| Although the reputation of safety is a key component | | | | As well, the American Public Power Association has |
| to your business in the construction world, there is | | | | safety training DVDs that are geared specifically for |
| nothing more important than keeping your workers | | | | power utilities. There are other companies that have |
| safe. Providing proper boom truck training and ensuring | | | | produced safety videos, so for basic knowledge for |
| that everyone employ safety measures each and | | | | new workers, your company can order a volume that |
| every time they use your company's boom trucks is | | | | introduces basic boom truck training. |
| pivotal to ensuring that no one gets hurt on the job. | | | | The Best Steps to Avoid Accidents |
| Apprenticeships for Boom Truck Operators | | | | Accidents and deaths can occur from improper boom |
| Most Canadian provinces now require that boom truck | | | | truck training or, worse yet, no training. The best ways |
| operators fulfill a mandated apprenticeship training | | | | to avoid accidents are: |
| program. For example, in Alberta, any boom truck | | | | - Boom truck training, including regular updates and |
| operator who is operating booms, including telescoping | | | | refresher courses |
| booms and articulating booms possessing lives lines, | | | | - Rigid maintenance schedules |
| capable of swinging, hoisting, and booming up a down | | | | - Warnings issued and followed up on for workers |
| with a capacity greater than 5 tons or booms without | | | | who are not following proper safety procedures |
| live lines with a lifting capacity greater than 8 tons are | | | | - Ensuring new equipment, be it purchased, leased or |
| required to have their certification. | | | | rented, is checked over by the company's |
| What if the Boom Truck Falls Below the | | | | maintenance crew, rather than just relying on another |
| Apprenticeship Guidelines? | | | | company to make sure it is safe |
| As boom truck operators set up, service, and operate | | | | - Experienced operators and linemen, and for those |
| hydraulic booms, it is necessary that they are very | | | | who lack experience, ensuring they have proper |
| knowledgeable about the trucks they are working on, | | | | supervision |
| regardless of the size of the truck. The complexity of | | | | - Not overworking your staff with too much overtime, |
| the pedals and levers to rotate the crane and raise | | | | no matter how tight the deadlines can be, and ensuring |
| and lower the loads is enough to make anyone think | | | | that lighting and weather conditions are satisfactory |
| twice. Boom truck training is a must, regardless of the | | | | - Checking load restrictions each time the machinery is |
| size of the boom, the truck, or both. | | | | used |
| The best sales companies also employ staff to liaise | | | | With vigilance, proper boom truck training, adequate |
| with new clients and to train their workers to use the | | | | supervision for new workers, and steps to ensure that |
| equipment safely. A strong relationship with the repair | | | | the boom truck is in working order, your company can |
| team at your sales company can also help: if your | | | | bank on a reputation of safety. This reputation will |
| staff has questions or doubts about a boom truck, | | | | benefit your company in the marketplace and with |
| consulting the repair people should be the first step, | | | | potential employees. |
| rather than the last one. | | | | |