Overhead Power Lines - Safety Awareness (Refresher)

The Overhead Power Lines - Safety Awareness (Refresher) course enables delegates to refresh and update their knowledge of the hazards associated with overhead power lines, reinforcing safe working practices in accordance with current health and safety legislation, industry guidance and best practice.

Combining tutor-led learning with practical examples, workplace discussions and incident reviews, delegates will revisit the principles of working safely near overhead electrical infrastructure, review emergency procedures and consider any changes to legislation, guidance or working practices since their previous training. The course is designed to reinforce safe behaviours and maintain awareness for those who regularly work in the vicinity of overhead power lines.

Training is delivered in line with the UK Rural Skills (UKRS) Course Standard, ensuring a structured, competence-based refresher programme that reinforces the knowledge required to safely plan and undertake work near overhead electrical infrastructure.

• Existing operators and workers requiring refresher training.
• Agricultural and estate workers.
• Construction and civil engineering operatives.
• Forestry and arboricultural workers.
• Grounds maintenance and landscaping personnel.
• Plant and machinery operators.
• Utility and highways personnel.
• Supervisors and managers responsible for planning work near overhead power lines.

• Refresher on relevant health and safety legislation and legal responsibilities.
• Reviewing the dangers associated with overhead power lines.
• Identifying overhead electrical infrastructure and associated hazards.
• Safe working distances and exclusion zones.
• Planning work safely near overhead power lines.
• Reviewing risk assessment and safe systems of work.
• Safe operation of plant, machinery and long equipment near overhead lines.
• Emergency procedures following contact with overhead power lines.
• Lessons learned from incidents and near misses.
• Updates to industry guidance and current best practice.

• Reviewing overhead power line hazards through workplace scenarios.
• Applying risk assessment principles to realistic work activities.
• Planning safe working methods around overhead electrical infrastructure.
• Discussing emergency response procedures and incident case studies.
• Reinforcing safe working practices through practical exercises and group discussion.

Delegates are assessed throughout the course through instructor questioning, participation in practical exercises and knowledge-based assessment to confirm their continued understanding of overhead power line hazards and safe working practices. Assessment is conducted against the learning outcomes and assessment criteria specified within the relevant UK Rural Skills (UKRS) Course Standard.

Upon successful completion of the course, delegates will receive a UK Rural Skills (UKRS) Accredited Certificate, demonstrating that they have successfully refreshed their knowledge and achieved the learning outcomes and assessment criteria specified within the relevant UKRS Course Standard.

This course is intended as a refresher for delegates with previous training or experience and supports the ongoing maintenance of knowledge when working near overhead power lines. It does not authorise delegates to work on, isolate or carry out maintenance to electrical infrastructure, and employer-specific procedures and electricity network operator guidance must always be followed.

Delegates should have previously completed overhead power line safety awareness training or have relevant workplace experience. They should possess a sufficient understanding of spoken and written English to fully participate in training and assessment.

Course duration will vary depending on delegates' previous experience, the number of delegates attending and organisational requirements. Training is designed to refresh existing knowledge, reinforce safe working practices and maintain awareness of the hazards associated with working near overhead power lines.