As more and more electric cooperatives take advantage of new federal funding to deploy or expand broadband networks, safety experts caution that additional rules and precautions may be needed to maximize the safety of employees and contractors.

Contacts with energized lines have risen dramatically among fiber contractors hired by co-ops, according to the Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange. There were seven in 2021, 13 in 2022 and 25 last year. Through June of this year, there have been eight.

Some worry that short completion deadlines tied to federal grants may be exacerbating the problem.

“It’s no different than working with an electric contractor,” said Corey Parr, Federated’s vice president of safety and loss prevention. “But the difference I’ve seen is that you have these funds available and there’s a push to have the projects completed.”

The Occupational Safety Health Administration requires a 40-inch minimum distance between energized and non-energized sources in aerial construction. It’s enough space to lower risk, but fiber techs are often unfamiliar with power industry rules and can stray too close to power lines, say co-op safety managers.

“The misconception is that everyone sees fiber as non-conductive and that it’s not as dangerous as electricity, but you’re still working near the power space,” said Jason Rothell, safety manager of Habersham EMC, based in Clarkesville, Georgia. “People need safety training to determine what’s energized and what isn’t.”

Experts say co-ops can work to minimize exposures by asking these four questions at the start of a fiber project:

• Do you truly understand the scope of the project? If it involves hanging fiber, are poles in good shape?
• Do safety plans and training apply to both in-house workers and fiber contractors?
• Are fiber techs adequately trained and do they show proficiency in tasks near the electrical space during “make-ready” and construction?
• Do you know which statutes or codes apply to your project?

A safe buildout also depends on the hiring process and the strength of the contract between co-ops and fiber contractors, experts say. Vet quality contractors, they say, get references and check out their past work.

“Set expectations for safety upfront and put language in your contract to protect members and property,” said JD Cox, director of safety and loss control at Northcentral Electric Cooperative in Byhalia, Mississippi.

“Police the contract, not the contractors,” he continued. “We’re not going to go in there and tell them how to do their jobs. But we can expect their performance to be in line with standards set out in the contract.”

And when there have been near-misses among contractors—most safety managers interviewed for this story reported a few—they acted quickly to address the incident.

“When we did have one of those instances, we brought in all of our contractors and discussed what had taken place and things to be aware of,” said Randy Golladay, job safety and training director at Central Virginia Electric Cooperative in Lovingston. “We said, ‘We’re OK right now, but let’s learn from it and move forward.”

Experts point to several resources to guide co-ops on ensuring a safe environment for employees and contractors, including Federated’s safety app. Drones and diagnostics can detect whether areas contain pitfalls. Northcentral EC hired a fiber optic engineering company to help them with safety considerations.

CVEC has just released the second edition of a safety manual for those working on its broadband subsidiary, Firefly. The handbook’s 18 sections cover the co-op’s safety policies and procedures on a range of operations and explain relevant OSHA laws. It also includes checklists for procedures, including lockout/tagouts.

“I’ve probably gotten 40 to 50 requests for the manual,” Golladay said. “Sharing this is one of the great things about the cooperative world. I would have loved to borrow a copy!”