and use the utmost care when working with live wires.

Personal Protective Equipment

SAMPLE



Hot Line ToolsHot line tools may be required in cases where work is being done on poles that are supporting energized equipment or lines. Always carry these with you and be prepared to use them during a rescue if necessary.

SAMPLE



KnifeA knife should be kept on hand for cutting the victim’s safety strap. Traditionally, a fixed or folding hawkbill blade is used for lineman work. Without this tool, it can prove quite difficult to free the victim in order to lower them to the ground.

Image Courtesy of Tool CrazeSAMPLE



All your equipment, especially your insulated protective equipment, must be well maintained and in good physical condition. Attempting to perform a rescue with damaged equipment can result in injury or death to either you or the victim. This is either due to the equipment not performing the proper functions or due to lost time.

SAMPLE



If your work location is not near your radio communication base, always have a portable radio or cellular communication available in case of an emergency. All employees should be familiar with their employer’s emergency communication procedures.

Communication Devices

SAMPLE



After an accident has occurred, contacting emergency personnel as quickly as possible is a key factor in a successful rescue. You should know and follow your employer’s procedures for contacting emergency services. Furthermore, if your employer or relevant utility company has an established response system, it is best that you take advantage of that system.

SAMPLE



There may be additional tools and pieces of equipment required by your employer for performing a pole-top rescue. It is your responsibility to be well-practiced and to know and abide by the standards set by your employer.

SAMPLE



Safe Operations

SAMPLE



The actions you take upon noticing a coworker in need of help will set off a chain of events that will expedite the rescue and play a large role in saving the life of your crew member. If you observe an employee who needs rescue, immediately alert other crew members and point out the location of the injured worker. Instruct someone to call emergency services if anyone is available. Otherwise, quickly call them yourself before proceeding with the rescue.

Images from Central Hudson Gas & ElectricSAMPLE



Once help is on the way, there are several ways to perform a pole-top rescue, depending entirely on the situation at hand. In general, however, these are the basic steps that you must take:• Evaluate the situation• Protect yourself• Climb• Evaluate the victim• Lower• Aid

SAMPLE



EvaluateOnce you have alerted others and summoned emergency services, your next step is to evaluate the situation. Call out to the victim and wait for a response. If there is no response, you can then take the next steps in performing a rescue. Do not rush this step, as you must give them time to respond if they are able. However, timing could be a critical factor in being able to resuscitate the victim, so do not waste too much time.

SAMPLE



To save time, evaluate your surroundings while calling to the victim. Look for things such a split, crack, or fire damage in the pole or crossarm. The rescue will require different steps if the victim is in contact with an energized line than if he is not. When evaluating, you must take in the entire scene and not just the victim. If you do decide that a pole-top rescue is necessary, always check the condition of the pole prior to climbing.

SAMPLE



While you should try to get the lines or equipment de-energized if possible, do not waste precious time looking for a switch. It is possible to perform a safe rescue while the lines are still energized if you have the necessary PPE. Your safety always comes first, however, and should be your most important consideration. Do not become the second victim.

Protect Yourself

Caroline Country

Oskar Pedersen Operative SolutionsImage from Poudre Valley REASAMPLE



ClimbingYou should already be aware of the correct methods for climbing and descending a pole. Before you begin to climb, plan a route. Choose a path that will allow you easy access to the victim. It may be necessary to cut or clear obstructions as you climb up the pole in order to provide a clear path to lower the victim to the ground.

SAMPLE



Always assume that the pole is energized unless you can confirm it isn’t. Because it is assumed to be energized, no part of your body should touch the pole and the earth at the same time. This could create a path through your body for electricity to flow. So, when beginning your climb, you should leap onto the pole.

SAMPLE



As you begin to climb, lay out the rescue rope and attach one end to the loop of your body belt. This will keep your hands free, keep the rope from tangling, and provide easy access to it when the time comes to use it.

SAMPLE



Climb slowly and carefully and always belt in at a safe position, typically before your head reaches the victim’s feet. This leaves both hands free to move the victim. It also reduces the chances of you being gaffed or accidentally knocked from the pole by the victim.

SAMPLE



When belting in, use the utmost care. Never depend solely on the sound or feel of the snap to determine whether or not it is securely fastened to the “D” ring. You must actually look at the “D” ring each time you fasten the snap to make absolutely certain that it is secure.

SAMPLE



When you reach the victim, clear them from energized conductors using your approved insulated equipment or hot sticks. Whether the lines are energized or not, it is always better to be cautious and protect yourself from potential electrical shock.

