Electrical Hazards for Fire and Electrical Hazards for Fire and Rescue DepartmentsRescue Departments

Part I: Fire Department Vehicles Contacting Part I: Fire Department Vehicles Contacting WiresWires

Captain I Gary C. DizeCaptain I Gary C. DizeHealth and Safety DivisionHealth and Safety Division

Fairfax County, VirginiaFairfax County, Virginia

Electrical HazardsElectrical Hazards

Common Types of Electrical HazardsCommon Types of Electrical Hazards

Fire Department Vehicles Contacting WiresFire Department Vehicles Contacting Wires

Transformer Fires – Ground and SubstationTransformer Fires – Ground and Substation

Fires Near High Tension Power LinesFires Near High Tension Power Lines

Electrical HazardsElectrical Hazards

Treat all wires as dangerous and Treat all wires as dangerous and energized at high voltage until tested energized at high voltage until tested and proven otherwise.and proven otherwise.

Typically there are three primary lines Typically there are three primary lines (top lines) which carry 19,900 volts each (top lines) which carry 19,900 volts each and two neutral lines 9.5 feet below the and two neutral lines 9.5 feet below the primary lines. Beneath these lines are primary lines. Beneath these lines are cables belonging to other utilities.cables belonging to other utilities.

The voltage decreases as the distance The voltage decreases as the distance from the point of contact increases. This from the point of contact increases. This is known as the Step Potential.is known as the Step Potential.

Operating Near WiresOperating Near Wires

Electrical HazardsElectrical Hazards

The action of placing the aerial The action of placing the aerial ladder near the electrical lines ladder near the electrical lines endangers the life and safety of endangers the life and safety of anyone who was operating near anyone who was operating near the vehicle.the vehicle.

Manufacturer recommendations Manufacturer recommendations and OSHA standards indicate that and OSHA standards indicate that the ladder should not be the ladder should not be positioned within 10 feet of power positioned within 10 feet of power lines. This precaution is clearly lines. This precaution is clearly indicated numerous times on the indicated numerous times on the exterior of all of the department exterior of all of the department aerial devices as well as on the aerial devices as well as on the control pedestal. control pedestal.

Exercise extreme caution when approaching the scene, especially when Exercise extreme caution when approaching the scene, especially when visibility is low due to smoke or operating during the night.visibility is low due to smoke or operating during the night.

Know your first due and pre-plan for over head wires.Know your first due and pre-plan for over head wires.

Establish a safety zone and prevent all unauthorized persons from Establish a safety zone and prevent all unauthorized persons from approaching the scene. approaching the scene.

Brief arriving unit officers of any electrical hazards including overhead Brief arriving unit officers of any electrical hazards including overhead wires. wires.

Electrical HazardsElectrical Hazards

Establish a safety zone. Establish a safety zone. The ground around the The ground around the vehicle may be energized.vehicle may be energized.

Unless threatened by fire Unless threatened by fire or some other danger, or some other danger, occupants should remain occupants should remain on the vehicle until the on the vehicle until the power is confirmed off.power is confirmed off.

The entire vehicle may be The entire vehicle may be energized, causing tires energized, causing tires and fluids to burn, and and fluids to burn, and other components to fail, other components to fail, especially pressured especially pressured cylinders and hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic tools.tools.

Electrical HazardsElectrical HazardsWhen a vehicle comes into contact with power lines:When a vehicle comes into contact with power lines:

Electrical HazardsElectrical Hazards Case Study: Part I Case Study: Part I

Close call involving ladder running into power lineClose call involving ladder running into power line (Please see PDF Handout) (Please see PDF Handout)

DiscussionDiscussion

The action of placing the aerial ladder near the electrical The action of placing the aerial ladder near the electrical lines endangered the life and safety of anyone who was lines endangered the life and safety of anyone who was operating near the vehicle. operating near the vehicle.

    The manufacturer recommendations and OSHA standards The manufacturer recommendations and OSHA standards

indicate that the ladder should not have been positioned indicate that the ladder should not have been positioned within 10 feet of power lines. This precaution is clearly within 10 feet of power lines. This precaution is clearly indicated numerous times on the exterior of all of the indicated numerous times on the exterior of all of the department’s aerial devices as well as on the control department’s aerial devices as well as on the control pedestal.pedestal.

Members should avoid touching apparatus while aerial is in Members should avoid touching apparatus while aerial is in use.use.

DiscussionDiscussion

Does your Department have a process for training drivers Does your Department have a process for training drivers and backup drivers ? and backup drivers ? 

Is the process for qualifying personnel to drive and operate Is the process for qualifying personnel to drive and operate vehicles taking place at the station/shift level? This would vehicles taking place at the station/shift level? This would results in a variety of training procedures and a range of results in a variety of training procedures and a range of criteria to become a driver.  criteria to become a driver.  

DiscussionDiscussion Does your department’s apparatus Does your department’s apparatus

qualifications checklists make the qualifications checklists make the distinction between the various types of distinction between the various types of vehicles in the department’s fleet? Does vehicles in the department’s fleet? Does the “aerial” checklist makes the distinction the “aerial” checklist makes the distinction between rear-mount aerials, rear-mount between rear-mount aerials, rear-mount towers, and mid-mount towers, and does towers, and mid-mount towers, and does it account for vehicles from different it account for vehicles from different manufacturers?manufacturers?

An In-Station Drill should be developed An In-Station Drill should be developed and issued to provide information to and issued to provide information to members on the hazards of electricity, the members on the hazards of electricity, the components of the distribution system, components of the distribution system, and guidelines for handling incidents and guidelines for handling incidents involving electricity.involving electricity.

DiscussionDiscussion

Basic information about electricity, the components that Basic information about electricity, the components that comprise the distribution system and the hazards presented comprise the distribution system and the hazards presented by both. by both.

Awareness of overhead hazards when deploying ground Awareness of overhead hazards when deploying ground ladders, aerial devices, and other devices such as light ladders, aerial devices, and other devices such as light towers, antennae, cameras, etc.towers, antennae, cameras, etc.

Guidelines for handling “routine” events involving electricity, Guidelines for handling “routine” events involving electricity, as well as unusual events.as well as unusual events.

Considerations of routine aerial maintenance and hazard Considerations of routine aerial maintenance and hazard awareness.awareness.

The training should cover topics such as: The training should cover topics such as: