Technical management of electrical risks for clearing vegetation personnel in a high-voltage line maintenance company

Abstract

This research paper, from a preventive approach, highlights the importance of specifically addressing and analyzing electrical risks, in order to promote a preventive culture into the company. It employs tools such as a specific risk matrix for electrical risks, tailored for the vegetation clearing personnel of a high-voltage line maintenance company. The activities carried out by this group of workers make them the ideal focus for this study specifically. The purpose of this article is to consider and present the work performed by the personnel, analyze electrical risks, their variables, considering the health effects that can occur, expose preventive and mitigation measures, and propose a new risk analysis method for the company's management. This aims to develop improvements for the Industrial Safety department of MOELECTRICITY S.A. in order to change the focus of the risk’s analysis in general. The logical-inductive research method was employed, as it is based on observation and experience of the investigator to reach a general conclusion. The main risks faced by personnel working on site were identified using the matrix from the Technical Regulations for Electrical Installations (RETIE). From the complete analysis we took the most important risks and each risk was analyzed individually, revealing a Medium risk level. Although no incidents have been reported so far, the potential severity of such risks remains a latent and concerning issue. The inclusion of the proposed analysis method was recommended, along with periodic reevaluations and the dissemination of preventive measures. This aims to foster a safer work environment.