CRANE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

1
1926.1408

• CRANE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
• OVERHEAD POWER LINES

2
Common Causes of Crane Fatalities
3
COMMON MYTHS
4
COMMON MYTHS
5
COMMON MYTHS
6
Always assume power lines to be live!

• This video displays the effects of a crew
  assuming the overhead lines were phone or cable,
  and not electrical.
• Always assume overhead lines to be electrical and
  live unless the utility company has provided
  notice that they have been de-energized, and they
  are visibly grounded.

7
POWER LINE HAZARD ASSESSMENTmust be completed
for each job crane is used on

• STEP 1 DESIGNATE WORK ZONE
• For every job which we use a crane, we must first
  designate the work zone.

OPTION 1 Designate the work zone as the maximum
working radius 360 degrees around the crane
OPTION 2 Use elevated visual aids such as
warning lines to mark boundaries of the work
zone. Not required to fully barricade the entire
work zone (example would be a short row of lines
on each side of the crane signaling where
operator cannot swing past and a row at the far
reach displaying the area that cant be boomed
past)
8
POWER LINE HAZARD ASSESSMENT

• STEP 2
• IN WORK ZONE DETERMINE IF CRANE OR RIGGING CAN
  GET WITHIN 20 OF POWER LINES

NO
No further action necessary
Choose option below and have planning meeting
w/all onsite to discuss
YES
OPTION 1 Have utility company de-energize
ground
OPTION 3 (use if needed to get close to lines
than 20) Ask utility company for exact voltage,
and maintain distance requirements of Table A
(next slide) by using elevated lines spotter
listed in option 2
OPTION 2 Maintain 20 clearance at all times by
placing elevated warning lines 20 from power
lines and having a dedicated spotter monitor
distance when approaching
9
Table A Minimum Clearance Distances Table A Minimum Clearance Distances
Voltage (nominal, kV, alternating current) Minimum clearance distance (feet)
up to 50 10
over 50 to 200 15
over 200 to 350 20
over 350 to 500 25
over 500 to 750 35
over 750 to 1000 45
over 1000 (as established by the power line owner/operator or registered professional engineer who is a qualified person with respect to electrical power transmission and distribution)
10
POWER LINE HAZARD ASSESSMENT

• The hazard assessment criteria on the previous
  three slides discusses procedures assuming the
  power lines are not known exactly and presumed to
  be 350kV or less, which is our typical working
  environment.
• When power lines are presumed to be very high
  voltages and over 350kV, the minimum distance
  kept must be 50, rather than the 20 discussed
  for voltages of 350kV and lower.

11
Working around power lines

• Whenever power lines are within the
  pre-determined work zone and tag lines are
  used, the tag lines must be of non-conductive
  material.
• A dedicated spotter or motion limiting device
  must be used to ensure the crane does not get
  within the minimum distance of the power lines.
  This spotter must be a qualified signal person
  capable of signaling the crane

12
Dealing with power line emergencies

• In the unlikely event that contact with a power
  line occurs, the response of those on or around
  power lines is critical.
• In general, riggers and other workers working
  around the crane are in the most danger, however
  operators leaving the cab or operating from the
  ground can receive injury or death.

The operator sitting in the cab on the left is at
the same electrical potential as the crane,
therefore is most likely not affected, however
the operator on the right working from the
ground, riggers and those around the crane at in
significant danger.
13
Dealing with power line CONTACT

• After the crane contacts power lines, the current
  flows through the crane and finally through the
  ground in a ripple pattern. Areas of high and
  low fields circle the crane like ripples in a
  pond after a stone hits the surface.
• If a worker steps from between ripples, from an
  area of higher potential to one of lower, the
  electricity can flow between their legs and cause
  injury or death.

• OPERATORS SHOULD NOT LEAVE THE CAB UNLESS
  ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY (fire for example)
• IF EXITING CAB, JUMP FROM CAB AND SHUFFLE FEET IN
  VERY SMALL STEPS AS YOU WORK AWAY FROM THE CRANE

14
PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW IF CONTACT OCCURS

• Crane operator should remain inside the cab
• All other employees must keep away from the
  crane, ropes, and load since the ground around
  the crane might be energized
• Crane operator should attempt to remove the crane
  from contact by moving it in the reverse
  direction which caused the contact
• If crane cannot be moved from contact, operator
  should remain in the cab until power is
  de-energized
• If operator must leave because of immediate
  hazard, jump from equipment and shuffle feet in
  very small steps
• Others should secure the area and keep all except
  for emergency rescue who are aware of the hazard
  away

15

• QUESTIONS?