Safety zones and distance from electrical wires

A lift affects a larger area than just the load's path from A to B. The load can swing the crane turns and in case of failure the load falls straight down. That is why safety is thought in zones: where may people be and where may they not. Managing the zones is just as important as the lift itself.

§Farmall was a versatile, light tractor that could perform multiple tasks and thus replace horses on the ordinary farm.

The area under a suspended load is always a danger zone — if the rigging fails, the load falls straight down. But the zone is wider than that: the load can swing or rotate, and there must be space for it to move without hitting anyone. The danger zone is kept clear of people throughout the lift, and the path of the load is planned so it is not led over people.

§The swing area behind the crane

On mobile cranes and many truck cranes, the counterweight and rear swing out when the crane rotates. A person standing close to the side or behind can be pinched between the crane's rotating part and a fixed object — even if the load is somewhere else entirely. Therefore, the swing area is cordoned off so no one can get caught in the space the crane rotates into.

§Why overhead lines are particularly dangerous

Electric overhead lines and railway catenary are one of the most serious hazards when working with cranes in the open. Current can jump over an air gap so you don't need to touch the wire to get a shock — if boom, cable or load gets too close, current can flow through the crane and on to the person standing by it. The consequences can be fatal.

§Distance requirements and precautions

Minimum distances apply to live electrical lines and the distance depends on the size of the voltage — the higher the voltage the greater the distance. The specific distances are found in the applicable rules and in the line owner's instructions. If work cannot be kept at a safe distance the line owner is contacted before work begins: the line can possibly be disconnected grounded or shielded.

• 01Clarify whether there are air lines or overhead power lines in and over the work area before the crane is set up
• 02Keep the required minimum distance to live wires — the distance increases with voltage
• 03If distance cannot be maintained, contact the line owner before work so the line can be disconnected, grounded or shielded
• 04Never touch a faucet that has come into contact with a wire — keep distance and warn others

§If the crane hits a conductor

If a crane contacts a live power line, the ground around it can become dangerous to step on because the voltage spreads through the substrate. The operator stays in the cab as much as possible until power is cut. People on the ground keep distance and don't touch either crane or load, and others are warned to stay away until the line owner has de-energized the site.