Power Line Accidents in 2020

Overhead Power Line Accidents in 2020

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Electrical injuries from power line accidents remain to be a dangerous risk across various industries. Without proper equipment or safety procedures, workers are at risk for electrical shock, severe burns, or even death.

Below are a few scenarios that occurred due to contact with overhead power lines this year. We also give some tips to avoid these electrical hazards.

Power Line Accidents in 2020

Direct contact isn’t the only way workers are at risk on-site. The rise of power line accidents occurring due to the vicinity of the equipment to the line’s electrical charge continues to rise.

Service Technicians Survive Power Line Scare

In a recent power line accident in Washington, two workers received electrical burns due to the proximity of their equipment to the overhead power line. The electrical current arced to the nearby metal railing of the lift passed through the frame into the ground where the two workers were standing. The two men survived the encounter.

Direct Contact during Solar Panel Installation

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for another worker for a solar panel installation company that was involved in a power line accident in March 2020. The construction worker was operating from a boom lift when he made direct contact with an overhead power line which burned a quarter of his body.

Power Line Accidents on Construction Sites in 2020

In April 2020, an employee of a pumping company was operating an excavator at a construction site. The excavator contacted an overhead power line, and the employee sustained electric shock and was killed.

In March 2020, a construction employee was working on the renovation of a two-story building. While working on the roof and using a steel tape measure, the wind blew and extended the tape measure into an overhead power line that was transmitting 19,920 volts of electricity. After an electric arc occurred, the worker fell from the roof and was killed.

In the same month, a construction employee was working on the third story of a commercial renovation. While installing gutters, he made contact with an overhead power line, causing him to fall three stories.

Power Line Accidents are Avoidable

Power line accidents can occur due to various circumstances such as the need to observe multiple targets at the same site, reduced visibility due to weather or environmental landscape, or worker complacency. However, these accidents remain a serious risk and precautions can and should be taken to avoid them. There is never a reason to delay keeping your employees safe on the job site.

Power Line Safety Tips

Without proper safety strategies intact, companies are at risk of electrical accidents and OSHA violations. There are a few strategies that companies can invest in to keep their workers safe.

They should ensure that workers receive proper training and understanding of on-site safety measures. For example, training on working near high-voltage electrical lines or how to deal with downed power lines.

Workers and construction managers need to practice and promote safe behaviors that minimize the risk of electrical accidents. In particular, a great way of preventing such instances is investing in technology that can take on-site safety to the next level. Proximity alarms are a great tool to add to any heavy equipment. These devices will alert workers if their equipment is too close to any overhead power lines.

Stay Protected with Sigalarm

For decades, Sigalarm has proven that installing proximity alarms is a great way to prevent power line accidents. Sigalarm is proud to be the world leader in power line proximity alarms, keeping workers safe on the job.

We work with various companies and industries to provide the necessary equipment to save lives. We are proud to be a community that prioritizes life and safety. Contact us for more information on how we can keep you safe on the job.

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Drill Rig

A Quick Guide for Drill Rig Safety

A drill rig site, like all construction sites, is a potentially hazardous environment to be working in. How can companies working with drill rigs keep their worksites safe?

Here’s a quick guide to drill rig safety and how to avoid electrical accidents.

Drill Rig Risks

Drill rigs are used to dig into the ground to either create or access substances such as water or oil wells. Since drill rigs can be located on land or sea the risks associated with each site will fluctuate.

Drill rigs at sea are at risk of storms, sun exposure, strong winds and tides, and periods of isolation. Similarly, drill rigs on land are at risk of sun exposure, humidity, and extreme temperatures. In addition, worksites may include components such as uneven terrain and slippery surfaces.

Safety Strategies

Sometimes we are not able to dictate the location or risks of the drill site. However, the safety precautions we take are within our control. Here are a few factors to consider for improving drill rig site safety.

