Power line safety requirements

Operations where any part of the equipment, load line, or load (including rigging and lifting accessories) is closer than the Table A minimum approach distance are prohibited unless the employer meets the special requirements in 1926.1410. Employers must either ensure no part of the equipment or load breaches the Table A distance in 1926.1408 or comply with the alternative procedures in 1926.1410 before allowing such operations.

An employer may operate inside the Table A minimum approach distance only after determining that it is infeasible to do the work without breaching that distance under 1926.1410(a). Document the infeasibility determination, and proceed only if you also meet the consultation and procedural requirements in the rest of 1926.1410.

Yes — the employer must determine, after consultation with the utility owner/operator, that it is infeasible to deenergize and ground or relocate the power line before proceeding under 1926.1410. The requirement is stated in 1926.1410(b); keep records of the consultation and its outcome.

The power line owner/operator or a registered professional engineer who is a qualified person for electrical power transmission and distribution must determine the minimum clearance distance taking site conditions into account, as required by 1926.1410(c)(1). Factors to consider include atmospheric conductivity, wind, sway, lighting, and stopping time for equipment and loads.

Work covered by Subpart V is exempt from the minimum-clearance determination process in 1926.1410(c)(1); instead, the employer must use the minimum approach distances established under 1926.960(c)(1)(i). That is, Subpart V employers follow 1926.960 rules rather than 1926.1410(c)(1).

A planning meeting with the employer and utility owner/operator (or qualified registered professional engineer) must be held to determine the procedures to prevent electrical contact and electrocution, per 1926.1410(d). The meeting should identify hazards, procedures, responsibilities, and the person who will direct implementation of those procedures.

If the power line can automatically reenergize after contact, the automatic reclosing feature must be made inoperative before work begins, if the device design permits, according to 1926.1410(d)(1). Coordinate with the utility to ensure the reclosing function is disabled and documented.

The dedicated spotter must continuously monitor clearance, be in continuous contact with the operator, and give timely information so the required clearance distance is maintained, as required by 1926.1410(d)(2). Specifically, the spotter must be equipped with a visual aid, positioned to gauge distance, use direct communication with the operator when needed, and provide timely guidance (see 1926.1410(d)(2)(i)–(iv).

Acceptable visual aids include a painted line on the ground, a clearly visible line of stanchions, or a set of line-of-sight landmarks (for example, a fence post and a building corner) that help identify the minimum clearance distance as described in 1926.1410(d)(2)(i). Choose an aid that is clearly visible in the site conditions and train the spotter to use it.

You must provide an elevated warning line or barricade (not attached to the crane), equipped with flags or similar high-visibility markings and visible to the operator (directly or via video), to prevent electrical contact as required by 1926.1410(d)(3). Position the warning so the operator can reliably see it while operating.

An insulating link/device must be installed at a point between the end of the load line (or below) and the load when used to comply with 1926.1410, as specified in 1926.1410(d)(4)(i). The device isolates the load from the conductive parts above it and must meet the insulating link/device definition.

No — paragraph (d)(4)(i) and thus the insulating link/device provision does not apply to work covered by Subpart V, per 1926.1410(d)(4)(ii). Subpart V jobs must follow their own Subpart V requirements instead.

Until November 8, 2011, employers could instead insulate or guard all employees (except equipment operators on the equipment) who might contact the equipment or load using insulating gloves rated for the voltage involved, per 1926.1410(d)(4)(iv). That substitution required gloves or other guarding adequate for the voltage and applicable tasks.

Until November 8, 2013, employers could use an insulating link/device manufactured on or before November 8, 2011 that met the insulating link definition but lacked NRTL approval, provided it was maintained per manufacturer instructions and installed between the end of the load line (or below) and the load, as allowed by 1926.1410(d)(4)(v)(A). When using such a device, employees (excluding equipment operators on the equipment) also had to be insulated or guarded by an additional means such as insulating gloves per 1926.1410(d)(4)(v)(B).

Nonconductive rigging must be used if the rigging may come within the Table A distance during the operation, as required by 1926.1410(d)(5). Select rigging materials specifically rated and maintained to resist electrical conduction for the job's voltages.

If the equipment includes a device that automatically limits its range of movement, it must be used and set to prevent any part of the equipment, load line, or load (including rigging) from breaching the minimum approach distance established under paragraph (c), as stated in 1926.1410(d)(6). Verify settings and operation before starting work.

If a tag line is used during the operation, it must be nonconductive per 1926.1410(d)(7). Use materials that are rated nonconductive and kept in good condition.

Barricades must form a perimeter at least 10 feet away from the equipment to prevent unauthorized entry, and where obstacles prevent 10 feet, they must be as far away as feasible, per 1926.1410(d)(8). Evaluate site layout to maximize separation and clearly mark the perimeter.

Workers other than the operator are prohibited from touching the load line above the insulating link/device and crane, according to 1926.1410(d)(9). Also, ground-based operators using remote controls must either use wireless controls that isolate them electrically or stand on insulating mats to be insulated from ground.

Only personnel essential to the operation may be in the area of the crane and load per 1926.1410(d)(10), and the equipment must be properly grounded as required by 1926.1410(d)(11). Limit access to essential workers and confirm grounding procedures with the utility or qualified engineer.

Insulating line hose or cover-up must be installed by the utility owner/operator except where such devices are unavailable for the line voltages involved, per 1926.1410(d)(12). Coordinate with the utility early in planning to arrange installation or document availability issues.

The procedures developed to comply with paragraph (d) must be documented and immediately available on-site, as required by 1926.1410(e). Keep copies of the procedures with the crew and the person directing implementation.

The equipment user, utility owner/operator (or qualified registered professional engineer), the equipment operator, and other workers who will be in the equipment or load area must meet to review implementation procedures, per 1926.1410(f). Use this meeting to confirm roles, communication methods, and safety controls.

The utility owner/operator (or qualified registered professional engineer) and all employers involved must identify one person to direct implementation who has authority to stop work at any time to ensure safety, per 1926.1410(h). That person must be empowered to enforce procedures and immediately halt operations if hazards arise.

If a problem shows the procedures are inadequate to prevent electrocution, the employer must safely stop operations and either develop new procedures that comply with paragraph (d) or have the utility deenergize and visibly ground or relocate the power line before resuming work, as required by 1926.1410(j). Do not resume work until new controls are in place or the line is deenergized and grounded.

Devices originally designed by the manufacturer as safety devices or operational aids must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's procedures and conditions of use when used to comply with 1926.1410, per 1926.1410(k) and 1926.1415. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, maintenance schedules, and limitations for those devices.

Employers must train each operator and crew member assigned to work with the equipment in accordance with 1926.1408(g) as required by 1926.1410(m). Training should cover the minimum approach distances, procedures developed under paragraph (d), use of insulating devices, communications protocols, and emergency stop authority.

No — workers other than the operator are prohibited from touching the load line above the insulating link/device and crane, as stated in 1926.1410(d)(9). Enforce this prohibition and train personnel so that only the operator handles those components when necessary.