Working in the Hours of Darkness
It is acknowledged that working in the hours of darkness or other low ambient light conditions presents potential risks beyond those encountered in normal daylight hours.
The safety of all the people involved, including anybody else who might be affected by the work, must be the primary priority when completing the mandatory on-site risk assessment of the task and location, and must take precedence over other considerations. Once the risk assessment has been carried out, the decision made by the individual whether it is safe to carry out the task is final and can not be overturned. As with all Risk Assessments, they should be continually reviewed to take account of any change of circumstances.
Engineers working with the lighting kit must have successfully completed Training Course ORSAF006 to demonstrate competency in setting up and using the equipment before using it for any ladder or pole work.
The following areas / jobs must not be undertaken in the hours of darkness or other low ambient light conditions:
- There shall be no long ladder work.
- Work is not permitted where it would require carrying ladders, or other equipment such as dropwire dispensers or lighting sets over rough or unmade ground or carrying the equipment where ground conditions can not be checked or adequately illuminated.
- Climbing of poles over 10 metres.
- No work must be performed which would require turning on the pole.
- No new dropwire erection across "A" or “B" class roads over 30 mph.
- No checking the height of wires across carriageways other than single carriageways.
- Where pedestrians would need to enter the carriageway.
- Any work on joint user poles.
- No work on power crossings.
- Work in the vicinity of overhead power distribution lines at end user's premises where there is a risk of contact between the power lines and the individual or their equipment, including erecting and moving ladders.
- No activity on overhead wires which requires erection over structures (sheds buildings, high walls and fences, greenhouses, etc.).
- No clearing of obstructions or tree pruning during the hours of darkness. This includes manoeuvring through branches to gain access.
- No work involving temporary raising of drop wires with a Prop Telescopic.
Neither managers nor controls can ask you to do something you believe is unsafe.
An individual has the absolute final decision on whether work can be undertaken through the risk assessment. No other person can overturn the individual risk assessment.
SFY/HSH/D040 - Issue 16 - 17/03/2009 refers
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