Risk Assessments & Proper Training

Routine safety assessments are essential in mitigating the risks on-site and keeping workers feeling secure. Before starting any project, begin with completing a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). Identify the tasks needed to accomplish the project and the equipment required to perform these tasks. Determine any risks that are associated with these tasks or equipment and establish actions that will be applied to diminish foreseeable risks.

It’s critical to locate public utility power lines and buried electrical circuits. Additionally, verify locations that offer additional risks to workers or their equipment, such as difficult or jagged topography. Ensure that all workers comprehend the details listed from the JHA.

It can be easy to resolve many accidents and injuries by ensuring that workers receive proper training. Training shouldn’t just be a one and done situation. As technology advances and the industry changes, worker’s training will require continuous updates to ensure maximum safety and risk mitigation.

Protection Gear & Equipment Checks

Consistently verify the conditions of all equipment used on-site. Confirm that work sites include reliable lighting that will assist workers in performing their jobs safely and with ease. Additionally, proper lighting allows workers to identify potential environmental risks while they work. Implementing safety toolboxes will benefit employees in maintaining their equipment and remedying minor damages.

Teams can prepare for emergencies by ensuring that safety gear and emergency plans are present and customized for each specific construction site. Presently, there are various safety devices that companies can invest in for prioritizing job site safety. Wearable sensors implanted within clothes such as hard hats or vests can alert workers to potential risks.

Your Safety is Our Priority

Sigalarm safety products are used across varying industries including construction, fire trucks, pipeline, and military.

We have wireless proximity alarms that can operate in nearly all environments, including improving drill rig safety for identifying power lines. Contact us today to learn how our products can keep your work environment safe.

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Understanding Environmental Hazards on the Work-Site

Environmental Hazards Affect Safety Patterns in the Lifting Industry

Every year, power line electrocution leads to numerous injuries and fatalities. Not to mention, each power line carries a high voltage, making it an even greater safety hazard. There must be a way to reduce the rate of injuries and deaths. Our Sigalarms protect against power line contact by warning those who are in close proximity. However, power lines aren’t the only safety hazard to keep in mind. In the lifting industry, environmental hazards play a huge role during the labor process.

Environmental Hazards

Working outdoors presents an array of factors that may lead to risk. In fact, cold weather and marine habitats present safety hazards when designing, manufacturing, and handling lifting equipment. Because freezing temperatures are prevalent in the United States and Canada, it is critical to be aware of the consequences. There’s more at risk than workers. The equipment itself presents additional hazards that can affect everything in its boundaries. How exactly do environmental hazards affect workers and their labor?

Freezing Weather

By all means, once the temperature decreases below freezing, equipment can become affected. Unlike other materials, there are some tools that cannot withstand such extreme temperatures. The majority of today’s equipment has been designed to battle through cold weather. However, systems found in lifting equipment contain components that become a hazard when in frigid temperatures. For example, the fluids, electronics, hydraulics, and engines.

Marine Habitats

Working in coastal areas is a hazard in itself. Additionally, using cranes to lift materials can be a challenge when near the shoreline. One common material on-site is steel, which can be greatly affected by water. For example, steel may experience corrosion, fatigue, or brittleness due to cold weather and water. For cranes, this can also be a serious matter. To determine the suitability of equipment, always contact the manufacturer to determine the properties of equipment being used in marine environments.

Effects of Weather

Weather is a major driving force and determinant of the energy or electricity consumption pattern. Recently, the U.S. East Coast has experienced arctic winds, leading to temperatures below zero. Mainly, frigid temperatures have a great effect on a material’s durability, strength, toughness, and brittleness. When completing projects, workers must be confident that equipment will carry out tasks effectively. Lifting equipment serves to take the place of manual labor in a safer and more efficient way. Without the proper function of materials, multiple issues may arise. In some cases, it may lead to injury or death.

