As i'm driving down the highway today I noticed not for the first time that cranes and especially trackhoes get very close to powerlines.  I'm sure the will energize if they contact the power lines.  I have operated alot of heavy equipment over the years but neither of these.  Someone tell me they have the same rules for safety as we do.  Just an observation.

Perhaps a partial answer

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10760

the rule for cranes is 10 feet upto 50000 volts

The new OSHA guidelines that will be out this year will be 20 ft. We [the pumping industry] will need to change our spec to 20 ft as well.

bigstick

I know what you mean; those boyz are way too cowboy for me too.

In aust we have an idustre standard 6m for all booms , no matter what, up to 3m with a spotter , any closer you need permits....

The stupid question is the one not asked!!!

i wood say so i have a buddy that runs a craine and he said he needed to be 23 feet from the line but the backhoe i couldint tell ya never been close anuff to git even nose to nose to a line