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Overhead Cables 132,000 volts
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Leppitt900200  
#1 Posted : 30 April 2010 07:28:39(UTC)
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Leppitt900200
I observed a telehandler loading green waste into an artic bulker directly underneath power cables on a site I was visiting. I was slightly concerned! I was informed by the site management they were in the safety margins. Height of cable 12.3 m, reach of telehandler 7m. I took some photos - whay do you think?
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Seamusosullivan  
#2 Posted : 30 April 2010 08:02:19(UTC)
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Seamusosullivan
I dont think that was safe.
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Leppitt900200  
#3 Posted : 30 April 2010 08:28:05(UTC)
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Leppitt900200
The operation of loading under the cables is occuring several times a day.
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Alan Haynes  
#4 Posted : 30 April 2010 08:37:43(UTC)
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Alan Haynes
Where did the site management get their 'safe distances' from?
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Leppitt900200  
#5 Posted : 30 April 2010 08:41:18(UTC)
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Leppitt900200
Western Power.
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grim72  
#6 Posted : 30 April 2010 08:54:21(UTC)
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grim72
A couple of HSE booklets which may prove useful in answering your questions:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg389.pdf
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/gs6.pdf
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Leppitt900200  
#7 Posted : 30 April 2010 09:23:19(UTC)
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Leppitt900200
Hello thank you. I have read those docments and thats what is confusing me.
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Malcolm Fryer  
#8 Posted : 30 April 2010 12:17:57(UTC)
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Malcolm Fryer
Hi

So what is the confusion?

The two guidance notes from Grim 72 are aimed at two different audiences one being agricultural and the other construction and they do differ a little. They work on the basis of trying to identify the line ratings by how they are constructed.

If the managers obtained their safe distances from Western Power this may reflect their exact knowledge of the site location and the line rating. However there is always the possibility that the information has been translated by managers in a different manner. Also they may have the wrong location

Whilst the handler may have a reach of 7M there are ways of restricting the elevation and this may have been part of their assessment.

Devil in the detail on this one
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Leppitt900200  
#9 Posted : 30 April 2010 12:39:33(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Leppitt900200
Why tempt fate by working under power cables in the first place. There was an incident that resulted in a death. A council worker using a hiab lifting light posts from his vehicle and dropping them onto the floor of a depot. The hiab came in contact with power cables. The driver died. The court ordered the council to ensure all power cables that crossed there depots were diverted.

The site with the telehandler operation has no indictation of height restrictions as detailed in the guidance documents. The RA mentions low risk of injury. When western power came on site they did mention they are the experts and the H&S guidance is just guidance. It does not feel right. The telehandler may pick up a pole within the greenwaste and be alot closer than the safety margin.
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