b'Plan ahead to work safely around high-voltage electricityBefore any worker begins on a worksite, employers need to address the risk of high-voltage electricity. Starting at the beginning of a project, make sure safety by design is part of every stage of your construction project. Keep at least 10 feet (3 metres) away fromConduct a risk assessment of your a high-voltage powerline or conductor worksite Thats the basic message from WorkSafeBC, BC Hydro, andAs an employer, you must conduct a risk assessmentpartners who want to make sure everyone is aware of thisand have a plan for controlling risks. You need to knowsafe distance, known as the limit of approach. This is thehow your workers might be harmed so you can identify distance you must keep from electricity that can flowreasonable measures to control those risks. Referencingthrough objects that contact power lines or move across the hierarchy of controls, as shown in the following diagram, a gap from a line to an object. The limit of approach appliescan help to make sure all controls are considered and to workers, machines, tools, and equipment.implemented in a way that best protects workers.Depending on the voltage of the line, you may need to keepInform workers of hazards before they workers and equipment even further away. Its essential that you determine the voltage of any electrical lines at the verystart workbeginning of a project, and before work starts, so workersOnce you have conducted your risk assessment and have a can be informed and you know what level of control to put plan in place for controlling risks, inform your workers of all in place. potential electrical hazards (along with any other workplace Everyone has a role to play hazards) before allowing anyone to work near energized electrical conductors or equipment. Owners, developers, architects, and engineers all have theirCommunicate the work arrangements and procedures for own responsibilities to plan for safety and to ensure theworkers to follow, and review the high-voltage hazards at health and safety of all workers through a projects lifespan.pre-job meetings with supervisors, lead hands, contractors, As well, prime contractors are responsible for coordinatingand other workers. Everyone on the crew needs to know the the safety of all trades and contractors on a multi-employerhigh-voltage electrical hazards and the plan for working safely. worksite, and must ensure there is a system in place forFor more information on limits of approach and working worker safety. Their project coordination needs to addresssafety around high-voltage electricity, please visit design plans developed and implemented by owners,worksafebc.com/electrical-safety.developers, architects, engineers, and everyone else working on a project. RoofingBC-editorial-Sept-2021.indd 1 2021-09-15 9:53 AM'