Whether it’s an urban landscape or a suburban one, overhead electric power lines can be seen everywhere. These high-voltage carrying wires pose a number of safety hazards and all the workers on construction sites should be made aware of these potential risks.
The Dangers of Power Lines
According to OSHA, almost half of crane-related accidents that result in an average of 72 fatalities per year take place because the crane comes into contact with energized power lines while conducting a lifting operation. According to research, a number of crane operators have been electrocuted in these types of accidents when the boom ends up touching a power line during the process of the crane moving materials on a site.
The danger of electrocution from power lines isn’t limited to just the crane operator, people working in the close vicinity of the crane are also at risk as the current can travel through the metal assembly and equipment very easily.
How to Prevent Electrical Hazards?
Here are some ways you can prevent electrical hazards at your job site.
Plan it Out
If you want to prevent your construction site and your workers from becoming victims of electrical hazards, then you need to conduct proper pre-job safety planning before every crane operation. Map out the entire process on paper and discuss every detail with your crew to ensure success.
Conduct Inspections
Inspecting the worksite is also extremely important. The day before the crane arrives on the site, make sure you conduct a thorough inspection of the entire site. Identify all the danger zones where there’s a risk of electrical hazards and mark the ground with visual clues such as fences or insulated barriers to let the workers know that the specific area is a danger zone.
Follow OSHA Requirements
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an organization of the United States Department of Labor. The agency has a set of precaution that should be followed when working near power lines. These requirements include staying outside the 10-foot radius of power lines and considering all lines energized unless told otherwise by the electric company.
About Crane Warning Systems Atlanta
Crane Warning Systems Atlanta is a premium distributor of the Rayco Wylie crane safety devices in the US.
We’ve been providing high-quality technologically advanced equipment such as load indicators, LMI’s, RCI’s, ATB warning systems, camera systems, crane Wind Speed Indicator system that are user-friendly and cost-effective for the past 20 years.
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