Overhead Power Line Safety for Contractors Working in the City of Lodi

Lodi Electric Utility By following simple procedures, you can save lives and prevent accidents (209) 333-6766

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Working Safely Overhead Utilities As a contractor, before you Blinding sunlight struck Jim’s can even break on a eyes as he surveyed the construction project, you project site. Only a few have a lot of up front work to power lines were overhead. accomplish. This booklet Easily avoidable, thought provides information that Jim, as his crew began to will assist you in your job gather around. “It’s going to planning and construction be a nice day”, said one phases, along with workman, as the crane information about safety slowly moved into place, its precautions, on-site boom swinging too high and supervision, safe monitoring far to the right. “Hey, watch of heavy equipment the boom!” yelled Jim, operators and crane waving his hands at the operators. Lodi Electric is crane operator. Startled, the willing to be your partner crane operator strained to when it comes to working hear him over the engine’s safely around utility drone. “What?” Then he saw installations near your it, just before the boom construction project. struck the lines. Sparks flew Working together, we can as the operator jumped from save lives and prevent the cab to the ground. accidents. Everyone scattered. “Watch it, the area’s energized with electricity, shouted Jim, warning his crew. That’s when Jim saw his crane operator on the ground. He’s hurt,” shouted a co-worker.

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What could have been done is dangerous for the operator to prevent this accident? and other employees in the Electrical contacts are among area. the most frequently repeated of all construction When working near any accidents, and many involve , keep a equipment contacting 10-foot circle of safety overhead electrical power between you, your lines, such as cranes. In fact, equipment and the line. power line contact is the Practice the 10-foot safety largest single cause of rule and be safe. For crane fatalities associated with operations reference the cranes. If correct safety Crane Procedures section of procedures are actively this pamphlet. practiced, these incidents can be avoided.

When operating any type of high-lift or heavy equipment near power lines, or electrical equipment, it is important to exercise extreme caution and adhere to safe equipment operation guidelines. Do not allow any part of machinery or equipment to come within the allowable approach distance of power lines (see table A). Not only does that violate the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule, section 1926.600, but it also

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Safety Considerations Electricity will flow through any metal or other conducting material touching energized lines, even wood. When machinery, equipment, or materials contact electrical lines, all conductive parts become the appropriate repairs, and energized and are avoid future problems or dangerous. damage. Other local utilities

Electric lines can break or or government agencies may burn, in two, causing the also need to be notified. energized line to fall onto If contact occurs, completely communication wires, inspect the machine for fences, or other objects. possible damage. Wire rope These, in turn, may become should be replaced if it energized and dangerous. touches a power line since

Only trained personnel using the arc is usually of sufficient special tools and personal high temperature to either protective equipment (PPE) weld or badly damage the can work around high wires. voltage. These tools and Pre-Job Planning equipment are regularly During the pre-job planning maintained, tested, and phase – after your first site inspected. survey is made – plans

Please notify us of any should be developed for incident involving contact working around any with an energized Lodi energized electric lines. lines so we Overhead power lines can be may inspect the site, make a hazard in any construction project, whenever any

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conductive objects are raised  Do not stockpile, load, or into the air, such as when unload any material near, guying towers or structures, underneath power lines. moving houses, installing TV  Do not locate access roads antennas, constructing a or ramps near, underneath scaffold or tower, or power lines. operating cranes and high-lift equipment. Take care of any  Treat all power lines safety concerns prior to the energized until confirmed by start of work or the arrival of a utility employee they are any heavy equipment to de-energized. prevent accidents and avoid job delays. Don’t take  Exercise caution when working near overhead lines chances with your safety.

that have long spans

between poles. Wind can make them swing laterally. Ice buildup causes sagging.

Site Supervision When power lines are present near the work area, the person in charge of the job site is responsible for the Safety Precautions safety of the general public,  Post warning signs equipment, and personnel. prominently on all cranes or Contractors should establish high lift equipment to and enforce the following to effectively keep job prevent contact and personnel on the alert for accidents: accidental electrical contact and what to do in an  Let employees and emergency. subcontractors know the absolute limit of approach –

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the area surrounding every TABLE A energized electrical power Absolute Limit line. Line Voltage of  Choose operating locations Approach to maintain maximum Up to 50,000 10 feet clearances from power lines. 50,001 115,000 12 feet 115,001 to 230,000 16 feet  Do not, under any 230,001 to 500,000 25 feet circumstances, move any crane boom, high-lift There is no substitute for equipment, or load line into abiding by the above safety this area. All commercial- measures. cage type boom guards, A good rule of thumb for insulating links, and avoiding contact with the proximity warning devices overhead power lines is to have limitations; utilize these keep a 10-foot circle of devices with extreme safety between you, your caution. equipment, and the line. Do not permit any part of your General Equipment equipment, or any person For all equipment (except working on or around it, to cranes), the following come within 10-feet of any clearances need to be in power line. Serious injuries place for “unqualified” could result to you or others personnel. working near you.

 For voltages to ground If you do come in contact 50kV or below – 10 feet. with an energized line refer to the “If Contact Occurs”  For voltages to ground over section of this pamphlet.