SAMPLE



Never carry any tools or other objects in your hand while climbing. This can make climbing difficult, slow, and you risk dropping your tools. In addition, don’t ever trust pins, crossarms, or guy wires as supports.

Image from Decatur DailySAMPLE



Evaluate the VictimWhen you reach the victim, perform a quick evaluation of their condition. Putting yourself into a position that is slightly above and to one side of the victim is typically the best. If they are conscious, time may not be a critical factor. Provide them with any necessary first aid first before doing anything else.

SAMPLE



If a conscious victim insists on getting down from the pole themselves, you must rig them to the pole top rescue rope as a backup, just in case. This provides insurance of their safety if there are any further incidents on their way down the pole.

Image from Duncan MacNeilSAMPLE



If the victim is unconscious, time is critical. Your first priority is getting them to the ground as quickly as possible. Appropriate CPR and first aid cannot be performed until this is done. In this case, every second counts in saving their life.

SAMPLE



There are three commonly used methods for lowering the victim to the ground. Any of these are effective, so you must choose the one that is the easiest for you or most appropriate for the situation at hand.

Lowering the Victim

Image from Buckingham ManufacturingSAMPLE



Option 1Option number one is used most commonly when the pole being used is of an armless or cross-arm construction. Place the handline over a piece of hardware or crossarm that can support it and loop the snapping end of the line around the fall line twice.

Reminder!Not all cross arms will be strong enough to handle this procedure.

Always be aware of the condition of the pole and equipment you are working around.

Image from Duncan MacNeilSAMPLE



Once this is done, loop the snap end of the rope around the victim’s back and just under their armpits. Bring it around to their chest and tie three half-hitch knot. These knots should be tied as close to the chest as possible, high on the chest, and near one armpit. Take care that the line does not catch on any of the victim’s body belt tools, because this could cause the line to be too low on their body. They are now ready to be lowered to the ground.

Image from Buckingham ManufacturingSAMPLE



Option 2With the snap end of your handline in one hand, drop the loop end to the ground. Then, double loop the snap end around the closest cross arm or insulator bracket. Try to always rig this in a location that will keep the victim clear of obstructions while being lowered. You can then perform the same tying procedure on the victim as before and lower them to the ground.

Image from T&D World

Take Note!If there is any chance that the double loop of the line over the cross arms can become wedged,

use a single loop before you attach the line to the victim. Then, place a second loop around the crossarm by coming under and over the arm in the opposite direction of the first loop. This will place something between your loops, preventing them from getting wedged. SAMPLE



Option 3This method is recommended on poles where there is no nearby hardware or crossarm to rig your handline to. It is a convenient method to use anytime, which is why it is typically the most popular method to use. If performing this method, drive a lag (or screwdriver if a lag isn’t available) about 2 inches into the pole, roughly 2 feet above the victim’s head. Tilt the head of the lag or screwdriver slightly upward when driving it into the pole.

Image from Central Hudson Gas & ElectricSAMPLE



Next, wrap the snap end of the line once around the pole over the top of the lag. The fall line must be on top of the running end so that it does not get in the way of the victim’s descent. Loop the line around the victim’s back as described before and lower them to the ground.

SAMPLE



Be aware that any of the rescue options require that you know how to tie half-hitch knots. It would be very helpful to practice these beforehand. If performed correctly, these methods should provide enough friction or drag on the line that the rescuer can control the victim’s descent.

SAMPLE



You should never use the snap on the handline to secure the rope around the victim’s chest. They are not rated for human support and may constrict breathing.

SAMPLE



After you have rigged the victim, but before cutting the victim’s safety strap to lower them, remove all slack from your fall line. Too much slack will cause the victim to drop too far. Grip the fall line firmly with one hand and cut the victim’s safety strap with the other on the side opposite of the desired swing, ensuring that you do not cut your own strap.

Ozark Electric

SAMPLE



AidOnce the victim is safely on the ground, perform first CPR and give first aid as needed. Burns and bleeding should be treated right away. Watch for signs of shock and treat the victim for it if needed.

1. 2. 3.SAMPLE



Aerial Basket AssistNever use aerial basket equipment to perform a pole-top rescue. It may be quite difficult to reach the victim because of the configuration of the machine and even if you reach the victim, not all baskets are rated for two people. In addition, basket rescues are typically quite slow. It is far faster to climb to the victim.

Did You Know?A pole top rescue can take as little as two minutes to complete. Emerging equipment has been known to

cut that time to just 1:33.SAMPLE



Bucket Rescue Procedures

SAMPLE



MEWP RescueThere may be instances where someone in an aerial basket device may become unconscious and require first aid or CPR. This is difficult to do inside of an aerial basket, as aiding the victim effectively requires that they are on a firm and flat surface. Thus, your priority is to get them to the ground as quickly and safely as possible.

