1. A4 Insulator Changeout
© 2018 Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives

2. Why are we doing this energized?
Take some time to decide if it is necessary to do this job energized.
Could the job be done de-energized and grounded?
What would be the impact?
Would it be safer?

3. OSHA Required Tailgate Discussion Topics
Hazards Associate with the job
Work Procedures Involved
Special Precautions
Energy Source Controls
PPE Required
The five topics required by OSHA to discuss in the tailgate.
First letter from each topic = How Well Should Everyone Plan

4. Work Procedures Involved Hazards associated with the job
Special Precautions
Energy Source Controls
Personal Protective Equipment
Be sure to record your emergency location and post in a location everyone on the crew knows.
Have your PPE and First Aid kit available
Be sure your AED is accessible.
A safe job begins with a thorough inspection of…
Tools Be certain all of your tools are in good shape.
Equipment Make sure your trucks are all in working order take time to preflight your equipment and insure there are no surprise.
Line/Structure Look over the line and structure. Are there any potential hazards? (Broken insulators, damaged wire, clearances over roads or from trees?)
Be aware of your work area, be sure to cover anything you can reach touch or fall into. And anything that can reach touch or fall into you!
Discuss all PPE needed for the job and wear your PPE. Be sure to inspect your equipment prior to use. Identify all voltages you are exposed to. Be sure to have all of your Arc-Flash protective gear on.
Identify a dedicated observer
Working in traffic exposes you to hazards that are difficult to control. Give the vehicles plenty of time to see and avoid you! Follow the manual of traffic control for your area.
Slips trips and falls are some of the most common injuries, look for hazards that could cause this. Be sure to inspect and wear your fall arrest harness.
Here are the five topics again with signs and bubbles to jump start tailgate discussion!!
Click on the icon to bring up a text box. Click on the icon again to make the text box go away
Gets the crew involved. Gives the feeling of knowing it is ok to ask questions, give suggestions, see something, say something!
The next slides will get directly into the task at hand. Visual, written and audio will all be used here!
There are suggestions in the notes as to what to discuss. This will get the Team involved, creating communication channels to open!

5. Be sure to inspect the adjacent spans and structures for problems
Be sure to inspect the adjacent spans and structures for problems. Look for clearance hazards. Look for trees and traffic that may create a problem.
Inspect the structure for additional hazards.

6. Ground your truck with the use of a hotstick
Ground your truck with the use of a hotstick. Be sure the ground wire is completely unrolled for the reel if used. If it is a spring rewind be sure the reel is locked. Remember truck grounding is done to provide a fast operation of the line protective device if the truck were to become energized. It may not prevent you from being injured if you are touching the earth and the truck at the same time. Don’t allow anyone to come into contact with your truck while you are doing this job!

7. Open the pole ground connection to the neutral.

8. Install cover-up to the neutral.

9. Cover-up the neutral jumper and dead ends.

10. Install cover-up to the guy wires
Install cover-up to the guy wires. The use of a hot tap will help keep these in position.

11. Working from the inside of the corner at arms reach
Working from the inside of the corner at arms reach. Install line cover-up to the phase wires.

12. Install a mechanical insulated jumper (MAC) Be sure to support both ends. As soon as it is connected remember the other end is energized.

13. Remove the existing jumper now that it is bypassed with the MAC.

14. Install cover-up to the suspension insulators and dead ends
Install cover-up to the suspension insulators and dead ends. Take care to insure there are no exposed tails!

15. Look to be sure the phase and insulators are well covered
Look to be sure the phase and insulators are well covered. Install cover-up on the exposed structure. Start low and work your way up to the top of the pole. Make sure you are not in contact with the phase cover-up when doing this.
This is also a good time to install the sling around the top of the pole near the insulator you will be changing out. You can connect the insulating link to the sling as well.

16. Uncover the phase on the side you are changing the insulator
Uncover the phase on the side you are changing the insulator. Install the strap hoist with the handle away from the pole. Take up the strain to the insulator and remove the pin of the dead end from the insulator. Before removing the pin be sure to support the dead end shoe, conductor, and MAC to prevent it from falling.

17. Cover-up the conductor, hoist, MAC end, and the dead end shoe.

18. Check to be certain there is no exposed primary
Check to be certain there is no exposed primary. Uncover the insulator to be changed.

19. Remove the damaged insulator. Be careful of sharp edges!

20. Install the replacement insulator.

21. Cover-up the replacement insulator.

22. Uncover and re-pin the dead end shoe to the replacement insulator
Uncover and re-pin the dead end shoe to the replacement insulator. Inspect and then transfer the strain from the strap hoist back to the insulator.
Remove the strap hoist, grips, and let the insulating link hang back on the pole from the sling.

23. Re cover the phase, dead end and insulator
Re cover the phase, dead end and insulator. Remove the sling and insulating link.

24. Look to ensure everything on the phase is covered
Look to ensure everything on the phase is covered. Move in low to uncover the pole. Make certain not to be in contact with the primary cover-up when doing this.

25. Uncover the phase insulators. Do this at arms length.

26. Re-install the primary jumper. Be careful not to drop an end.

27. Remove the MAC. Be careful not to drop an end.

28. Remove the phase cover-up

29. Move down low and remove the guy wire cover-up.

30. Remove the neutral jumper cover-up.

31. Remove the neutral cover-up.

32. Re-connect the pole ground to the system neutral.

33. Remove your truck ground with the use of a hotstick.
Admire your work!