When working near overhead power lines, the minimum clearance distance for lines rated 50kV or below is:
Correct Answer
B) 10 feet
OSHA requires a minimum clearance of 10 feet from overhead power lines rated 50kV or below during construction activities.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1408 establishes a minimum clearance of 10 feet for unqualified workers operating equipment near overhead power lines rated up to 50kV. This is the baseline buffer to prevent electrical arcing and contact.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 6 feet
6 feet is the general fall protection threshold, not a power line clearance requirement. This answer conflates two different safety standards.
Option C: 15 feet
15 feet is the minimum clearance for lines rated over 50kV (up to 200kV), not for lines at or below 50kV. Using 15 feet here would be unnecessarily conservative for lower-voltage lines (though still safe).
Option D: 8 feet
8 feet is not an OSHA-specified clearance for power lines at any voltage level. It is a distractor with no regulatory basis.
Memory Technique
10 kV boundary = 10 feet rule. A clean way to remember: 50kV or below = 10 feet. Double the number of digits in '50' and you get 2, which paired with '5' gives 10. Or simply: 'Fifty below, ten to go.'
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