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Section
8
Safety
Working mobile and portable
8F1 Recall that elevated wires, masts and antennas must be suitably located and secured.
This has been touched upon earlier but as a reminder when you put up wires, feeders, masts antennas etc, outside think of the location and how they are fixed. Is the location suitable or could it be knocked by say a window cleaners ladder? If it were knocked would the fixing be secure enough to keep the cable in place?
Recall that antennas and feeders must not be sited close to overhead power cables.
Extra care should be taken when putting up antennas. Antennas must never be placed near overhead power cables as these carry high voltages and are not necessarily insulated. Thus there are two dangers:-
Both could result in death from electrocution of if not that then being thrown from the ladder, and the fall to the ground might kill you.
Recall that a lethal electric shock can result from antennas and ladders coming into contact with or attracting arcing from overhead lines.
Extra care should be taken when putting up antennas. Antennas must never be placed near overhead power cables as these carry high voltages and are not necessarily insulated. Thus there are two dangers:-
Both could result in death from electrocution of if not that then being thrown from the ladder, and the fall to the ground might kill you.
8F2 Understand the reasons for not having wires trailing across the floor, trip hazards and the risk of frayed insulation.
You must always keep your radio shack
neat & tidy. There must not be any loose wires trailing across
the floor as this could be a electrical hazard as you could trip
over or pull wires out of sockets and hurt yourself.
Also cables that are walked over time and time again as well as
being a trip-hazard could fray or become damaged
So even without cables all over the place it is a good idea to
regularly check all leads are in good condition and to replace as
necessary.
8F3 Recall that excessive volume when wearing headphones can cause damage to hearing.
You must take care when using headphones that the volume control is set to a relatively low level. Cracks and pops that are heard, from time to time increase the level of the volume and this could cause damage to your hearing if they are excessive.
8F4 Recall that operating in temporary premises and/or outdoors can introduce new hazards e.g. temporary mains connections, trailing cables, damp ground.
Operating in temporary premises and/or outdoors is a new environment and so you must check out how safe it is for you to be there can introduce new hazards e.g. temporary mains connections, trailing cables, damp ground.
Recall the additional safety precautions that should be taken whilst operating in temporary premises and/or outdoors e.g. risk assessment, cable routing, protection, correct fusing, use of RCBO’s, no adjustments or repairs to live equipment. Recall that advice should be sought where you are unsure.
You must check out that the electrical supply is safe for you to use, in fact you must carry out a risk assessment, cable routing, protection, correct fusing, use of RCBO’s, no adjustments or repairs to live equipment and that more advice needs to needs sought if you are unsure.
8F5 Recall that safety is everybody’s responsibility and that one must be alert to any potentially unsafe circumstance, warn others and report the matter to the appropriate person.
It is everyone's responsibility to teach other to be alert to any potentially unsafe circumstance, warn others, and report the matter to the appropriate person.
Recall this equally applies in your own ‘shack’ and when entertaining visitors
When you have visitors to your shack ( that is where you operate you radio equipment ) make them aware of the dangers and NOT TO TOUCH ANYTHING and let them know where the EMERGENCY shut of power switch is located.
The origin of some of the text on this page is from the RSGB with additions by the web master
