Protect painters from electrical hazards
Photo: Johner Images/gettyimages
A high number of electrical-related worker fatalities occur among painters in construction and maintenance, according to OSHA, and contact with overhead power lines is the culprit in 78% of those fatalities.
One reason why? Painters aren’t electricians and often don’t have the proper training to protect themselves. And 70% of all electrical-related worker fatalities can be traced to non-electrical occupations, OSHA says.
Help protect your painters. Share with them these electrical safety tips from Electrical Safety Foundation International:
- Stay at least 10 feet away from all power lines when working. Same goes for the tools you’re using.
- Locate and identify utilities such as overhead power lines before starting work.
- Keep overhead power lines in sight when operating or moving equipment.
- Make sure portable electric tools, such as a sander, are grounded or double-insulated.
- Always use ground-fault protection.
- Know and maintain safe distances from power lines:
- Less than 50 volts – 46 kilovolts: 10 feet away
- 41.41-169 kV: 10-12 feet away
- 230-362 kV: 13-16 feet away
- 500-800 kV: 19-24 feet away
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