2. IN THE OFFICE
TRAINING & EDUCATION
22 CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS OWNER SEPTEMBER 2016
I
t’s a well-known fact that power lines
and cranes do not mix. Between 1992
and 2006, 102 construction workers
died as a result of crane-related, overhead
power line electrocutions. To help reduce
these needless deaths, in 2010, OSHA
spelled out the steps necessary for cranes
to work around power lines in the updat-
ed Cranes and Derricks in Construction
Standard OSHA 1926 Subpart CC. While
these regulations have helped, there were
five fatalities directly related to cranes con-
tacting overhead power lines in 2015. This
is a sign that more education needs to take
place regarding equipment working near
power lines. So what does it take to work
safely around power lines?
• Employers who operate cranes on a
construction site are responsible for
complying with clearance distances
and training aspects of OSHA 1926
Subpart CC, Sections 1407-1411.
• Other employers not directly involved
with crane operations, but whose
personnel work at the site, also have
training responsibilities to protect
employees against hazards related to
crane operations, according to OSHA
1926.1408 (g).
DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS
One of the most significant changes
OSHA made in 1926 Subpart CC was
to increase the basic minimum approach
distance/clearance for energized over-
head power lines from 10 feet to 20 feet
(for up to 350kV lines) and 50 feet (for
over 350kV lines). This does not mean
that equipment cannot work closer than
the 20- or 50-foot distance. However, it
does mean that if the equipment needs to
work closer to energized lines,
designated safety measures
must be followed.
SAFETY MEASURES
Before beginning crane opera-
tions the employer must identify
the work zone. This requirement
is satisfied by the employer per-
forming one of the following:
• Identify the work zone by
demarcating boundaries and
prohibiting the operator from
operating the crane past
those boundaries.
• Define the work zone as the
area 360 degrees around
the crane, up to the crane’s
maximum working radius.
Then, the employer must
determine if any part of the
crane, load line or load could get
closer than 20 feet to a power
line if the crane is operated at its
maximum working radius within
the work zone. In the case of Figure 1 on
page 24, as long as the operator under-
stands that all parts of the equipment must
be contained within the work zone, work
can start. However, with a 360-degree
work zone, the crane is within the 20-foot
clearance, requiring one of three options to
What Does It Take to Work
Around Power?
Know the crane operation requirements for projects tied to power lines
BY BO COLLIER
CONSTRUCTIONBUSINESSOWNER.COM 23CONSTRUCTIONBUSINESSOWNER.COM 23
be satisfied before work can start. These
options and their requirements are detailed
in OSHA Subpart CC 1926.1408 and are
highlighted in Figure 1.
One key point to understand is that
OSHA prefers Option 1: ‘De-energize
and ground method’ to protect against
electrocution and avoid the need for other
precautions. However, there are instances
where de-energizing is not practical. When
this is the case, OSHA outlined two other
options and the actions required to safe-
guard workers, equipment and electric
consumers. Both Option 2 and Option 3
require that all parts of the crane remain a
specified distance away from the energized
power line. Option 2 states if the voltage
of the energized power line is unknown,
then a 20-foot clearance must be used (for
up to 350kV lines). Option 3 allows work
closer to an energized power line only if the
specific line voltage is known—the
approved distance is listed on Table A.
After the appropriate clearance is deter-
mined, all of the required safety measures
must be met before work can proceed.
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
There is still another piece of the puzzle—
training, as outlined in 1926.1408.g—
which is required before crane work
begins. This applies to all employers with
personnel working in the near vicinity—
regardless if they are directly involved with
crane operations or not. Workers need
to understand how electricity dissipates
across the ground and the procedures to
follow in the event of electrical contact with
the power line.
HOW ELECTRICAL
CURRENT TRAVELS
It is important to know that when any part of
the crane, load line or load contacts ener-
gized power, the crane will become elec-
trically energized and so will the ground
around the crane. The electrical current/
voltage in the ground will not be consistent
as it disperses throughout the site—some
areas will have a higher voltage and others
a lower voltage (called ground potentials).
The difference between one voltage and
the next can be fatal, as the body cannot
handle more than one voltage passing
through it.
In general, the crane operator will be safe
as long as they remain on the crane, as the
crane will have a consistent voltage pass-
ing through it. The greatest danger is faced
by a person who is in contact with the
crane/load and ground, as these typically
have different voltages passing through
them. Also, personnel who are near but
not touching the crane or load can suffer
electric shock if they inadvertently move or
come in contact with more than one volt-
age. In fact, many times workers may not be
impacted at the time of power line contact,
but how they react can make the difference
between life and death. It is human nature
to rush to the aid of someone who appears
injured, but if personnel move and enter an
energized area, they may be exposed to
invisible and unknown voltage levels under
their feet and they place themselves at sub-
stantial risk for serious injury or death.
Training must reinforce the dangers,
and workers around mobile crane activi-
ties must be educated to look up first. The
electricity flowing through the crane and
surrounding site will be invisible and
generally silent. There may be a slight buzz
or a flash of light, but the only sign of con-
tact may be to look up and see it. There
may be no other indication that the crane/
area has been electrically charged.
WHAT TO DO IF THERE IS
ELECTRICAL CONTACT
If any part of the crane, load line or load
contacts energized power, it is key to have
these procedures be of second nature to all
personnel on the site:
• Do not move—Warn everyone in the
vicinity of the crane to keep their feet
planted and stay exactly where they
are until clearance is given by the
utility or contact with the power line
no longer exists. Remember, if they are
standing, then they need to continue to
stand in the exact spot to stay alive.
• Do not touch the load—Keep everyone
away from the load and its immedi-
ate area. It could be electrified and
dangerous. This is why nonconductive
taglines should be used.
• Do not touch equipment—Keep every-
one away from machinery, equipment
or material in the immediate area. It
could be electrified and dangerous.
• Do not touch the personnel—Do not
touch any person who is in the vicinity
of the crane.
• Call 911—Have a person who is
in a safe area call 911 to have the
fire department contact the utility to
de-energize the line. Remember, just
because the power may appear to be
turned off, there may be an auto reset
that could re-energize the power in
the line.
• Break contact with the line—If
possible, the operator should break
the contact with the power line. They
should do the opposite action that
caused the power line contact. Since
the power line may have welded itself
to the crane or load on contact, it may
mean that the power line will snap
when the contact is broken. Provide
Tip: Before working near
power lines, it is a good idea
to give a courtesy call to the
local fire department for the
area. Give them a heads up that
you will have cranes working
in proximity to power lines. Let
them know you will be working
within OSHA’s guidelines. Ask if
they have a particular number for
de-energizing lines to call in case
of a power line contact (besides
911). Having this number readily
available on-site should lessen
response times, too.
