Electrical Hazards Awareness Program
Electricity is a serious and widespread hazard to
arborists. In fact, electricity causes about 15 percent of all
fatalities in the tree care industry, making it the leading cause of
worker fatalities.
Since even a street lamp circuit or phone line can
be energized with enough voltage to kill, almost all arborists in the
field have at least some exposure to this hazard. In fact, workers don’t
even have to touch a wire to be electrocuted – about half of all
electrocution fatalities are the result of indirect contact. Tree
branches and other conductive objects are an ever-present threat for the
industry.
All arborists must be trained to recognize and
avoid these electrical hazards. Qualified line-clearance arborists must
have additional knowledge about electrical hazards and the special
techniques used to work safely near electrical conductors.
TCIA’s Electrical Hazards Awareness Program (EHAP)
TCIA’s Electrical Hazards Awareness Program (EHAP) is a great way to keep workers safe, ensure OSHA compliance, and document training.
EHAP will also augment your work in three other areas:
-
OSHA Safety Requirements
EHAP helps you meet the OSHA 1910.269 safety standard, which requires:
- Employer-certified training
Employers must certify that
employees who work 10 feet or closer to energized conductors are trained
in the special hazards involved in such work.
- On-the-job training and verification
Employers must verify
through documented, on-the-job training and verification that these
employees have the skills necessary to perform line-clearance job tasks
safely.
*EHAP must be used in combination with documented on-the-job skills
training and verification to meet OSHA 1910.269 requirements.
Host an EHAP Workshop
Are you interested in hosting an EHAP workshop? Download this PDF to learn how.