It's easy to prevent serious accidents involving cranes and
power lines. Here's a few safety tips to keep in mind on the job:
Always consider all power lines as energized
and dangerous. Any contact with a crane boom will probably
cause serious injury to operators and workers, and damage to equipment.
Look up before you unload or load
a crane from a truck or lowboy. Make sure there are no overhead lines
before you start.
Educate your crew — particularly new employees
— about the dangers of overhead power lines. During crane operations,
the most hazardous thing a ground worker can do is touch the crane or
load line.
That's why it makes sense to add an extra margin of safety by barricading
your crane's operating area. A well-placed barricade also serves as
a visual reminder of the danger zone and can minimize risk to those
in the area, or those handling the load line, slings or cable.
Be safe. The crane's mast or boom must be kept at
least 10 feet away from a normal distribution power line at all times
— this includes the load line and the load. Skilled crane operators
know that distances in the air are hard to judge, and that a spotter
is a good safety measure. When working near any power line, use the
shortest boom possible. Never move a crane under a power line unless
there are adequate clearances.
Remember, it's the law. Many states like Virginia
and North Carolina have a state law which requires that the operator/owner of
a crane notify a utility or line owner at least 48 hours before they work in
close proximity to any power line.
If your crane boom or mast contacts a power line, the
operator should immediately try to swing the boom into the clear. If it is necessary
to leave the equipment, anyone on the machine should jump entirely clear of
the unit. Jump so that both feet hit the ground at the same time, and keep them
close together. Walk away in a small-step shuffle because a lot of power flowing
into the ground can create differences in electrical potential around the problem
— enough differences to actually shock anyone whose feet are too far apart.
Once clear of the equipment, do not return for any reason until the power line
has been grounded or determined to be safe by your electric utility or the owner
of the line. Keep anyone nearby from touching or approaching the equipment.
Safety Brochures
A brochure about safety around power lines is available
to the public at no charge.
To request brochures for your personal use or for
your company or organization, send
us an e-mail with your address and the quantity needed.
Electrical Safety Campaigns
If you'd like to organize an electrical safety campaign for
your organization, contact the National Electrical
Safety Foundation for more information, or contact
us.
