4 Boom Tip Continuity Tips to Consider for Safer Live Line Work

Understanding boom tip continuity is one of the most important safety considerations when performing live line work from an aerial device.

Check out these tips to consider for safe work practices when it comes to boom tip continuity:

1. Know Where the Boom Tip is– On Altec insulating aerial devices, bands of arrows mark the insulating portions of the booms. The boom tip area includes every component beyond the uppermost band of arrows.

You must consider everything at the boom tip electrically connected, including the:

  • Platform
  • Controls
  • Jib
  • Winch rope

2. Understand How Contact Occurs – If any part of the boom tip contacts an energized or grounded object, consider the entire boom tip to be at the same potential as that object. If the boom tip contacts another object at a different potential at the same time, such as a phase, neutral, or grounded object, current can flow through the entire boom tip, including the person in the platform. Insulating liners cannot protect the person in the platform from contact, directly or through the boom tip, with either two conductors or a single conductor and grounded equipment.

3. Protect Yourself at the Boom Tip – Properly cover exposed, energized parts, and maintain minimum approach distances from any energized components which are not properly covered.

For your primary protection, you should use:

  • Insulating gloves
  • Insulating sleeves
  • Hot sticks

Other tools which are maintained, rated, and tested for the voltages should also be included when performing live line work. Note the material handling jib is not a “hot stick.” It is a conductive part of the boom tip and must be used with other rated and insulating protective equipment when handling energized components.

4. Pay Attention to Your Surroundings – Stay aware of potential contact areas near the boom tip so you can guard against contact with energized or grounded components. This will help protect yourself and others while working from your Altec insulating aerial device.

For more information about boom tip continuity on your aerial device, contact the Altec Sentry Safety team online.