“Look Up and Live”

Developing an Effective Overhead Power Line Safety Program

Copyright Material IEEE

Paper No ESW2013-03

Pam Tompkins, CSP, CUSP, CUSA

Member, IEEE
SET Solutions, LLC
710 E. Main Street
Lexington, SC 29072
USA
ptompkins@setsolutionsllc.com
provide a good insulation factor. Once the work process
Abstract- This paper will review hazards associated with moves off the ground and into the air, the insulation factor
work performed near overhead power lines and review decreases drastically. All overhead conductors should be
various mitigation strategies used to prevent accidental considered energized unless appropriate steps have been
contact. taken to de-energize and visually ground the lines at the work
location.
Index Terms- Insulated conductors, Step and touch
potentials, Qualified Person, Approach distances, Job hazard III. QUALIFIED VS. UNQUALIFIED PERSONS
analysis, de-energizing, guarding.
An important part of an effective electrical safety program
I. INTRODUCTION requires identification of Qualified Persons. Personnel making
decisions concerning overhead powerline safety should be
Major events resulting in fatalities and serious injuries knowledgeable in the design and application of utility specific
involving overhead power lines occur needlessly every year. safety standards.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [1], 444 OSHA 1910.269, Electric Power Generation,
fatalities involving contact with overhead powerlines occurred Transmission and Distribution Standard [2] and National
between 2006 and 2010. The development of an effective Electrical Safety Code- C2 (NESC) [3] address specific safety
overhead powerline safety program is essential when standards when personnel work “on” or “near” powerlines.
unguarded, uninsulated powerlines are located in the These standards, although vertical in nature, provide good
workarea. utility safety practices that should be addressed for all work
An effective safety program should identify specific work performed “near” overhead powerlines.
tasks performed near uninsulated powerlines, qualification Unqualified personnel who work near overhead
requirements for personnel working near powerlines, required powerlines should be trained to identify and appropriately
approach distances that must be maintained and appropriate abate electrical hazards. Training should include hazard
controls to prevent step and touch potentials. The program identification techniques for at-risk work tasks, procedures for
should outline appropriate engineering and administrative maintaining appropriate approach distances, step and touch
controls, safe work practices, personal protective equipment potentials with controls and basic emergency procedures, as
requirements and specific training requirements to review all required.
identified hazards along with required abatements strategies.

II. UNINSULATED VS. INSULATED OVERHEAD IV. MAINTAINING APPROACH DISTANCES

POWERLINES
Overhead powerlines (conductors) are generally
uninsulated. The majority of overhead conductors used today
are comprised of bare aluminum wire stranded together with a
steel reinforcing center. Only a small percentage of overhead
conductors have a covering or jacket. Sometimes personnel
mistake a covering, found typically on secondary conductors,
as insulation. The covering is only designed to provide
additional electrical protection from tree contact, never
personal contact. The covering can easily degrade over time
due to environmental factors.
Overhead powerlines should only be considered
insulated because of isolation, meaning they are located in
the air away from other equipment and work processes. Since
work is typically performed at ground level, isolation and air
Maintaining appropriate approach distances is essential
for ensuring employee safety when working near overhead
powerlines. Approach boundaries include all air spaces
located 360 degrees around an overhead powerline, so any
work performed under, over or beside an overhead conductor
should be evaluated for encroachment potential. The work
zone should be defined as the area located 360 degrees
around the equipment, up to the equipment’s maximum
working radius.
Approach distances should correspond to NFPA 70E-
2012 [4] table 130.4 (C)(a) Limited Approach Boundary for
Exposed Movable Conductors or the calculated Arc Flash
Boundary, whichever distance is greater. Table 130.4 (C)(a)
outlines 10’ (feet) as the Limited Approach Boundary for
voltages 50 V-72.5 kV and more for higher voltages. This
means, no employee can approach or take a potentially

978-1-4673-3039-8/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE 1

conductive object closer than 10’ to powerlines operating at would be within the work zone or swing radius of the hoisting
50 V to 72.5 kV. Although 10’ is the law, further distances are equipment.
frequently used when determining if an electrical hazard
exists. For example, 50’ is used as a recommended guideline
in South Carolina’s “Look Up and Live” campaign[5]. The
campaign includes an alliance with the state OSHA program,
SCLLR, and a group of safety professionals called the
“Overhead Powerline Safety Coordination Committee”. This
group provides education and training materials for
contractors and others working near overhead power lines.
OSHA’s updated crane standards, 29CFR 1926 Subpart
CC, Cranes and Derricks in Construction addresses approach
distances and specific requirements for overhead powerlines.
The standard requires operators to determine if any part of
the equipment, load line or load could get closer than 20’
(foot) for voltages up to 350 kV and 50’ (foot) for voltages
over 350 kV with the equipment operated up to the maximum
working radius in the work zone.

