TRAINING COURSE:
Safe Bucket Truck Operations
Course Category: Transmission and Distribution
Course description: This course covers aspects of bucket truck safety such as how to avoid accidents, how to lower the boom in an emergency, and how to carry out a bucket truck rescue. It is assumed that participants are already familiar with the basic parts and operation of a bucket truck. Participants should be familiar with all applicable safety procedures before they operate a bucket truck. The instructor should make sure that all participants wear hard hats, safety glasses, and gloves. After completing this course, participants should be able to explain how to perform a preuse inspection o f a bucket truck, describe safety considerations associated with using a bucket truck at a job site, and explain how personnel can be protected from bucket truck shock hazards. They should also be able to describe common methods of bucket truck escape, emergency boom lowering, and bucket truck rescue.
Course syllabus:
- Explain why a bucket truck should be inspected before it is used
- Describe a basic procedure for inspecting a bucket truck’s boom and bucket
- Describe a basic procedure for checking a bucket truck’s hydraulic system
- Describe a basic procedure for performing an operational check on a bucket truck’s boom, bucket, and hydraulic system
- List some factors that can affect how a job is done
- Describe safety considerations associated with setting up a bucket truck at a job site
- Describe ways that a crew can prepare for a bucket truck related emergency
- Describe general actions that crew members can take to ensure that a job is performed safely and efficiently
- Describe how the insulating ability of a typical boom is checked and maintained
- Describe methods used to protect personnel from shock hazards
- Explain how to use a bucket truck’s lower controls to lower the boom in an emergency
- Explain how to use a bucket truck’s auxiliary power system to lower the boom in an emergency
- Explain how to bleed a bucket truck’s boom holding valves to lower the boom in an emergency
- Explain how a line mechanic can use safety equipment to escape from a bucket during an emergency
- Describe some general considerations associated with performing a bucket truck rescue
- Describe a basic procedure for performing a bucket truck rescue when the boom can reach the ground and the bucket has a quick-release device
- Explain what rescue blocks are and how they can be used
- Describe a basic procedure for performing a bucket truck rescue using rescue blocks
- Describe special circumstances that may affect a bucket truck rescue
*This course is discounted for NATE members.
