Utility workers face numerous challenges in their quest to build, maintain and improve infrastructure. One significant yet sometimes overlooked challenge is the risk associated with equipment instability. Crucial aspects of equipment setup include stabilization of the machine and selection of appropriate supporting materials – such as outrigger pads and cribbing blocks – to enhance work-site safety.

Case Study: EnergyUnited
From busy roadsides to uneven terrain and unstable surfaces, utility workers are no strangers to operating in precarious environments. These conditions can increase the risk of equipment tip-overs, which remain one of the most common – and preventable – job-site accidents. The consequences of such accidents range from equipment damage and project delays to worker injuries and fatalities.

To mitigate the risk of tip-overs, employers should consider a three-pronged approach to proper equipment setup that includes comprehensive employee training, proper work planning and effective use of supporting materials.

To illustrate the importance of work planning, let’s examine an approach taken by EnergyUnited, a North Carolina-based electric cooperative. Under the leadership of Jimmy Brown, director of fleet services, the cooperative established a formal policy for the use of outrigger pads and cribbing.

EnergyUnited collaborated with industry experts to assess their organization’s outrigger requirements, examining factors including truck weight, boom length, lift capacity and typical site conditions. As a result of this study, the cooperative implemented three key policies:

• Mandatory use of outrigger pads for all bucket trucks, digger derricks and small crane trucks.
• Use of cribbing blocks when operating on uneven terrain.
• Implementation of a fleet specification policy intended to ensure all company trucks are equipped with storage bins to carry the necessary stabilization tools.

This approach demonstrates how organizations can systematically address safety concerns related to equipment stability.

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