Power Line Outage

In previous years, America has experienced severe power outages due to downed lines. In fact, during the winter of 2012-2013, the U.S. East Coast suffered the worst blackout of the decade. This is due to the extremity of the cold winter climate. Not to mention, a lack of preparation left the states in turmoil. With this information, we can begin to measure the effects of winter on power supply. The industry needs to figure out a way to balance the electrical demand during extreme weather. Sigalarm is on a mission for safety, and we must work together to prevent future mishaps.

Safety Above Weather

Since 1952, Sigalarm has had an influence in the world of safety with their proximity alarms. Before manufacturing warning systems, Sigalarm considers all factors, such as weather, to ensure safety. To that end, Sigalarm has wireless proximity alarms that can operate in almost all environments. Contact Sigalarm today to learn about their warning systems available and the new ones coming out!

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Wire Rope Maintenance

Wire Rope Maintenance Ensures Work Site Safety

As the world leader in power line warning systems, Sigalarm takes safety to the next level. Part of that safety involves properly maintaining machines on the work site. When developing power lines, wire rope serves as an important tool within the process. It is used to lift and equip cranes which then assists workers in lifting other necessary materials. A wire rope consists of hundreds of components that must move and interact in unison in order to bend and support massive weights. Workers must keep this mind when planning their next project. To ensure a successful and timely project, it is beneficial to take safety precautions from the very first step.

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Responding to OSHA violations

Responding to OSHA Violations

Construction companies all over the world battle with employee misconduct that leads to violations. While the majority of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards deal with employer responsibilities for workplace safety, there are many factors that account for violations of these rules. After receiving inspections from OSHA about employee misconduct, construction companies raise the following question. What if a contractor has trained its employees on safety rules but these workers refuse to follow procedures? Is the employer still responsible?

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Safety Regulations to Combat Future Crane Accidents

Safety Regulations to Combat Future Crane Accidents

Crane accidents have been prevalent in the news recently. In April 2019, a crane accident happened in downtown Seattle killing four people and injuring three others. Unfortunately, about 44 people are killed and injured each year in the U.S. from crane accidents. These mishaps have led operators and contractors to question whether or not they have the proper training needed for these cranes. According to Alabama-based crane inspector James Pritchett, most crane incidents come down to human error. At the end of the work day, laborers need to be aware of all necessary precautions in order to ensure safety. Our mission at Sigalarm is to save lives in every circumstance we can. This includes supporting regulations to combat crane accidents.

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Trenching and Excavation Safety, What You Need to Know

Trenching and Excavation Safety, What You Need to Know

There are numerous trenching and excavation safety requirements set by OSHA. This is no surprise, as trenching and excavation are among the most dangerous construction operations. OSHA defines excavation as any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the Earth’s surface formed by earth removal. On the other hand, trench is a narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below the surface. Read on to learn some of the key elements to enforce excavation safety.

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Reducing Risk Exposure

Reduce Your Company’s Risk Exposure

The construction industry holds one of the highest risk quotient in the business world. So, it is needless to say that they follow regulations and equipment training thoroughly. However, companies can reduce risk exposure even more if they train their employees on different equipment and find solutions that contribute to having an even lower risk exposure on the job site. Read on to see how companies can achieve this.

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OSHA announces final rule

OSHA: Electric Power Generation Standards

OSHA’s electric power generation standards address workplace safety. The rules within the standards concern the safety and health of employees working with electric power generation, transmission and distribution. However, the final rule was updated nearly 40 years after they had been established with the aim to improve the operation and maintenance of equipment. Read on to see why these standards are crucial and demand periodic revision.

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Firetruck Power Line Accidents

Fire Truck Power Line Accidents

There is a nearly endless list of equipment that can benefit from Sigalarm installations. These are vehicles with masts, such as television Electronic News Gathering vans, border patrol vehicles, and fire trucks. It’s important to note that power line contact accidents are common outside the construction industry too. So, in the case of fire truck power line contact accidents, what measures can employers take to ensure safety?

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