Construction (29 CFR 1926)

Power Line Safety (Up to 350 kV) – Equipment Operations

Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05

29 CFR 1926.1408

29 CFR 1926.1408 governs power-line safety for cranes operating near lines up to 350 kV: before work, the employer must determine whether any part of the equipment or load could get within 20 feet of a power line, and if so, either de-energize and ground the line, maintain the 20-foot clearance, or follow the Table A minimum approach distances for the voltage.

29 CFR 1926.1408 at a glance

What it requires: Keep cranes and loads 20 ft from power lines up to 350 kV, or de-energize the line
Who it covers: Construction employers operating cranes near power lines under Subpart CC
Clearance rule: Determine if any part could get within 20 ft of a line and control it (1926.1408(a)(2))
Options: De-energize and ground, maintain 20-ft clearance, or use Table A distances
Max penalty (2026): $16,550 per serious violation; $165,514 per willful
The #1 confusion: The 20-foot clearance is the default baseline for lines up to 350 kV

What 29 CFR 1926.1408 requires (plain English)

29 CFR 1926.1408 sets the power-line safety requirements for cranes and other covered equipment operating near power lines up to 350 kV: one of the most lethal hazards in crane work. Its logic is preventive: before operations begin, the employer must identify the work zone and determine whether any part of the equipment, load line, or load, operated up to the equipment's maximum working radius, could get closer than 20 feet to a power line.

If it could, the employer must use one of three options: have the utility de-energize and visibly ground the line; maintain the 20-foot clearance for lines up to 350 kV (greater for higher voltages); or determine the line's voltage and maintain the corresponding minimum approach distance from Table A. Whichever option is chosen, the standard requires specific encroachment-prevention measures (a dedicated spotter, warning flags or devices, and a planning meeting) so the clearance is actively maintained, not just hoped for.

1926.1408 is part of Subpart CC (scoped by 1926.1400) alongside operator certification (1926.1427), keeping clear of loads (1926.1425), and rigging. Power-line safety is the single most emphasized crane hazard because contact is so often fatal to multiple workers at once.

What the source requires, in summary

Determine if any part of the equipment, load line or load (including rigging and lifting accessories), if operated up to the equipment's maximum working radius in the work zone, could get closer than 20 feet to a power line.

29 CFR 1926.1408(a)(2)Summarized, not quoted: read the source for its operative wording.

Key facts about 29 CFR 1926.1408

For lines up to 350 kV, the crane and load must stay at least 20 feet from the line (1926.1408).
Before work, the employer must determine if any part could get within 20 feet of a line (1926.1408(a)(2)).
The three options are de-energize and ground, maintain 20-foot clearance, or use Table A approach distances.
Higher-voltage lines require greater clearances per Table A.
Encroachment-prevention measures (a dedicated spotter, warning devices, and a planning meeting) are required.
Power-line contact often electrocutes the operator, the rigger, and bystanders at once.
It is part of Subpart CC, scoped by 1926.1400.

Scope: who 29 CFR 1926.1408 applies to

Regulatory framework: Construction (29 CFR 1926)
Citation reference: 29 CFR 1926.1408
Enforcement status: In force and enforced
Jurisdiction: Federal OSHA (29 State-Plan jurisdictions may be stricter)

State-Plan states (e.g. California, Washington, Michigan) operate OSHA-approved programs that must be at least as effective as federal OSHA and frequently impose higher penalties or additional requirements. Confirm the rule as adopted in your state.

Key requirements of 29 CFR 1926.1408

#	Employer obligation
1	Maintain minimum approach distance from power lines
2	Identify power line locations before operations
3	Assume lines are energized unless confirmed de-energized
4	Use dedicated spotter for power line proximity
5	Follow Table A clearance distances by voltage

Summarized from the text of 29 CFR 1926.1408. Always read the full regulation for the binding language.

Common Crane Power Line Safety violations

Deficiencies OSHA cites under 29 CFR 1926.1408 include the ones below, in no particular order. Distinct deficiencies can be cited as separate items, and each serious item carries up to $16,550 (2026). Broader per-instance stacking exists but is a discretionary, case-by-case OSHA enforcement policy, not an automatic multiplier.

No power-line assessment of the work zone before operations (1926.1408(a)(1)).
Operating within 20 feet of a line up to 350 kV without an approved option (1926.1408(a)(2)).
No dedicated spotter or encroachment-prevention measures near a line (1926.1408(b)).
Assuming a line is de-energized without utility confirmation and grounding (1926.1408(b)).
Ignoring the greater Table A clearances for higher-voltage lines (1926.1408(b)).

20 feet is the default clearance for lines up to 350 kV: assume it unless you verify the voltage

Crews sometimes eyeball the distance to an overhead line or assume a line is 'probably fine.' 1926.1408 requires a deliberate assessment: determine whether any part of the equipment or load, at the maximum working radius, could get within 20 feet of the line, and if so, act. The 20-foot clearance is the baseline for lines up to 350 kV; you may only work closer if the utility de-energizes and grounds the line, or if you verify the actual voltage and maintain the Table A minimum approach distance for it. And the clearance is not passive: a dedicated spotter and warning devices must actively keep the equipment out of the danger zone.

What OSHA inspectors look for

A compliance officer checks that a work-zone power-line assessment was done, that the crane and load stay at least 20 feet from lines (or the greater Table A distance for higher voltages), and that the required encroachment-prevention measures (a dedicated spotter, warning devices, or de-energizing) are in place. Operating close to a live line with no clearance plan is the highest-gravity finding.

