WAC 296-155-55305   Lifting personnel near electrical power lines.  (1) It is recognized that lifting personnel where the crane/derrick or platform can become electrified from electric power lines is an extremely hazardous practice. It is required to perform the lift so there is no possibility of the crane/derrick, load line, or personnel platform becoming a conductive path. Cranes/derricks must not be used to lift personnel under electric power lines if any combination of boom, personnel platform, load line, and machine component will enter the prohibited zone. (See Table 10.) Lifting personnel near electric lines is not allowed unless there is no less hazardous way to do the job. The three situations to consider, and take steps to establish, when lifting personnel near electric power lines are:


Table 10

Condition	Situation
A	Power lines are deenergized and grounded as shown in Figure 9. (This is the safest and preferred condition.)
B	Power lines are energized with the crane/derrick outside the prohibited zone, but there is a potential for the crane/derrick or platform being energized as shown in Figure 10.
C	Power lines are energized with the crane/derrick inside the prohibited zone, and there is a possibility that the crane/derrick or platform can become energized as shown in Figure 11. (Lifting personnel in this condition is prohibited.)

     (2) Condition A. This is the preferred condition under which a personnel lift can be performed. The hazard of injury or death due to electrocution has been removed. The following steps must be taken when lifting personnel in a Condition A situation:

     (a) The power company or owner of the power lines must deenergize the lines.

     (b) The power lines must be visibly grounded to avoid the possibility of electrical feedback.

     (c) A qualified representative of the owner of the power lines or a designated representative of the electric utility must be on the site to verify that steps (a) and (b) of this subsection have been completed and that the power lines are not energized.

     (d) Durable signs must be installed at the operator's station and on the outside of the crane warning that electrocution or serious bodily injury may occur unless the minimum clearance of twenty feet is maintained between the crane/derrick and platform and power lines up to 350 kV or fifty feet of a power line that is over 350 kV. These signs must be posted at the crane/derrick operating station, on the outside of the crane/derrick, and inside the personnel platform.

     (e) If proximity warning devices, insulated links, or boom cages are used, they must not be a substitute for any of the requirements of this section. If these devices are used, the crane/derrick operator, ground crew, and platform occupants must be instructed by management on the limitations of the devices, operating condition requirements of the devices, and the devices' testing requirements prescribed by the device manufacturer.

     (3) Condition B. The following steps must be taken when lifting personnel in a Condition B situation:

     (a) A meeting, on the job site, between the job site management and either a qualified representative of the owner of the power lines or the electric utility must take place. Procedures to safely complete the lift must be established.

     (b) Hoisting personnel within twenty feet of a power line that is up to 350 kV, and hoisting personnel within fifty feet of a power line that is over 350 kV, is prohibited, except for work covered by chapter 296-45 WAC, safety standards for electrical workers and performed by qualified personnel.

     (c) Power line movement, horizontal and vertical, due to wind must be added to the distances specified in (b) of this subsection. A qualified representative of the power line owner or a designated representative of the electric utility must be consulted for the movement distances.

     (d) The required clearances to the power lines must be continuously monitored by a dedicated and qualified signal person in constant communication with the crane/derrick operator.

     (e) Personnel platform movement restraint, when required, must be done through electrically nonconductive tag lines.

     (f) No person outside the personnel platform must be permitted to touch the crane/derrick, load line, or platform unless the signal person identified in (d) of this subsection indicates it is safe.

     (g) Durable signs must be posted warning that electrocution or serious bodily injury may occur unless the minimum clearance specified in (b) of this subsection is maintained between the crane/derrick and platform and power lines. These signs must be posted at the crane/derrick operating station, on the outside of the crane/derrick, and inside the personnel platform.

     (h) If proximity warning devices, insulated links, or boom cages are used, they must not be a substitute for any of the requirements of this section. If these devices are used, the crane/derrick operator, ground crew, and platform occupants must be instructed by management on the limitations of the devices, operating condition requirements of the devices, and the devices' testing requirements prescribed by the device manufacturer.

     (4) Condition C. Lifting personnel under Condition C is prohibited.

Condition A (see Table 10) Figure 9

Condition B (see Table 10) Figure 10

Condition C (see Table 10) This Condition is Prohibited Figure 11

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.440, 49.17.060, and 29 C.F.R. 1926, Subpart CC. 12-01-086, § 296-155-55305, filed 12/20/11, effective 2/1/12.]