There are extremely important safety factors to consider when installing an antenna. Learning and following simple safety precautions can, quite literally save your life. Following safe procedures also helps prevent costly damage to your equipment and your customer’s property.
No list of safety tips can cover every potential hazard. Consequently, careful planning, common sense and good judgment must be used at all times.
- Locate and avoid power lines and other wires in the work area.
- Do not climb on a wet or icy roof.
- Do not attempt high installations on windy days.
- Do not proceed with the installation if it seems too dangerous. If you’re not sure if it is a safe installation – do NOT try to do it yourself. Call for professional help(look up Television Antenna Systems in your area or call your local power company).
- Use only the sturdiest commercial-grade, non-conductive ladders(types with wide, slip-preventive rungs and bases are essential. Avoid types with round rungs.).
- Do not position ladders at an angle steeper than 70°. Steeper angles can cause a ladder to slip sideways.
- Dig the base of the ladder into the ground if possible.
- Do not place ladders on slate that is wet or hot. Wet or sun-heated slate is very slippery.
- Do not climb on roofs that have curled or worn shingles(Old shingles break easily or pull out.).
- Wear seasonable clothing that is neither too tight nor too loose. Wear snugly-fitting rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes or boots.
- Wear a pair of durable but flexible protective gloves whenever they will not interfere with the work process.
- Any antenna mounted on 15 or more feet of mast requires more than one person to install.
- Read Instructions. All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the antenna, mast mount, mast or rotator is installed.
- Thoroughly plan every installation. Carefully think through the job, and don’t take dangerous shortcuts.
- Carefully survey the job before beginning the installation to locate secure handholds, dangerous conditions (such as power lines and weak roofs), and the safest and most convenient placements for ladders.
- Do not climb onto a roof when there is no one else around.
- Have a friend as a spotter when you’re on the roof. They can see things you can’t.
- Be sure all of your helpers know and follow safe procedures.
- Do not step into roof valleys(the area where two roofs join) as they are often are weak, even on new homes.
- Perform as much antenna assembly on the ground as possible.
- Do not install antennas under large, overhanging tree branches if it can be avoided.
- An outside antenna system should not be located in the vicinity of power lines or other electric light or power circuits, or where it can fall into such power lines or circuits. When installing an outside antenna system, extreme care should be taken to keep from touching such power lines or circuits as contact with them might be fatal. Antennas must be installed away from power lines a distance equal to at least twice the combined length of the mast and antenna.
- If any part of the antenna should come into contact with a power line CALL YOUR LOCAL POWER COMPANY! DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE IT YOURSELF! They will remove it safely.
- Mast, lead-in and metal guy wires are excellent conductors of electrical current - keep them away from power lines too.
- As part of the installation, make sure the antenna system is grounded so as to provide some protection against voltage surges and built-up static charges. Section 810 of the National Electrical Code. ANS/NFPA70, or CSA C22.1 Sections 10, 16, and 54, of the Canadian Electrical Code, provides information with respect to proper grounding of the mast and supporting structure, grounding of the antenna lead-in wire to an antenna discharge unit, size of grounding conductors, location of antenna-discharge unit, connection to grounding electrodes, and requirements for the grounding electrode.