V. STEP AND TOUCH POTENTIALS

Step and touch potentials are linked to many fatal

accidents involving overhead powerlines. Line to ground
contact with an overhead conductor can cause hazardous step
This photo above depicts a crane contacting an overhead
and touch potentials which could be near full line voltage
conductor. If the driver exits the cab and begins to run
across a human body. OSHA 1910.269, Electric Power
away, the potential ground gradient (as shown above)
Generation, Transmission, Distribution standard [2], Appendix
across the driver’s feet could be fatal. The ground
C defines step and touch potentials as the following:
gradient is known as step potential. Once a ground
“Step Potential" is the voltage between the feet of a
gradient has occurred, standing still or keeping both feet
person standing near an energized grounded object. A person
together and shuffling or hopping away from the source
could be at risk of injury during a fault simply by standing near
may be the only option for safe exit. Ground gradients
the grounding point. The dissipation of voltage from the
can create serious hazards for personnel existing
grounded end of an energized grounded object is called the
equipment and/or personnel who may be touching or
ground potential gradient. Voltage drops associated with this
walking near the equipment at the time of contact [5].
dissipation of voltage are called ground potentials.
"Touch Potential" is the voltage between the energized
object and the feet of a person in contact with the object. It is
equal to the difference in voltage between the object (which is
at a distance of 0 feet) and a point some distance away. It
should be noted that the touch potential could be nearly the
full voltage across the grounded object if that object is
grounded at a point remote from the place where the person
is in contact with it.

A. Identifying tasks with Potential Step and Touch Hazards

It is extremely important to identify work tasks with

potential step and touch hazards and to develop appropriate
controls to ensure personnel are protected. Work tasks include
but are not limited to work involving cranes, derricks, boom
trucks and drillers, landscaping and farming equipment, road
construction and maintenance equipment, scaffolding, house
moving, sign and banner installation, materials on construction
worksites and any other job task requiring an elevated
position. This photo shows an asphalting operation with a step
According to OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 Cranes and potential risk. If the dump body or the boom extension
Derricks in Construction’s final rule [6], 39% of all the fatal contacts an overhead powerline, the personnel on the
crane accidents investigated by OSHA between 1997- 2003 ground could be at risk by simply walking near the
were electrocutions. The updated Cranes and Derricks equipment. The distance between an employee’s feet
standard requires employers to assess hazards within the during normal walking could place the employee at risk
work zone that would affect the safe operation of hoisting because of the potential ground gradient [5].
equipment, such as power lines and objects or personnel that

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 When work operations travel, such as asphalting or road
maintenance, overhead powerlines must be identified prior to
the start of work. Once identified, the work process must
ensure personnel are not touching and/or walking near the
equipment until the overhead lines are cleared by the
equipment. The site supervisor should be responsible for
conducting a Job Briefing at the start of the work shift to
ensure all personnel have been alerted of the locations of the
overhead powerlines and the required protocols to ensure
their safety which should include creating a barrier for
isolation.
Touch potentials occur when equipment operators
attempt to get out of the equipment and/or when personnel
are touching equipment when contact is made to an overhead
powerline. The equipment operator should remain inside the
cab until the overhead lines have been deenergized and
grounded. If the operator attempts to exit the equipment while
the equipment is energized, the operator becomes a path of
least resistance. If the equipment is on fire, the operator and
or emergency personnel should ensure they never touch the
equipment and ground at the same time.
Moving the workarea and/or relocating the powerlines
away from the workarea should be the first choice particularly
when the required overhead work is permanent. Work sites,
such as well drilling operations, sign installations, etc. can
possibly be moved to another site location away from
overhead powerlines. A site assessment (discussed in
Section VI) should identify whether the work location can be
moved and where it should be moved to minimum risk.
When de-energizing is required, the utility should be
contacted to request a temporary clearance. De-energizing
requires an open air gap, a test for nominal voltage, tags at
“clearance points” and the application of temporary protective
grounds. Temporary protective grounds must be installed to
provide an equipotential zone. The process should be
verified with a utility representative to ensure appropriate
grounds have been applied.

