Overhead line checks: 8 items before dispatch

• Confirm retailer isolation for work under 0.5 m from a low voltage overhead electric line.
• Between 0.5 m and 4 m, isolate the property supply as the safest option.
• Do not restore power while workers, tools, or equipment still need to be within 4 m, or within 0.5 m with property-owner consent.
• Check ladder rails, the utility call, barriers, ground workers, vehicle clearance, and emergency numbers.

Dispatchers must confirm that the electricity supply is isolated by the electricity retailer for any work less than 0.5 m from a low voltage overhead electric line, according to WorkSafe New Zealand. This specific isolation requirement applies to the narrow zone immediately adjacent to the line. For work positioned between 0.5 m and 4 m from an overhead line, the safest option is to eliminate the risk of electric shock by isolating the electricity supply to the property while that work is being done, according to WorkSafe New Zealand. These two distance thresholds define the primary isolation scope for your dispatch board.

The 8 checkable items for this section focus on the isolation distance and the separate power-restoration consent wording. The first item is the isolation distance, which mandates retailer isolation for work under 0.5 m. The second item is the consent distance: the power should not be restored if workers, their tools or their equipment still need to be within 4 m of the overhead line (or within 0.5 m with consent from the property owner). Property isolation between 0.5 m and 4 m is its own check, not the consent distance. The remaining six items—ladder material, utility contact, barrier rating, ground worker limit, emergency contact, and vehicle clearance—are detailed in subsequent sections of this guide. For this specific verification step, your dispatch team must record whether the job falls within the 0.5 m isolation zone or the 0.5 m to 4 m safety zone.

The table below lists the eight specific clearance and safety checks required before dispatching a technician to a site with overhead lines. Each row names the publisher that states the rule and the exact limit or requirement. Use this table as the primary lookup for the dispatch board.

Verify each row against the specific job conditions before releasing the work order. Ensure the ladder material matches the non-conductive requirement stated by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Confirm the utility contact step is completed if the work falls within the close proximity range. Check that any insulating barriers meet the voltage rating specified by the Legal Information Institute. Keep ground workers away from conductive objects closer than the limits set by the Legal Information Institute. Have the emergency contact numbers ready as directed by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Position vehicles so uninsulated structures maintain the clearance permitted by the Legal Information Institute. Isolate the supply for work under 0.5 m as required by WorkSafe New Zealand. Between 0.5 m and 4 m, property isolation is the safest option, and the power should not be restored if workers, their tools or their equipment still need to be within 4 m of the overhead line (or within 0.5 m with consent from the property owner), according to WorkSafe New Zealand.

When a job requires work less than 0.5 m from a low voltage overhead electric line, the electricity supply must be isolated by the electricity retailer, according to WorkSafe New Zealand. This isolation requirement applies to all work within that specific distance threshold. If workers, their tools, or their equipment still need to be within 4 m of the overhead line, the power should not be restored, according to WorkSafe New Zealand.

For any work performed between 0.5 m and 4 m from an overhead line, the safest option is to eliminate the risk of electric shock by isolating the electricity supply to the property while that work is being done, according to WorkSafe New Zealand. This guidance prioritizes isolation over other risk control methods for this specific distance range. Dispatchers should verify whether the job scope falls under the mandatory isolation rule for distances under 0.5 m or the recommended isolation practice for the 0.5 m to 4 m range.

For the 4 m boundary, ensure that power remains isolated if any worker, tool, or equipment must remain within that distance, according to WorkSafe New Zealand.

Verify that the isolation status matches the specific distance range of the task: mandatory retailer isolation for under 0.5 m, or recommended property isolation for the 0.5 m to 4 m range, according to WorkSafe New Zealand. Do not assume that consent covers the 4 m distance; consent specifically applies to the 0.5 m threshold in the context of power restoration, according to WorkSafe New Zealand. When the job also opens equipment, see Lockout checks before equipment is opened: 6.

Before a technician climbs or operates a vehicle near overhead lines, the dispatcher must verify the physical materials and structural clearances of the equipment. The first check concerns the ladder itself. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, workers must always use ladders made with non-conductive side rails, such as fibreglass, when working with or near electricity or power lines (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety). This requirement applies specifically to ladders used in proximity to electrical hazards. A metal ladder is not specified as safe for this environment; the rule explicitly calls for non-conductive materials to prevent a conductive path. When checking the ladder inventory for a job tagged with overhead lines, confirm that the rails are fibreglass or another non-conductive material. If the ladder on the truck is aluminum or steel, it does not meet the requirement stated by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety for work near power lines (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety). See Portable ladder rails: 3 feet above the landing.

