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Guidelines for tipper lorries and mobile plant 

Overhead electricity lines can be a hazard if health and safety guidelines are ignored. These guidelines will help keep everyone working at and visiting the site safe:

  1. Identify the locations of overhead lines in the vicinity of the work and across entrances and exits. Remember vehicles do not need to strike power lines for injury to occur as electricity can jump gaps in the right conditions.
  2. Erect goal posts, barriers and warning signs to maintain safe clearances.
  3. Warn visiting drivers of the presence of overhead lines.
  4. NEVER raise the bed of a tipper lorry underneath an overhead line or drive under the line with the body of the vehicle raised. Drivers should unload elsewhere and use a vehicle that doesn’t pose a risk near power lines (such as a small dump truck).
  5. Contact us well before work takes place as we may need to arrange a temporary disconnection for the duration of the work.
  6. If the vehicle makes contact with the overhead electricity lines, stay put and call for help. If you need to get out to call for help or because of fire jump as far as possible from  your vehicle with both feet together.
  7. Never return to the vehicle and keep all people well away from any broken or damaged electricity apparatus.

Further information

Further information is available from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) [opens in new window] and ordering a copy of HSE Guidance Note GS6: Avoidance of danger from overhead electric power lines [339 kB PDF].