Example: how a violation is cited

A crane's boom is operated near an overhead distribution line with no clearance assessment or spotter, and the boom contacts the energized line, electrocuting a worker touching the load. OSHA cites 1926.1408 because the crane had to stay 20 feet clear or the line be de-energized, with willful classifications reaching $165,514.

Illustrative example, not a specific OSHA case.

Crane Power Line Safety compliance checklist

Use this to evaluate your compliance with 29 CFR 1926.1408. Each item is a key requirement OSHA may verify during an inspection.

Identify all power lines in and around the work zone before crane operations begin.
Determine if any part of the equipment or load could get within 20 feet at the maximum working radius.
Choose an option: de-energize and ground the line, maintain 20-foot clearance, or use Table A distances by voltage.
Assign a dedicated spotter and use warning flags, range-limit devices, or barriers to prevent encroachment.
Hold a planning meeting with the operator and crew on the power-line procedures before the lift.
Never assume a line is dead: confirm de-energization and visible grounding with the utility.

2026 penalties for 29 CFR 1926.1408

Maximums set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d). 2026 amounts unchanged from 2025 (no CPI adjustment; OMB M-26-11). Not an increase. The 2025 OSHA penalty levels remain in effect for 2026; OSHA made no inflation adjustment for 2026. 29 CFR 1903.15 identifies January 15, 2025 as the effective reference for these amounts, while OSHA's public penalties page currently references penalties assessed after Jan. 15, 2026.

Violation type	Minimum	Maximum	When it applies
Serious	$1,085	$16,550	Substantial probability of death or serious physical harm.
Other-Than-Serious	$0	$16,550	Relates to safety/health but unlikely to cause death or serious harm.
Willful	$11,823	$165,514	Intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard of the requirement.
Repeated	$4,256	$165,514	A substantially similar violation cited within the last 5 years.
Failure to Abate	None	$16,550/day	up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6)

Power-line-contact incidents are catastrophic and heavily investigated. Serious violations reach $16,550 and willful or repeat violations $165,514; operating within the clearance distance without protective measures draws the highest-gravity classifications.

Maximums and the willful minimum are set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d); the serious and repeated minimums are OSHA policy floors from its annual penalty adjustment memo. OSHA applies gravity-based and size, good-faith and history reductions (FOM CPL 02-00-164 Ch.6). Estimates only, not legal advice.

The business case for Crane Power Line Safety compliance

Contact between a crane and a power line is among the deadliest crane hazards, often electrocuting the operator, the rigger touching the load, and bystanders at once. The 20-foot clearance rule and its alternatives exist because a boom or load line that strays into a power line energizes everything it touches in an instant.

Free compliance tools for 29 CFR 1926.1408

Crane Lift Plan Calculator Job Hazard Analysis Builder Pre-Task Plan Generator

Crane Power Line Safety penalties by state

Penalties and enforcement vary by state. State-Plan states may impose higher penalties and additional requirements beyond federal 29 CFR 1926.1408.

Alabama Arkansas Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia

View all 50 states + DC →

Frequently asked questions about 29 CFR 1926.1408

How far must a crane stay from a power line?

For power lines up to 350 kV, the default is at least 20 feet. Under 1926.1408, before operations the employer must determine whether any part of the equipment, load line, or load could get within 20 feet of a line at the maximum working radius, and if so must keep the 20-foot clearance, have the line de-energized and grounded, or verify the voltage and maintain the greater Table A approach distance for higher voltages.

What are the options if a crane must work near a power line?

1926.1408 gives three: have the utility de-energize and visibly ground the line; maintain the minimum clearance, 20 feet for lines up to 350 kV; or determine the line's voltage and maintain the corresponding Table A minimum approach distance. Whichever is chosen, encroachment-prevention measures such as a dedicated spotter and warning devices are required.

Why is crane contact with power lines so dangerous?

Because it electrocutes everyone in the electrical path at once: commonly the operator, the rigger or worker touching the load or load line, and sometimes bystanders. A boom or load line that strays into an energized line instantly energizes the crane and its load. This is historically among the leading causes of crane fatalities, which is why 1926.1408 is so prescriptive about clearance and spotters.

Can you assume a power line is de-energized?

No. Under 1926.1408, you may only treat a line as safe to work near without clearance if the utility owner or operator has confirmed it is de-energized and it is visibly grounded at the worksite. Assuming a line is dead, or that it is low-voltage and therefore safe, is a frequent and fatal error; the standard requires confirmation and grounding, not assumption.

Regulatory history of 29 CFR 1926.1408

1926.1408 was established in OSHA's 2010 cranes and derricks in construction final rule (75 FR 47906), which created Subpart CC. Its 20-foot default clearance and Table A minimum approach distances replaced older, less specific requirements and reflect the persistent toll of crane-to-power-line contacts, historically a leading cause of crane fatalities.

Related glossary terms

Key terms that appear in 29 CFR 1926.1408, each with a full plain-English explainer.

Qualified Person Competent Person National Emphasis Program (NEP)Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Related guides & articles

Crane & Rigging Safety: OSHA Construction Guide Electrical Safety Construction: OSHA & NFPA 70E

Related OSHA standards

29 CFR 1926.251

Rigging Equipment

29 CFR 1926.1436

Derricks

29 CFR 1926.1400

Crane Rule Scope

29 CFR 1926.1404

Crane Assembly/Disassembly

Primary sources

OSHA figures on this page are imported from HazComFast's verified regulatory module (verified 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register).

This page is an educational summary, not legal advice. OSHA standards and penalty amounts change; confirm requirements against the current regulation and your applicable State-Plan before acting.

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OSHA does not give advance notice of inspections (29 CFR 1903.6). Get the binder in order before the opening conference, not during it.

Serious Violation

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