The second check involves the vehicle or aerial lift structure. According to the Legal Information Institute, equipment must be located so that no uninsulated part of its structure can come closer to the line than permitted in paragraph (c)(3)(iii) of the section (Legal Information Institute). The Legal Information Institute defines the uninsulated part of the structure as the portion that provides a conductive path to employees on the ground (Legal Information Institute). This means the dispatcher must verify that the vehicle’s metal frame, ladder brackets, or any other conductive component maintains the required distance from the overhead line. The Legal Information Institute specifies that this location requirement applies to the equipment as a whole, ensuring that the conductive path to ground workers is not compromised by the vehicle’s position (Legal Information Institute).

Insulating barriers offer a specific path to reduce standard clearance distances, but only under strict conditions defined by the source. According to the Legal Information Institute, if insulating barriers are installed to prevent contact with the lines, the clearance may be reduced to a distance within the designed working dimensions of the insulating barrier. This reduction applies only if the barriers are rated for the voltage of the line being guarded and are not a part of or an attachment to the vehicle or its raised structure. Dispatchers must verify that any barrier used on-site meets these specific criteria before authorizing closer work. The barrier must be an independent unit, not integrated into the vehicle's raised structure, and its voltage rating must match the specific line it guards. If a barrier is attached to the vehicle or lacks the correct voltage rating, the standard clearance distances remain in effect, and the reduction is not permitted.

For workers on the ground, the restrictions focus on conductive objects. According to the Legal Information Institute, when an unqualified person is working on the ground in the vicinity of overhead lines, the person may not bring any conductive object closer to unguarded, energized overhead lines than the distances given in paragraph (c)(3)(i)(A) of this section. This rule applies to any unqualified person, meaning that even if the worker is not performing electrical work, their tools or equipment must respect the minimum distance. Conductive objects include metal ladders, tools, or any other material that can carry an electrical current. The distance limit is tied to the specific paragraph referenced in the source, which outlines the required distances for unguarded, energized lines. Dispatchers should ensure that ground workers are aware of these limits and that any conductive equipment is kept at a safe distance.

When a job involves working near overhead power lines, the dispatcher must know exactly who to call and what information to have ready before the technician arrives on site. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety states that if a worker must be close to power lines, the first step is to call the electrical utility company, which will assist you Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. This contact is distinct from emergency services; the same source notes that in an emergency, you should call 911 and your local utility service for help Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Keep both numbers visible on the dispatch board so a team lead can dial the correct line without searching for it during a crisis.

For vehicles that operate near these lines, the Health and Safety Executive notes that your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) can generally supply stickers describing emergency procedures and containing contact numbers Health and Safety Executive. These stickers are designed to be stuck in the cabs of vehicles likely to be used near overhead power lines Health and Safety Executive. As a dispatcher, verify that every truck assigned to a job with overhead lines has the current DNO sticker in the cab before release. If a vehicle lacks this sticker, hold the dispatch until the sticker is applied or the utility contact numbers are manually written on the windshield. This ensures the driver has immediate access to the specific emergency contacts required for that region.

One dispatcher marks eight checks for a crew staying 4 m from an overhead line. Property isolation is the safest option, and power stays off while workers, tools, or equipment remain within 4 m. The note also lists a non-conductive ladder, one utility number, a rated barrier separate from the vehicle, and the ground-worker limit.

Today, record the distance range and isolation status on the work order before the truck leaves. See Work order statuses: 6 words to check at dispatch.

What is the minimum distance for isolation of the electricity supply?

WorkSafe New Zealand states that the electricity supply must be isolated by the electricity retailer for all work less than 0.5 m from a low voltage overhead electric line, according to WorkSafe New Zealand. This rule applies specifically to low voltage overhead electric lines as defined by that source.

Can a worker use a metal ladder near overhead power lines?

No, because the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety requires ladders made with non-conductive side rails, such as fibreglass, when working with or near electricity or power lines, according to Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Metal side rails are not specified as safe in this guidance.

Who must be contacted if the worker must be close to power lines?

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety instructs that if you must be close to power lines, you must first call your electrical utility company which will assist you, according to Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. This contact step is required before proceeding with work in close proximity.

What type of ladder should be used when working near electricity?

Use ladders made with non-conductive side rails, for example fibreglass, when working with or near electricity or power lines, according to Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. This material requirement applies to any work involving or near electrical sources.