Bucket Truck Operator Training- Know about Confined Space Awareness Training and other details

Workers who use bucket trucks routinely encounter electrical hazards when operating close to overhead energy lines. The danger of serious injuries increases significantly for non-electrical workers when they are not specifically trained to recognize electrical hazards and how to avoid them. All bucket trucks should be constructed of metal, plastic or wood and should be operated by either a power source or through manual efforts. Any modifications or changes should not be made until written permission is obtained from the manufacturer or by an accredited testing facility.

Overhead utility cables pose a particularly dangerous hazard for employees who use bucket trucks to perform non-electrical work. Under certain circumstances, even typical electrical and telephone drops to houses can generate adequate electrical amperage to kill a person. The dos and don'ts discussed below present recommendations for avoiding the risk of electrocution faced by employees who are not electrical workers.

In a Bucket Truck Operator Training or Order Picker Training, the following are to be learned and looked for:

• All utility lines should be treated as being energized and never be touched with bare hands.
• When working around electrical wires the bucket needs to be insulated with a material that is correctly rated.
• All electrical equipment and insulation barriers need to be dry and free from dirt, worn spots, cracks and other forms of deterioration.
• Even when working from an insulated bucket, you need to ensure that your equipment cannot accidentally develop additional paths for the electricity to travel to the ground.
• Personal protective gear and electrical tools need to be properly rated for the job.
• Always check with the power company to see if they can turn off the power or install insulation over nearby power wires.
• Employees around the bucket truck should not make physical contact with the vehicle when it is in use around utility lines.
• Notion about Confined Space Awareness Training is also imparted that helps the workers to calculate the measurements and thus spacing.
• All objects and personnel ought to stay at least 10 feet away from electrical lines.
• Increase the minimum distance from power cables when using long-handled tools so that the tools cannot make accidental contact with the wire at its longest extensions.
• For close work near live cables, you should insulate power lines and use appropriate protective equipment.

Operating a massive piece of equipment with a bucket towering high is a difficult task and adding a worker in it can be very dangerous. There is always the risk of the bucket truck tipping over due to unbalanced weight distribution. It is also possible for the entire boom apparatus to hit a structure near the location such as a tree, a power cable, or a building. Also, only trained personnel should be allowed to operate a bucket truck. Before entrusting such equipment to a worker, make sure that each worker has been given the right training and properly qualified for all aspects of operating this equipment. People should also choose Confined Space Awareness Training courses in order to perform the jobs in safe manner.