A contractor is operating a 25-ton crane near power lines. What is the minimum safe distance that must be maintained from 50kV power lines?
Correct Answer
D) 20 feet
OSHA requires a minimum clearance of 20 feet from 50kV power lines when operating cranes and other heavy equipment. This safety distance prevents electrical contact and potential electrocution hazards.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1926.1408 specifically requires a minimum clearance of 20 feet from 50kV power lines when operating cranes and heavy equipment. This distance is calculated to prevent electrical arcing and contact hazards that could result in electrocution or equipment damage. The 20-foot requirement for 50kV lines is a critical safety standard that contractors must follow to protect workers and comply with federal regulations. This distance accounts for potential equipment swing, boom deflection, and electrical arc flash zones.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 15 feet
25 feet exceeds the minimum requirement, and while safer, it is not the specific OSHA standard being tested.
Option C: 25 feet
15 feet does not meet OSHA's minimum requirement for 50kV lines and would still pose significant electrocution risks.
Memory Technique
Use the mnemonic 'FIFTY-TWENTY' - 50kV needs 20 feet. You can also remember that higher voltage needs more distance: 50kV = 20ft is the key benchmark to memorize.
Reference Hint
OSHA Construction Standards 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC - Cranes and Derricks in Construction, specifically section 1926.1408
More Project Mgmt Questions
What is the minimum R-value required for wall insulation in Florida Climate Zone 2?
A subcontractor brings a new chemical product to your jobsite. Under the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), what information must be immediately available to workers?
A construction site has a trench that is 8 feet deep in Type B soil. What is the maximum allowable slope ratio for the trench walls without protective systems?
What is the maximum recommended spacing between drywall screws when attaching to wood studs?
Your crew discovers suspected asbestos-containing materials during a renovation project. What is the first action you should take?
A scaffold platform is 12 feet long and 5 feet wide. If the maximum load capacity is 25 pounds per square foot, what is the total weight capacity of this platform?
Which CSI MasterFormat Division would contain specifications for fire-stopping and firesafing materials?
In tilt-up concrete construction, what is the primary advantage of this method over conventional cast-in-place construction?
Which OSHA standard specifically addresses construction industry safety and health regulations?
A structural drawing shows a beam labeled 'W12x26'. What does the '26' represent?
People Also Study
Business & Financial Management
120 questions · 70% to pass
Contract Administration
60 questions · 70% to pass
Related Study Resources
Previous Question
When interpreting electrical panel schedules, what does the notation '20A/1P' typically indicate?
Next Question
A construction site has three buildings under construction with a total floor area of 45,000 square feet. How many Class A fire extinguishers with 4-A rating are minimally required?