COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course demonstrates how to perform a bucket truck rescue. Trainees will see how to lower the boom in an emergency, and two ways to extract an incapacitated person from a bucket. This course also demonstrates the importance of being able to act quickly and decisively during an emergency situation.

COURSE GOALS

• Explain and demonstrate several common ways to lower the boom in the event of a bucket truck emergency.
• Describe common methods of bucket truck escape, emergency boom lowering, and bucket truck rescue.
• Demonstrate two emergency situations and show how personnel should respond.

SUBJECTS AND OBJECTIVES

Emergency Boom Lowering

• Explain how to use a bucket truck’s lower controls to lower the boom in an emergency.
• Explain how to use a bucket truck’s auxiliary power system to lower the boom in an emergency.
• Explain how to bleed a bucket truck’s boom holding valves to lower the boom in an emergency.
• Explain how a line mechanic can use safety equipment to escape from a bucket during an emergency.

Bucket Truck Rescue – Part 1

• Describe some general considerations associated with performing a bucket truck rescue.
• Describe a basic procedure for performing a bucket truck rescue when the boom can reach the ground and the bucket truck has a quick-release device.

Bucket Truck Rescue – Part 2

• Explain what rescue blocks are and how they can be used.
• Describe a basic procedure for performing a bucket truck rescue using rescue blocks.
• Describe special circumstances that may affect a bucket truck rescue.