This photo shows an overhead powerline with

temporary protective grounds applied.

This photo shows a crane working near an overhead

powerline. Any person in contact with the crane or its
uninsulated load line would be exposed to a touch
potential nearly equal to the full fault voltage if contact
was made. To ensure touch potentials do not occur, the
lines should be deenergized or the work location should
be moved, as feasible [5].

B. Developing Effective Controls for Step and Touch

Potentials

Controls include but are not limited to moving the

workarea, de-energizing the lines, restricting work areas, Example: Creating a barricade for isolation
barricading the work area, using insulating equipment and This photo shows a method used to effectively barricade
PPE (i.e., rubber overshoes) or the creation of an a potential contact (fault) area. Restricting work areas
Equipotential Zone for “Qualified Persons”.

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 and using barricades can prevent step and touch
potentials.
When a physical barricade is not used, a safe
zone/boundary and a spotter should be used to maintain a
minimum safe distance from the equipment. When marking
the safety zone/boundary a good rule of thumb is to measure
the ground and mark a line with flagging tape. Once this line
is established, no part of the equipment should cross the line.
Although rubber protective line hose is used extensively
in the electric utility industry, it is only used for brush
protection; never for contact protection. In past years, utilities
readily applied rubber protective line hose and other
protective equipment to protect lines. These practices have
stopped throughout the US, since rubber protective
equipment is not satisfactory to prevent unintentional contact
and should never be considered a protection method.
This photo shows rubber cover-up applied inappropriately;
one example of why it cannot be used as a guard.
The use of rubber overshoes should be considered for
personnel with regular step potential exposures. When rubber
protective overshoes are used, they should be considered
secondary protection only, since they cannot be dielectrically
tested as other rubber protective equipment. In fact, the use
of rubber protective overshoes for electrical protection is one
of the largest controversial topics throughout the US among
electric utilities and contractors. Many feel the use of rubber
overshoes can create a false sense of security. Others feel
rubber protective overshoes, when used correctly as
secondary protection, can provide an additional control when
other controls fail.
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Example: Creating an equipotential zone
Creating an equipotential zone ensures personnel are always
at the same potential. It is essentially the same concept as
the “bird on the wire” theory. The use of an equipotential zone
should only be used for personnel qualified to perform the
required electrical task, such as switching operations.
Equipotential zones are used by electric utilities and
contractors during overhead and underground switching and
other work operations to ensure personnel are always at the
same potential if a fault occurs during the electrical operation.
VI. SITE ASSESSMENTS
A well developed and administered site assessment
program will ensure all overhead powerline hazards have
been identified and abated appropriately. It must be
completed before any work begins or before any equipment is
mobilized. A sampling of assessment questions may include:
1. Are there overhead powerlines on the job site? If so,
where are the overhead lines in relationship to the
work process?
2. Has the voltage and approach distances been
determined for each overhead line?
3. Is work performed on the job site that may reach
overhead power lines?
4. If overhead lines are on the job site, will mobile
equipment be located on the job site? Will the
equipment move? Is equipment located on the job site
that may reach overhead lines? Does the equipment
have extensions/ booms? Will dump trucks be used in
the area? Will cranes be used? Will drill rigs be used?
Will concrete trucks be used? Will conveyors be used?
etc.
5. If overhead lines are on the job site, will any work be
performed off the ground (in the air)? Will ladders be
used? Will scaffolds be used? Will extension handles
be used? Will signs be installed? etc.
6. Will work be performed within minimum approach
distances and or other distances adopted as “best
practice”?
 7. Has the electric utility owning the overhead power lines
been identified and contacted, as applicable?
8. Are workers trained to recognize hazards associated
with overhead power lines and have they been
instructed on how to avoid the hazards?
9. Are there electrical safety regulations that cover the
work to be performed?
10. Do all supervisors know the clearance and other
requirements?
11. Have safety controls been identified to ensure
personnel safety? If so, what are they?
12. Have all personnel been trained to understand safety
controls?
This photo depicts equipment that was not evaluated
appropriately for encroachment potential. Alternate
methods should be identified to safely raise the
construction materials. The furthest point of any
potentially conductive object, tool or equipment should
always be measured to be sure the equipment can be
raised safely. This includes all equipment with extension
booms or jibs. The measurement should be made with
the boom fully extended and if the equipment cannot be
raised safely with the boom fully extended, it should not
be used until the utility and the operator agrees all safety
procedures are in place for personnel safety [5].
C. Site Assessment for Cranes and Derricks in Construction
29CFR 1926 Subpart CC, Cranes and Derricks in
Construction [6] requires a site assessment to determine if
encroachment could occur within the minimum approach
distances (20’ (foot) for voltages up to 350 kV and 50’ (foot)
for voltages over 350 kV).
5
Minimum Approach Distance
not maintained
This photo depicts a crane boom too close to an
overhead powerline [5].
When work must be performed closer than OSHA Table
A- Minimum Clearance Distances (i.e., up to 50kV- 10’, over
50 to 200 kV- 15’, etc.), the operator is required to justify why
the approach distances must be crossed and why de-
energizing and grounding the lines are not feasible. The
standard requires a meeting with the power company to set
minimum approach distances that must be maintained. The
meeting must outline procedures for a dedicated spotter,
elevated warning lines/barricades, insulating links/devices,
nonconductive rigging, range limiters, nonconductive tag
lines, equipment barricading, limiting access to essential
workers, prohibiting non-operator workers from touching
above insulating stick, equipment grounding requirements,
deactivating automatic re-energizer and installing insulating
line cover-up.
When encroachment could occur, one of three options
must be completed before beginning equipment operations.
Option 1- Deenergize and ground- Requires a
confirmation from the utility owner that the power line has
been deenergized and visibility grounded at the worksite.
Option 2- 20 foot clearance- Ensure no part of the
equipment, load line, or load gets closer than 20’ to the power
line by implementing the following controls: Conduct a
planning meeting; use non-conductive tag lines; use a
warning line, barricade or line of signs at 20’, as applicable;
plus one of the following: proximity alarm, dedicated spotter,
warning device, range limiter or insulating link.
Option 3- Ask utility for line voltage and use Table A
(OSHA table with minimum clearance distances). Strict
requirements are associated with this option which include all
the requirements outlined in Option 2 plus additional items
that should be developed in coordination with electric utility
personnel.
 .
VIII. VITA

