NOVENEX Toolbox Talk — Working Near Overhead Power Lines
Electrical Safety · ±7 minutes · novenex.tech/toolbox-talks
Overhead lines look inert and harmless. But high voltage can arc across an air gap — you do not need to touch a line for it to kill you. Machine operators, riggers, farmers and builders die this way every year.
Plan before you arrive
- •Survey the route and worksite for lines before moving cranes, drill rigs or tipper trucks.
- •Treat every line as live at full voltage until the utility confirms otherwise in writing.
- •Minimum clearances are set by voltage — if you do not know the voltage, stay well beyond 10 m.
- •Request shutdown/shrouding from the utility for work inside clearance.
If contact happens
- •Stay in the machine — it is the safest place while the line is live.
- •If you must exit (fire), JUMP clear with feet together; never step down; shuffle away in small steps.
- •Keep everyone else back 10 m minimum and call the utility emergency line.
Discussion — ask the crew
- Where do overhead lines cross our site or access routes?
- Who is authorised to contact the utility for shutdowns?
- What is our banksman procedure for cranes near lines?
Attendance record
Site: ____________________ Date: ____________ Presenter: ____________________
Name: ______________________________ Signature: ________________
Name: ______________________________ Signature: ________________
Name: ______________________________ Signature: ________________
Name: ______________________________ Signature: ________________
Name: ______________________________ Signature: ________________
Name: ______________________________ Signature: ________________
Name: ______________________________ Signature: ________________
Name: ______________________________ Signature: ________________
Equip this talk
Requisition the voltage detector and related equipment from the Supply Register.