Mitigation measures to avoid or reduce health and safety impacts from and energy transmission project.
The following are examples of mitigation measures that could be applied to reduce health and safety impacts of a project depending on site- and project-specific conditions. Impacts to health and safety are related to the project footprint (e.g., land disturbance), topography of the project location, project emissions (e.g., fugitive dust and other contaminant releases), type and complexity of project construction and operation, and potential for interaction of the public with the project. Many impacts can be reduced or avoided when considered during the siting and design of a project during the site evaluation phase.
Develop a final set of mitigation measures for any project in consultation with the appropriate federal resource management agencies and stakeholders. Conduct these consultations in the project development process and preferably prior to final project siting and design.
Siting and Design Mitigation Measures
Siting and design considerations that mitigate impacts include:
Incorporate sufficient setbacks in the project design to mitigate impacts of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure to nearby residences if an impact is expected.
Plan project to minimize interference with television and radio transmission and avoid interference with public safety communication systems.
General Mitigation Measures
General mitigation practices and principles that could apply to any or all phases of an energy transmission project include:
Develop and implement a health and safety plan to be followed throughout all phases of a project.
Provide occupational health and safety orientation training to all employees consisting of basic hazard awareness, site-specific hazards, safe working practices, and emergency procedures.
Consider public safety during helicopter flights (e.g., avoid populated areas, schools, areas being crop dusted).
Conduct daily safety assessment meetings to identify potential safety issues (e.g., site access, construction, work practices, security, transportation of heavy equipment, traffic management, emergency procedures, wildlife encounters, and fire control and management) and measures to mitigate them.
Provide fire suppression equipment in all vehicles.
Use appropriate procedures for storage and transportation of blasting equipment and explosive materials, including appropriate signage indicating its location.
Project Phase-Specific Mitigation Measures
Mitigation measures specific to a particular phase of an energy transmission project include:
Construction Practices
Hold contractor crew safety meetings at the start of each workday to go over potential safety issues and concerns.
Install grounding devices on all fences that cross or run parallel to a transmission line.
Ensure that employees are trained, as necessary, in tower climbing, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, rescue techniques, and safety equipment inspection and use.
Secure construction sites at the end of the workday to protect the equipment and the general public.
Should contaminated media be unexpectedly encountered during construction, stop work and call an environmental specialist to characterize the nature and extent of the contamination and determine appropriate measures to prevent its spread and to protect health and safety.
Operation and Maintenance
Purge gas from the pipeline or pipe components prior to welding or cutting activities.
Eliminate problems of induced currents and voltages onto conductive objects sharing a transmission line right-of-way.
