A Guide to Power Line Clearance for Crane Operations
Power lines are a major safety hazard to crane operators and on-site workers.
From riggers and spotters to pedestrians around material management equipment, everyone is exposed to high-grade electrocution risks during crane operations. That’s why crane managers and project leads have an immense responsibility to eliminate all kinds of suspended obstructions around their cranes.
Power line clearance is a key safety step in every crane operation. Unless you’re deploying a crane in an empty remote area, you may have to get the necessary permits for temporarily removing electricity lines. This regulation is also stipulated in crane safety manuals published by ASME and OSHA.
Watch this video: Avoiding Crane-Related Accidents
So let’s delve deeper and learn the ABCs of power line clearance around crane equipment.
The Main Code Governing Power Line Clearance
Every country has unique crane safety and risk management codes. Similarly, the regulations for power line clearance vary from one region to another. OSHA is the main employee safety and health regulatory body that has outlined the regulations for power line clearance in the US. Here are the main key points that you must remember:
- Crane equipment must be deployed at least 10 feet awayfrom any power line.
- Power lines energized at 50 kV or less must also be at least 10 feet away.
- The distance between power lines and cranes must be increased by 4 inches per kV after 50 kV.
These standards may not be the same in your country. For example, in Canada, the Canadian Standards Association sets the requirements for power line clearance before crane operations. Their regulation requires that crane equipment stay at least 3 meters away from 750-volt-energized power lines. Similarly, for every one-volt increase in power, the distance must be increased by 1 foot.
The best way to familiarize yourself with the power line clearance codes is to read OSHA manuals or talk to an expert about ongoing safety training. Learn more about OSHA regulations and codes here: A Simplified Guide to OSHA’s Latest Crane Safety Code
Steps to Ensure Power Line Safety and Mitigation at Crane Sites
Now that you know the basics of power line clearance, let’s talk about the steps that you need to take for end-to-end electrocution prevention:
Site Inspection
Inspect the crane operation site and mark down the exposed power lines, suspended loads, tall trees, and other objects that may cause crane collisions.
Risk Assessment
Review the area maps, diagrams, and documents to assess which lines must be removed before crane operations.
Accident History
You may also want to study risk profiles and potential hazard counts in the area to plan accordingly. Review the causes, loopholes, and errors that led to previous crane-related accidents in the area.
Safety Planning
Once you have all the details, it’s time to develop a holistic plan entailing site survey reports, power line codes, clearance permit requirements, and weight distribution regulations. These critical elements will eventually help you maximize weight, load, and radius safety for cranes during a lift.
Additional Measures
You may also need to hire additional crane safety resources such as a spotter or hazard-prevention tools like barricades, signage, and light poles.
Crane and power lines don’t go hand in hand. The latter must be removed or powered off during a lift to reduce the risk of electrocution and load collisions. Learn more here: Crane Accident Injuries and OSHA Safety Regulations
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About the Author
This post’s author is an experienced crane safety expert in the US. He has been associated with OSHA, ASME, and other leading regulatory bodies as a crane inspection professional. The author regularly contributes to Crane Warning Systems Atlanta’s website and shares the latest industry trends and market insights with the readers.
