Avoiding electrical accidents

Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) are one of the safest ways to work at height. However, operators must remain vigilant regarding their external environment, especially when working near power lines, to avoid electrical risks.

All about electrical risks

Electrocution is one of the leading hazards with the use of aerial work platforms. It is often due to: • Lack of awareness of the proximity of overhead power lines • The complacency of the voltage running through the cables • Accidental contact of equipment with an overhead power line Remember, electricity can arc! You do not need to touch the power cables to be electrocuted. Arc flashes are sudden bursts of energy through the air due to a high-voltage gap between two surfaces. They can also be caused by equipment failure, dust, or corrosion. Intense heat can seriously burn the workers nearby.

Overhead power line guidance

Always keep a safety gap between you, your equipment and the power line. Before work can begin, contact the utility operator to determine if the energy source can be deenergized. If 'de-energizing is not possible, do not go nearer than the minimum approach distance (MAD) recommended by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF). According to the IPAF, the safest distance to approach ‘live’ overhead cables when a boom is fully extended is:

• 15 meters (50 ft) from electrical pylon • 9 meters (30 ft) from cables on wooden poles Should the operator need to work any closer to power lines, seek expert advice (contact the power supplier) and ask for extra supervision. Electrocutions can be prevented through proper planning, risk assessment, site management and continuous observation by the operator of potential electrical hazards. Make sure an emergency plan is in place for a prompt rescue; timing can make a very significant difference to the injuries sustained.

Haulotte Africa

haulotte@haulotte.com, www.haulotte.com

AERIAL PLATFORM

Giovenzana International T: +39 039 5951 1277 E: giovenzana@giovenzana.com W: www.giovenzana.com

FORKLIFTS

Bell Equipment Southern Africa T: +27 (0) 11 928 9846 E: susanmy@bell.co.za W: www.bellequipment.com

BRAKES

Magnet Service Binder T: +27 (11) 791 3460 C: 071 857 3660 F: +27 (11) 791 3464 E: sales2@binder.co.za W: www.binder.co.za

CHAIN BLOCKS

Condra Cranes T: +27 (0) 11 776 6000 E: sales@condra.co.za W: www.condra.co.za

COMPACT CRANES

Fastlift Cranes & Services T: +27 (0) 21 140 1514 (CPT) T: +27 (0) 10 141 0237 (JHB) E: bradley@fastliftcranes.co.za W: www.fastliftcranes.com

CRANE HIRE

ST Cranes T: +27 (0) 82 292 1148 E: ricky@itlgroup.co.za W: www.stcranehire.co.za

CRAWLER CRANES

Liebherr Africa T: +27 (0) 11 365-2000 E: info.laf@liebherr.com W: www.liebherr.com Goscor Lift Trucks T: +27 (0) 10 594 4339 E: lifttrucks@goscor.co.za W: www.goscorlifttrucks.co.za

Jungheinrich T: +27 (0) 10 596-8460 E: info@jungheinrich.co.za W: www.jungheinrich.co.za

Kemach Forklifts T: +27 (0) 11 826-6710 E: info@kemachjcb.co.za W: www.kemachjcb.co.za

XCMG, T: 0086 135 8547 4543, E: rsa@xcmg.com, W: www.xcmg.com

HOISTS

Morris Material Handling SA T: +27 (0) 11 748-1000 F: +27 (0) 11 748-1093 E: sales@morris.co.za W: www.morris.co.za

Yale Lifting Solutions T: +27 (0) 11 794-2910 F: +27 (0) 11 794-3560 E: crm@yalelift.co.za W: www.yale.co.za Yale Lifting Solutions T: +27 (0) 11 794-2910 F: +27 (0) 11 794-3560 E: crm@yalelift.co.za W: www.yale.co.za

HOSE AND CABLE REELS

DEMAC SRL T: +39 02-9784488 F: +39 02-97003509 E: info@demac.it W: www.demac.it

HYDRAULIC TOOLS

Kiloton T: +27 (0) 861 707-707 F: +27 (0) 861 707-706 E: sales@kiloton.co.za W: www.kiloton.co.za

W: www.onlinetoolshop.kiloton.co.za

INSPECTION

Load Testing & Inspection Specialists

Cranemec Group S.A T: +27 (0) 16 366-1393 F: +27 (0) 16 366-1392 E: info@cranemec.co.za W: www.cranemec.co.za

