Training Detail

Contra Costa RACES will be operating a Field Day Site at the Contra Costa OES. There is a need for operators. Due to site restrictions, you need to sign up for a shift in advance. Contact Fred Nieman W6BBQ via email W6BBQ at COMCAST.NET. Please provide your full name, call, phone number and email.

Field Day Electrical Safety Outdoor Field Day sites often place hams in spots where they're unfamiliar with the location of overhead power lines. Before anyone sets up the antennas and equipment all of the operators and assistants need to walk the site together, assess the safety of the location and discuss the following safety pointers: Your first step is to locate the overhead power lines. Point them out to everyone and discuss how you will all approach the set up and breakdown of the antennas, towers, guy wires, awnings and tents. Ask yourself... "At any time can arms, legs, head, the antenna, wires or tools come in contact with power lines?" Assume all overhead power lines are energized and dangerous. Remember, these wires are not covered. This includes the service drops, which typically run from a power pole to a home or business. Look closely for power lines hidden by trees and buildings. Use a safety spotter. Nobody can do the work alone and assess safety distances. A safety spotter's only job is to keep people and equipment safely away from power lines. Remember the 10-foot rule. Locate your antenna as far as possible away from power lines -- and never closer than 10 feet. Never use metal ladders or long-handled metal tools when working near power lines. Make sure your antenna cannot be rotated into power lines. Or that it cannot fall into a power line if the guy wires fail and the tower falls. Never set up an antenna in the dark. But if you feel you must do so, first use a high powered spotlight to locate overhead power lines. They are not reflective so take your time. Look for where the power lines are, as well as where they are not. Never throw an antenna wire, guy wire or rope into a tree which is located near a power line. And if a power line is touching a tree, stay away. The tree could be energized and deadly. If you encounter a downed power line, stay away and keep others away. Call 9-1-1 immediately. Have fun and good luck. 73, Charles Basham, N6DZW Manager of Public Safety Southern California Edison