50kV – 10 feet plus 4 inches Spotter or every 10kV over 50kV. A person shall be designated to observe clearance of equipment and give timely

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warning for all operations Crane Procedures where it is difficult for the Preparing the job site for a operator to maintain the crane to work in the area of desired clearance by visual power lines is crucial to means. working safely. The company controlling or Here are the safety directing the crane operation precautions spotters should must, through their project adhere to: engineer, superintendent or foreman, provide a well  Have no other duties while prepared working area for the equipment is working the crane. near the power line. The following OSHA  Position himself or herself regulatory requirements in full view of the operator apply to crane work. These and, if using hand signals, are the responsibility of the close enough for the signals crane operator employer: to be seen clearly.  Perform a hazard  Warn the operator when assessment before beginning the machine is approaching equipment operations. The the lines because the hazard assessment must operator may not be able to identify the work zone, by accurately judge the either: distance.  Demarcating boundaries and prohibiting the operator from operating equipment past those boundaries or by

 Defining the work zone as

elclosh.org the area 360 degrees

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around the equipment’s  Option 2: 20/50 Foot maximum working radius. Clearance – ensure that no part of the load, load line, or  Determine if any of the equipment get closer than equipment, load line, or load 20/50 feet to the power line if operated up to the by implementing the maximum working radius measures specified in the could get closer than OSHA Crane standard. following distances to a power line.  Option 3: Table A Clearance – To use this  Up to 350 kV = 20 feet option, line voltage must be minimum clearance followed.

 Over 350 kV = 50 feet Here are additional safety minimum clearance preparations to keep in mind If any part of the crane can when planning and get closer than the trigger conducting crane work: distance (20/50 ft.) one of the following three options,  Make sure there is enough specified in the OSHA Crane room to erect and extend the standard, must be followed: boom away from overhead power lines.  Option 1: De-energize and ground. Confirm from the  Operating locations should utility owner/operator that be far enough away from the power line has been de- shoring, excavations, energized and visibly trenches, buried utilities, grounded at the work site. foundations, etc. to eliminate risk of collapse.  Crane operator employer needs to contact the  Be especially careful when utility operator to moving the crane because determine if the line can uneven ground can cause the be de-energized.

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boom to weave and swing they provide little or no into power lines. protection to personnel on the ground who may touch  Whenever cranes or large the crane. equipment must repeatedly travel beneath power lines, a  Except for the operator, plainly marked route and keep all personnel well away erected “rider poles” must from the crane whenever it is accompany each side of the working close to power lines. crossing approach to ensure Don’t allow anyone standing the equipment (crane) on the ground to touch the structure is lowered to a safe crane. position. The routes should be located as close to the  For further information on power line support tower or operating near power lines pole as possible in order to contact Lodi Electric or visit take advantage of the www.osha.gov and reference greater ground clearance. 29 CFR Section 1926, 1408-

1412 and 1926.600.  Notify Lodi Electric about when and where a crane will be working near power lines.

 Treat all wires and electrical equipment as energized until de-energized and visibly grounded by the electric utility.

 Use a qualified signalman when required by the OSHA Crane standard.

 Don’t rely on grounded Operator Training equipment for safety since

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Accidents can be avoided if the heavy equipment  Call 9-1-1. For non-injury operator is trained about contact call Lodi Electric proper safety measures Utility. when working in the vicinity  If line does not belong to of power lines. Here are the major training points that the City of Lodi we will should be covered: contact the correct utility company.

 Provide adequate advance  Don’t panic. Advise the notification to the local operator to remain in the electrical power company. machine’s cab.

 Ensure the electric utility is  Keep everyone away from fully informed about when the area. The machine, the the operations are to begin, load, and the ground around when they are due to be it will be energized. completed, and when any location changes are  Don’t move toward the planned. machine to render aid. Even a slow walk can hurt.  Before setting up or operating on any project,  The machine should be always locate the power moved off and well away lines, assess how they will from the power line, if affect your work and exercise possible. extreme caution around them.  If the machine is not on fire and cannot be moved If Contact Occurs away or disentangled from If equipment contacts power the line, the operator should lines and the machine or its remain inside the machine load becomes energized, until the power company de- follow these safety steps: energizes the circuit and

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confirms that conditions are  Do not touch any person safe. who is in contact with energized equipment. If the operator must leave the machine, follow these  After the victim has been bail-out procedures: cleared from contact with the energized equipment,  DO NOT step down from administer CPR, if necessary, the vehicle! Under no and seek immediate medical circumstances should you attention. step down from the vehicle, allowing part of the body to P be in contact with the … take a ground while any part is touching the machine.

 JUMP CLEAR of the machine with your feet together. Because there may be hazardous voltage differential in the ground, you should jump with both feet together, maintain balance and shuffle slowly across the affected area. Do not; under any circumstances take large steps, making it possible for one foot to be in a area and the other foot to be in a lower voltage area.

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Notifying Lodi Electric We want you to avoid contact with overhead lines so your project can be accomplished safely. Call us a week in advance and we will discuss the best way to proceed with your project so that it can be done safely and economically. It may be possible to relocate the line, or de-energize the line (in some cases).

PLEASE…take a moment to Lodi Electric Utility review this safety booklet. Put it in a handy place, such 209-368-5735 as the glove compartment of www.lodielectric.com your vehicle or near your telephone.

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