HSE DOCUMENTS-CABLE PULLING SAFETY PRESENTATION

CABLE PULLING SAFETY PRESENTATION

This presentation raises awareness uploaded y HSE Documents on safe pulling of electrical power and control cables in buried trenches. It identifies key hazards like falls, trips, and manual handling injuries, while outlining best practices, job planning, PPE requirements, and safe installation procedures to prevent incidents.

PURPOSE

The Purpose of this presentation is:

To bring awareness in relation to safe pulling of electrical power & control cables laid in the buried trench;
To identify the hazards associated with these activities;
To familiar with good working practice to be followed during cable pulling.

Hazards of Cable Pulling

Falls
Dropped objects
Tripping hazards
Sharp edges, cuts & pinch points
Caught between or struck by cable drums
Personal injuries resulted in improper manual handling techniques

Tripping over the cables

Poor cable management

Sharp edges, cuts & pinch points

Caught between or struck by cable drums

Unsecured cable drums

Improper Manual Handling

Musculoskeletal Injuries
Ligaments & Tendon Injuries
Nerve Injuries
Hernias

Job Planning

Site preparation, permit & safety requirements.
Determine the methods to be used in placing each type of cable.
Identify and obtain appropriate cable pulling tools, equipment and supplies
Identify working surface hazards, especially for outdoor work and ensure adequate hazard controls are used to prevent slips, trips or falls.
Identify safe locations for accessing and pulling the cable.
Determine the staffing required and assign tasks to team members.
Provide proper communication as needed
Storage, handling and transportation.

Site Preparation

The area in which the cable drums are to be placed shall be identified and the ground surface to be prepared to have an evenly leveled and hard surfaced without any loose soil.
The cable drum stands intended to support the cable drums shall be shifted to the location and positioned on the ground surface
The solid mild steel bars shall be arranged to be used as a shaft to support the cable drum.
The concrete trench shall be inspected for depth, width & proper sand cushioning in line with the cable layout and standard drawing

PTW Requirements

Remember If It’s more than 1.2 meters deep, you need a confined space entry permit
TRENCH
Verify whether the confined space entry is applicable to the nature of the work and arrange the permit accordingly
Ensure that Method Statement, JSA, HIP are prepared and approved
Ensure the tool box talk is given about the work prior to commencement of the activity
All cable-pulling personnel shall be trained and competent

Safe Working Environment

All unprotected areas must be barricaded to prevent fall risk
Warning signs must be posted to prevent tripping hazard
Use installed scaffolding bridges to cross trenches safely

Tools & Equipment

Use right tool for cable pulling
Examine all work tools to ensure they are in safe condition
Carefully follow all manufactures’ instructions when mounting, securing & using potentially dangerous mechanical equipment for cable pulling such as winches, cable wheels and cable brakes
Adequate PPE must be worn
Never use homemade tools

Pre-task discussions

Everyone must attend a pre-task talk (Toolbox Talk) before starting work
The talk should be led by the supervisor
Discussion should concern hazards of the work about to be performed
Please share any concerns or lessons learned from previous jobs to increase awareness with regard to safe task performance and prevent incidents in the future
Report to your supervisor all unsafe conditions and acts

Personnel Protective Equipment

Hard hats shall be worn for work that has serious potential for falling or flying objects and striking of the head
Wear adequate safety glasses to protect your eyes
Wear protective foot ware such as steel-toe slip resistant sneakers or shoes
Wear protective gloves when performing any work that has potential for hand or forearm injuries
Wear well-fitting clothes to protect against minor cuts, scratches and abrasions.
Do not wear loose fitting cloths that could get caught on tools or surroundings

Task Specific PPE

Use safety harnesses while working at unsecured and exposed edges / comply with 100 % tied off requirements
Hearing protection is required in high noise areas
Wear extra eye protection PPE if there is possibility of any foreign body to embedded into the eyes

Preparation for cable installation

Prior to commencement ensure that:

The cable-pulling job underwent proper work planning.
Use drinking water frequently in hot environments.
Before work begins, clearly mark the work areas to restrict area for authorized personnel only.
Never leave work areas unattended or without barrier and warning signs if they present a hazard.
Examine all work tools to ensure that they are in safe working condition.
Carefully follow all manufactures’ instructions when mounting, securing & using potential dangerous mechanical equipment such as winches, cable wheel and cable brakes.

Cables Installation

The cable drums shall be positioned in the cable stands as per manufacture direction of rotation of the cable.
The cables shall be uncoiled from the drum and be placed in the rollers by means of pulling rope to be followed by pulling of the cable with the electrical personnel.
The cable ends on the drums shall be sealed properly once the cable installation is completed or by the end of the day.
Cable pulling during high temperature weather conditions shall be avoided.
Whenever the electrical or Diesel operated winch is used to pull a long distance cable, ensure that the winch operators and the supervisors involved in the signaling for the operation of winch is properly coordinated by the use of communication equipment, colored flags & whistle.

Manual Handling

To prevent pain, injuries and damage:

Examine & test… Weight, sharp edges, awkward shapes, stability of the load,
Plan the job… Safe system of work, route free of hazards, no where the load is going, plan rest stops!!
Get a good grip… How you are going to hold it, protect hands and feet by grasping the load firmly, wear good fitting gloves.
Get help… Use of mechanical aids, avoid manual handling.
Wear… the required PPE
Rest frequently… avoid becoming over tired
Talk… discuss problems
Lift… Get comfortable, lift smoothly keeping the load close to the body, avoid twisting, move your feet.
Always seek for assistance from co-workers

Lifting & Rigging

Personnel involved in lifting shall be trained & certified.
Ensure proper maintenance and inspections of cranes and rigging devices.
Ensure that color coding requirement are complied.
Barricade areas within swing radius and post warning signs.
Provide adequate communication.

Transportation

Cable drums shall shifted to the working site by using long vehicles, trailers and forklifts.
Operators / drivers shall be certified and competent.
Ensure that cable drums to be delivered on the site are secured in proper manner!

Storage

Cable drums shall be handled with care and be stored at the project site warehouse in a separate location.
Cable drums shall be stored away from each other
Barricades and warning signs shall be installed.
Cable drums shall be secured by chocks

Safety Inspections

It shall be the responsibility of assigned competent person to routinely inspect physical areas under their control in a cable pulling.
The inspections shall include determining the following:

If trenches are in safe conditions (free from fall, slipping, tripping, dropped objects etc. hazards)
If the personnel are trained and competent
If adequate tools and equipment are in place
If the job site is clean up.

Unsafe conditions must be reported

Clean up the job sites

Prevent development of hazards and risks.
Pick up pull strings and pull ropes immediately after use.
Collect and dispose of removed sheath, wire scrap, pieces of cable ties and waste wood with protruding nails.
Store significant amount of cable and cable reels in a secure area when pulling is complete.
Dispose of all personal items.
Remove unnecessary tape barricades and warning signs.
Store tools, equipment and unused materials properly at the end of working day.

Cable Pulling Safety Quiz

True / False

Hazards identification and personnel training contributes to reduce at-risk behaviours
A responsible person shall conduct weekly inspections of the trenches
Maintain proper housekeeping and cable management at site
Cable pulling in 140cm deep trench only needs approved Method Statement, JSA, HIP Form
Keep materials and tools at least 60cm from the edge of trenches
Pre-task discussions are considered less effective if involved personnel are trained and competent
Proper job planning ensure to reduce task-related risks, avoid injuries and loss
Cable drums shall be secured by chocks at 2 points in storage areas
The trench 30cm deep or more needs safety hard barriers
You may cross the trench anywhere whether safe scaffolding crossovers are not installed