SAMPLE



In the event that this occurs, there are four methods of rescue that you should consider using. Becoming familiar with each of these will help you to know instantly which to pursue in an emergency.

SAMPLE



Dump FeatureMany aerial devices are equipped with a dump feature, which allows the bucket to be disengaged from the boom so a victim can be extracted from the bucket more easily. This feature will vary by manufacturer, so you must familiarize yourself with the feature specific to your MEWP and test this feature frequently to ensure it is in proper operating condition.

SAMPLE



There are some buckets which do not have this feature. For this reason, each aerial device should have decals placed on the front and back of their bucket that specifies if it is a DUMP BUCKET or a NON DUMP BUCKET. The type of bucket available to you, as well as the capacity of the bucket, will determine what type of rescue you perform.

SAMPLE



If there is no dump feature on the bucket, maneuver the bucket as close as possible to the ground and call for another coworker to help you remove the victim from the basket. Once the victim is out of the basket, first aid or CPR can be performed.

Image from CTE SkillsSAMPLE



ReportingAlways report every incident to your employer or onsite manager, whether anyone was injured or not. Your manager or employer may then conduct an incident investigation immediately following.

SAMPLE



Following the investigation, a report will be prepared that includes the date of the incident, the date the investigation began, a description of the incident, factors contributing to the incident, and recommendations resulting from the investigation. Recordkeeping allows for a more organized workplace and reduces the chances of that incident occurring a second time.

SAMPLE


INTRODUCTION EQUIPMENT SAFE OPERATIONS CONCLUSIONHAZARDS

Hazards

SAMPLE



While pole-top rescues are necessary and heroic, there are also a few associated hazards that you need to be aware and careful of. Although a knowledge of these dangers will not be enough to keep you safe, they will help you to identify actions to take to remain as safe as possible during your rescue.

SAMPLE



There are four main hazards associated with performing pole-top rescues, among others. These are the snagging of loose material or equipment; live electrical equipment; projections that may snag or entangle the rescuer; and falls due to equipment failure or incorrect operation. Most of these can be easily avoided with proper care and caution.

SAMPLE



Loose materials such as clothing, tools, or equipment associated with the work that the victim was performing can prove to be a hazard for rescuers. If these are carrying a charge, they could be a shock hazard. You, as the rescuer, could also be snagged bythem, making it difficult or dangerous for you to perform the rescue effectively.

Loose Items

SAMPLE



Another common cause of accidents during pole top rescue is live electrical equipment. Not only are they a common reason that rescues must be performed, live lines are also a common reason that rescues fail. Be aware of live lines or equipment and keep as far away from them as you can. Use insulated equipment and PPE as needed to keep yourself safe.

Live Electrical Equipment

SAMPLE



Snags or EntanglementSnags or entanglement are common hazards when lowering the victim to the ground. Although not as much of a danger to you, it can prevent the victim from receiving help quickly and could cost them their life.

SAMPLE



Falls during pole-top rescue are usually due to inexperienced lineman or equipment failure. Equipment often fails if it is not properly inspected and maintained. Any equipment that is not in proper working order should be taken out of service and either repaired or replaced.

Falls

SAMPLE



Conclusion

SAMPLE



Pole-top rescue has always been a necessary and important safety procedure to know. It is vital that you can perform this rescue safely and efficiently in an emergency.

SAMPLE



Someone may one day thank you for the special attention that you put into learning the proper technique for pole top rescue. And you may one day thank someone else for theirs.

SAMPLE



Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Follow all safe work practices and safety regulations applicable to your workplace. When in doubt, take the time to stop and consult your employer, the standards, the safety program, and equipment manufacturers. Good luck and stay safe! SAMPLE



Safety Provisions, Inc. | (360) 930-9247 | [email protected] | hardhattraining.com

All rights reserved. The Hard Hat Training Series is a registered trademark of Safety Provisions, Inc.

No parts of this training may be reproduced in any form, electronically or mechanically. Purchasers are allowed to print out the materials for classroom use (i.e. student manuals, exam, answer keys, etc.). Purchasers do have permission to modify the training program for specific training needs. The presentation or any portion of it, however, may not be resold, posted online, lent out, used to create another course, or the like.

SAMPLE

Documents

Welcome to the Hard Hat Training Series! SAMPLE · Copyright Safety Provisions, Inc. INTRODUCTION EQUIPMENT SAFE OPERATIONS HAZARDS CONCLUSION Within this training, you will learn