GregBev Enterprise C: +27 (0) 82 854-5143 C: +27 (0) 72 395 4342 E: info@gregbev.co.za W: www.gregbev.co.za

Premier Load Testing & Services T: +27 (0) 14 596-5100 / 5026 C: +27 (0) 72 711-9510 E: savannahm@premierload.co.za W: www.premierload.co.za

LIFTING TACKLE

Haggie T: +27 (0) 11 601 8400 E: distribution@haggie.co.za W: www.scaw.co.za

Yale Lifting Solutions T: +27 (0) 11 794-2910 F: +27 (0) 11 794-3560 E: crm@yalelift.co.za W: www.yale.co.za

LOAD TESTING

GregBev Enterprise C: +27 (0) 82 854-5143 C: +27 (0) 72 395 4342 E: info@gregbev.co.za W: www.gregbev.co.za

IY Safety & Inspections T: +27 (0) 82 773-7019 C: +27 (0) 82 956-3176 E: bianca@iysafetyinspection.co.za W: www.iysafetyinspection.com

LOAD TESTING AND RE-CERTIFICATION

GregBev Enterprise C: +27 (0) 82 854-5143 C: +27 (0) 72 395 4342 E: info@gregbev.co.za W: www.gregbev.co.za

IY Safety & Inspections T: +27 (0) 82 773-7019 C: +27 (0) 82 956-3176 E: bianca@iysafetyinspection.co.za W: www.iysafetyinspection.com

Polokeho Lifting & Testing Services T: +27 (0) 10 822 6611 E: eben@polokeholt.co.za W: www.polokeholt.co.za

Premier Load Testing & Services T: +27 (0) 14 596-5100 / 5026 C: +27 (0) 72 711-9510 E: savannahm@premierload.co.za W: www.premierload.co.za

Shosholoza Consulting T: +27 (0) 14 495 1994 C: +27 (0) 79 391 2990 E: info@shosholoza.africa W: www.shosholoza.africa

Yale Lifting Solutions T: +27 (0) 11 794-2910 F: +27 (0) 11 794-3560 E: crm@yalelift.co.za W: www.yale.co.za

MAINTENANCE

Levi’s Trio Engineering T: +27 (0) 11 907 9258 F: +27 (0) 86 742 9410 E: admin@levistrio.co.za W: www.levistrio.co.za

Premier Load Testing & Services T: +27 (0) 14 596-5100 / 5026 C: +27 (0) 72 711-9510 E: savannahm@premierload.co.za W: www.premierload.co.za

MINI CRANES

Fastlift Cranes & Services T: +27 (0) 21 140 1514 (CPT) T: +27 (0) 10 141 0237 (JHB) E: bradley@fastliftcranes.co.za W: www.fastliftcranes.com

Jekko s.r.l. T: +39 0438 1410083 F: +39 0438 1710123 E: info@jekko.it W: www.jekko-cranes.com

MOBILE CRANES

Fastlift Cranes & Services T: +27 (0) 21 140 1514 (CPT) T: +27 (0) 10 141 0237 (JHB) E: bradley@fastliftcranes.co.za W: www.fastliftcranes.com

Liebherr Africa T: +27 (0) 11 365-2000 E: info.laf@liebherr.com W: www.liebherr.com

MOBILE CRANE SPARES

Liebherr Africa T: +27 (0) 11 365-2000 E: info.laf@liebherr.com W: www.liebherr.com

OVERHEAD CRANE

AJM Engineering T: +27 (0) 11 453-0728 E: info@ajmengineering.co.za W: www.ajmengineering.co.za

By Carpel SRL - Italy T: + 39 (0) 39 532-0952 F: + 39 (0) 39 532-0825 E: info@bycarpel.it W: www.bycarpel.it Condra Cranes T: +27 (0) 11 776 6000 E: sales@condra.co.za W: www.condra.co.za

HP Cranes Consulting T: +27 (0) 11 740-9725/28 E: donavan@hpcranes.co.za W: www.hpcranes.co.za

IY Safety & Inspections T: +27 (0) 82 773-7019 C: +27 (0) 82 956-3176 E: bianca@iysafetyinspection.co.za W: www.iysafetyinspection.com

