Most people recognize that you can not touch a person that is in contact with energized conductors or they can also be subject to the shock/electrocution. So here is the question:

Does your company or client have an electrical rescue hook?
Yes
No
Some clients do
What's that?

My company currently lacks an electrical rescue hook, and after reading this thread, I truly feel this is a shortcoming. I'd like to ask where you typically place this device to ensure it's easily accessible in case of an emergency?

Hi Jim, As we are all aware both NFPA 70E and CSA Z462 talk about emergency procedure training including first-aid and contact release. In my travels very few electrical workers at least here in Canada have such training, not to mention reporting of an electrical incident. I think that if a company is going to have a rescue hook in say their electrical rooms, workers need to be trained and their needs to be a policy in place as to when and how to use it, in addition to being trained in First- aid. As an alternative to the rescue hook, I know that Oberon has a line of coveralls that include an "extraction strap" or line in which if workers are in pairs the standby watch person use the line to release their partner if they are frozen on

NFPA 70E says you should have "Contact Release" training once a year! (110.4(C)1) I've been in this business for 45 years, and I can't say I've ever had contact release training! I do see hooksticks in some of the electrical rooms I've been in, and I applaud the companies who have them. I think hooksticks need to be tested at the same frequency as gloves, which is before first issued and on a 6-month basis thereafter, but I can't find where that is written.

Protective tools are tested at an interval to exceed no more than three years per NFPA 70E (250.3B).


Mike