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Post Info TOPIC: Ladder safety Electrical Hazards
BCRoofClean


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Ladder safety Electrical Hazards
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This is an awesome piece of info that we should all print out. I think it's from a Canadian website but you know those Canadians and they know their safety.

http://www.powerlinesafety.info/roofer.php

Power lines are extremely dangerous. If you don't know what that line hanging in the air is then leave it alone and if you do know then good stay the heck away from it.

Everytime you pick up a ladder you should be aware of trees and power lines. Even a tree could tangle you up or you could knock a bees nest down and have it fall ontop of your head like a cartoon or something. You never know some college kid could be sleeping up there and who knows what comes next!

Just make sure you look before you lift! And just because you have a fiberglass ladder doesn't give you any freedom to go touching wires, there is plenty of metal on those ladders and electricity arcs and is attracted to the wet puddle you are standing in. Fiberglass no doubt could save your life though and if you have metal ladder you have no chance.

The other thing is whenst you are up on the roof you want to be very careful of the wires and stay away from them. All wire has what is called a jacket on it which is the rubber cover usually black or grey when used outdoors. This stuff just like any other plastic or rubber can and will dry rot especially in old homes. if you see strands of silver stay away from it, this may be the most neglected important issue because homeowners have no clue about this stuff. This doesn't only pertain to wires on a roof, this is especially for the wires attached to the home.

And if you see a electrical box that is rusty stay away! This means that it is most likely rusting from the inside out. Meter boxes are meant to be in harsh weather conditions and if there is rust there is a problem and it could get you hurt so if someone asks you to clean on or near there be careful and never opt to clean the rust of of any electrical component!

-- Edited by BCRoofClean on Saturday 12th of June 2010 10:37:33 PM

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Bucks County PA Roof Cleaning
267-477-1107
Free Your Pennsylvania Roof From Fungus
Serving all of Bucks and Montgomery Counties and surrounding areas of Philadelphia
Chalfont, PA 18914
BCRoofClean


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Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 wrote:

You have to always remember that SH is an elecrolitic.  That means it conducts electricity.  Spray something electrical and the electricity will come right to you.  Always be aware of any open electrical sockets.  If you get SH in it, it can start a house fire as the house wires will start arching and melt the insulation.  Yes I have seen open outlets on the roofs before and I learned all of the above the hard way.

I have been cleaning roofs for 15 years and the ladder of my choice is a 225 lb  28 ft aluminum.  Extra weight it just that, extra weight & extra work.  6 lbs extra ladder weight adds up at the end of the day and a 225 lb ladder will build your muscles up also without tearing up your back in the long run.  But then I only weigh 155 lb, most electricity in my area is under ground, and I am no spring chicken looking to build my muscles as I already have them.

 

That is an awesome safety point here Marcus! The thing here to learn is gloves aren't just a must, Rubber safety gloves are the best and safest!



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Bucks County PA Roof Cleaning
267-477-1107
Free Your Pennsylvania Roof From Fungus
Serving all of Bucks and Montgomery Counties and surrounding areas of Philadelphia
Chalfont, PA 18914
BCRoofClean


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To piggyback on what Marcus was saying, we all run into bees and get stung a lot I'm sure. Especially if you clean shutters. But this also has electrifying properties even though it is a foam. This means it will jump or arc even though there is no integrated stream. I am pretty sure you can but bee spray that is non conductive too. So why not?

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Bucks County PA Roof Cleaning
267-477-1107
Free Your Pennsylvania Roof From Fungus
Serving all of Bucks and Montgomery Counties and surrounding areas of Philadelphia
Chalfont, PA 18914
Roof Cleaning Corpus Christi TX


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There are so many liquids out there that we use that will conduct electricity, it is always a good idea to take a walk around first, see where electrical outlets are, look at the breaker boxes, notice where the electrical lines go to the house, if there are any bee nests, tree obstructions, etc.... Better safe than sorry.

Keep up the good work guys.

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Chris Chappell
361-853-2513
Cleaning Shingle and Tile Roofs in Corpus Christi Texas
No Pressure Roof Cleaning in Corpus Christi Texas
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