Konecranes T: +27 (0) 11 898-3500 F: +27 (0) 11 898-3533 E: ReplyToMe.za@konecranes.com W: www.konecranes.co.za

REMOTE CONTROLS

Giovenzana International T: +39 039 5951 1277 E: giovenzana@giovenzana.com W: www.giovenzana.com

REPAIRS

J Express Crane Services T: +27 (0) 11 864-8402 F: +27 (0) 11 864-8408 M: +27 (0) 83 425-5535 E: jexpress@telkomsa.net

Levi’s Trio Engineering T: +27 (0) 11 907 9258 F: +27 (0) 86 742 9410 E: admin@levistrio.co.za W: www.levistrio.co.za

Morris Material Handling SA T: +27 (0) 11 748-1000 F: +27 (0) 11 748-1093 E: sales@morris.co.za W: www.morris.co.za

Yale Lifting Solutions T: +27 (0) 11 794-2910 F: +27 (0) 11 794-3560 E: crm@yalelift.co.za W: www.yale.co.za

RIGGING

Kemach Forklifts T: +27 (0) 11 826-6710 E: info@kemachjcb.co.za W: www.kemachjcb.co.za

SERVICES

J Express Crane Services T: +27 (0) 11 864-8402 F: +27 (0) 11 864-8408 M: +27 (0) 83 425-5535 E: jexpress@telkomsa.net

Levi’s Trio Engineering T: +27 (0) 11 907 9258 F: +27 (0) 86 742 9410 E: admin@levistrio.co.za W: www.levistrio.co.za

Polokeho Lifting & Testing Services T: +27 (0) 10 822 6611 E: eben@polokeholt.co.za W: www.polokeholt.co.za

SLINGS

Haggie T: +27 (0) 11 601 8400 E: distribution@haggie.co.za W: www.scaw.co.za

SPIDER CRANES

Fastlift Cranes & Services T: +27 (0) 21 140 1514 (CPT) T: +27 (0) 10 141 0237 (JHB) E: bradley@fastliftcranes.co.za W: www.fastliftcranes.com

Jekko s.r.l. T: +39 0438 1410083 F: +39 0438 1710123 E: info@jekko.it W: www.jekko-cranes.com

STEEL WIRE ROPES

Haggie T: +27 (0) 11 601 8400 E: distribution@haggie.co.za W: www.scaw.co.za

STRADDLE CARRIER

Combi Lift T: +27 (0) 11 900-8010 E: victor@solutions-4u.co.za W: www.combilift.co.za

TELEHANDLERS

Kemach Forklifts T: +27 (0) 11 826-6710 E: info@kemachjcb.co.za W: www.kemachjcb.co.za

TESTING TOWER CRANES

Liebherr Africa T: +27 (0) 11 365-2000 E: info.laf@liebherr.com W: www.liebherr.com

LMI Academy T: +27 (0) 11 475-5876 E: info@lmi-academy.co.za W: www.lmi-academy.co.za

MH Dawood Plant Services T: +27 (0) 11 496-1007 F: +27 (0) 11 496-1198 E: info@mhdawood.co.za W: www.mhdawood.co.za

TRAINING

Phakamisa Safety Consultants T: +27 (0) 11 462-9620/1 F: +27 (0) 11 462-9620 E: potto@icon.co.za W: www.phakamisasafety.co.za

TRUCK MOUNTED

Smith Capital T: +27 (0) 11 873 9830 E: mail@smithcapital.co.za W: www.smithcapital.co.za

WATER WEIGHT BAGS

DOOWIN Water Bags T: +86 532 877 88175 M: +86 185 5486 9267

E: sales@doowin-dooflex.com

W: www.doowincn.co.za

WINCHES

XCMG, T: 0086 135 8547 4543, E: rsa@xcmg.com, W: www.xcmg.com FB Crane Builders & Repairs T: +27 (0) 11 902 3271 E: sales@fbcranes.co.za W: www.fbcranes.co.za LMI Academy T: +27 (0) 11 475-5876 E: info@lmi-academy.co.za W: www.lmi-academy.co.za Dymot Engineering T: +27 (0) 11 970-1920 F: +27 (0) 11 970-1979 E: pa@dymot.co.za W: www.dymot.co.za