Fish Tapes are used in our industry on a daily basis, used to fish or snake power runs and low-volt communication lines through walls and ceilings. Fish Tapes are a quick and convenient way to pull lines without having to resort to unneeded demolition. Fish Tapes that are most commonly used are made of spring metal and can present laceration or electrical hazards to their user. Below you will find a few helpful hints to make your Fish Tape usage a little safer.

• DO NOT RUN A FISH TAPE THROUGH YOUR BARE HANDS; fish tapes can have sharp edges or burrs which can lacerate your hands
• BE AWARE OF THE SPRING HAZARD OF A COILD FISH TAPE; keep your fish tape constrained in the holder as much as possible
• BE AWARE OF ALL ELECTRICAL HAZARDS; never run a fish tape into a energized panel without first making safe the panel you are pushing to
• USE PROPER LOCKOUT/TAGOUT PROCEDURES; whenever possible while working around energized electrical circuits

Use common sense and work with extreme caution when using a fish tape, fish tapes can make your work easy, and they can present a hazard. Look before you fish.

Len
Safety Director