Overhead Power Line Awareness
Construction · Ver en español
Talking points
- Overhead power line contact kills construction workers every year. Assume all lines are energized unless the utility confirms otherwise in writing.
- For equipment operating near power lines under 50kV, the minimum clearance is 10 feet. For cranes, it is 20 feet regardless of voltage (up to 350kV).
- Before bringing tall equipment — cranes, concrete pumps, excavators with raised booms — onto a site, survey the area for overhead lines and plan your approach.
- If equipment contacts a power line: stay on the equipment, warn others to stay away, and call 911. If you must exit due to fire, jump clear without touching the equipment and the ground at the same time, then shuffle away.
- Spotters, insulating links, and proximity alarms are additional layers of protection — but maintaining the required clearance distance is the primary defense.
Ask the crew
Has anyone here ever worked near overhead power lines — what precautions were taken, and were they enough?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
Run this talk with your crew and keep the record
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Sign-in sheet
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| Name | Signature | Date |
|---|---|---|
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