11-05-2012, 12:50 PM
High Voltage Overhead Lines
Safe Work Practices
Several safety orders deal with requirements for safe
work practices around high voltage overhead lines.
When these orders are followed, almost all accidents
involving high voltage lines are prevented.
♦ Electrical Safety Order 2946 (b) (4) prohibits
storage of irrigation pipe or long metal poles near
high voltage overhead lines if they are long enough
to reach the lines. In one year, 80 percent of the
electrocution deaths of California agricultural
workers occurred when the irrigation pipes they
were handling came in contact with overhead lines.
♦ Electrical Safety Order 2946 outlines the
requirements for prevention of accidents due to
nearness of overhead lines. Workers must be
guarded against the danger of accidental contact
with overhead lines.
With certain exceptions, work done over live
(power on) overhead lines is against the law.
Section 2946 also prohibits doing work within 6
feet of lines carrying between 600 and 50,000 volts.
Do not store tools, machinery, and equipment near
live high voltage overhead lines if it is possible for
them to come within the minimum clearance of 6
feet when they are being moved or used.
When moving boom-type equipment with boom
lowered and no load attached, keep the end of the
boom at least 6 feet away from high voltage lines.
When operating boom-type lifting or hoisting
equipment, the minimum clearance is 10 feet when
the overhead line is carrying between 600 and
50,000 volts.
The following warning sign must be posted on the
equipment, in clear view of the operator as
required by Electrical Safety Order 2947:
Orchard Hazards
Many employees are injured during pruning operations
when they contact high voltage lines with pruning
towers, pruning poles, or branches. Use of metal poles
for fruit picking or nut harvesting is a violation of
General Industry Safety Order 3455.
Discussion Questions
Is there danger on this job site of coming into contact with
high voltage overhead lines?
What can be done to prevent such contact?
Are the requirements of the safety orders being followed on
this site?
If not, how are they being violated?