| Better Save than Sorry – A Bucket Truck | | | | OSHA standards deal with minimum safety |
| Safety Tip | | | | requirements and should be adhered to whenever |
| One of the biggest issues facing linemen and other | | | | operating a bucket truck or similar vehicles. |
| crewmembers that spend their days working out of | | | | Several years ago the American Public Power |
| a bucket truck is safety. Bucket trucks are generally | | | | Association released an eight-part DVD series that |
| customized to deal with very specific types of work. | | | | provided safety training specifically geared for public |
| On occasion a maintenance company will be forced, | | | | power utilities. One of the volumes deals with the |
| by circumstance, to use a particular bucket truck | | | | safe operation of bucket trucks and covers topics |
| from their fleet for a job that it wasn’t | | | | including equipment inspection, precautions to prevent |
| designed for. Sure the job can be done using the | | | | falling and rescue procedures. Several other |
| truck, but is it worth the risk. | | | | companies have produced similar safety videos. |
| Take for example a lighting maintenance worker that | | | | It is always a good idea to review the specs for a |
| spends most of his time in a bucket truck replacing | | | | particular vehicle and the tools and accessories that |
| spent bulbs from light poles in a parking lot, who is | | | | will be used to perform a specific task. Know the |
| now asked to replace a damaged light pole. The | | | | OSHA guidelines and if available, review any safety |
| problem is, the maintenance company does not have | | | | videos on hand. Bucket trucks are versatile machines |
| a properly equipped pole truck to handle the job and | | | | that are able to do a variety of tasks. But without |
| instead use a jib/wench attached to their bucket | | | | knowing the limitations of the equipment it may be |
| truck to take down the old pole and put up the new | | | | difficult to avoid a hazardous situation. When |
| one. | | | | purchasing a new or used bucket truck, it is always |
| Without checking the load rating on the | | | | recommended to work with a reliable dealer who can |
| truck’s boom and the hydraulics it is impossible | | | | review the manual and go over any safety issues |
| to know what the rig can safely handle. Even though, | | | | before concluding the sale. |
| in most cases, the job can be done – the | | | | As one fellow put it, I know a lot of old linemen, as |
| question remains: “Is it safe?” OSHA | | | | well as my share of careless linemen, but I |
| has issued guidelines relating to the proper use of | | | | can’t recall ever meeting an old careless |
| bucket trucks as well as other variations in this | | | | lineman. |
| particular class of specialized utility vehicles. The | | | | |