Pam Tompkins, CSP, CUSP, CUSA has been president

of SET Solutions in Lexington, S.C since 2000. She is a
founding member of the Utility Safety & Ops Leadership
Network (USOLN) which includes development of the
Certified Utility Safety Professional designation. She presently
serves as an executive board member and Education
Chairperson for the USOLN Network.

The photo depicts a serious crane accident that could

have been prevented by following OSHA requirements [5].

VII. WRITTEN PROCEDURES AND TRAINING

Development of written procedures to effectively address

required controls is an essential component of an effective
electrical safety program. Procedures should address
engineering controls, which may include relocating the lines
or the work location; administrative controls, which may
include development of a Job Hazard Analysis; safe work
procedures, which may include developing a barricade and
sign system to keep everyone out; and PPE, which may
include the use of rubber overshoes.
Once written procedures are developed, personnel must
be trained to understand the hazards and how to effectively
use the controls developed for their safety.

VI. CONCULUSIONS

Overhead powerlines are located in the air, isolated from

normal everyday work tasks, and because they are in the air,
they can become “out of sight, out of mind”. An effective
overhead powerline safety program must identify work tasks
that may be performed near overhead powerlines, develop
appropriate controls and provide regular training. When these
controls are in place, accidents and deaths caused by contact
to overhead powerlines will be greatly reduced.

VII. REFERENCES

[1] Bureau of Labor Statistics, Injuries, Illnesses and

Fatalities, http://www.bls.gov/iif/
[2] Code of Federal Regulations. Title 29. Part 1910,
Subpart R, 1910.269-Electric Power Generation,
Transmission and Distribution
[3] IEEE C2-2012, National Electrical Safety Code, New
York, NY: IEEE
[4] NFPA 70E, 2012 Standard for Electrical Safety in the
Workplace, Quincy, MA: NFPA.
[5] “Look Up and Live” South Carolina Overhead
Powerline Safety Initiative, http://lookupandlive.org/
[6] Code of Federal Regulations. Title 29. Part 1926
Subpart CC