nomiS36:
R.I.P.
Pretty fundamental stuff ain’t it? Using a hiab/crane near power lines is a big no no?
Having lost my own father to electrocution from touching overhead lines whilst raising a silo on the back of his lorry a few years back, I know from personal experience how much he used to say to my brother (who used to help him out occasionally) to be careful of overhead cables. The problem is in the real world, sometimes you find yourself in situations where you may be tired, distracted, etc. I know he had been to this field before, but was put in a different position on the show ground, and must have had a momentary lapse of concentration, it really is easier than it may seem.
I feel sorry for the family left behind, and what they will now have to go through with an inquest, and such. RIP Drive!
I took down a domestic power cable with a crane (truck crane) It was out of sight in amongst foliage and I didn’t even see the power pole that it was attached to. Luckily for me it was an insulated cable and I didn’t get hurt. I didn’t even know I’d done it until some woman came up to me with the right hump and said “my computer’s stopped working” and I thought wtf is she on about, until she explained.
Yes, very easily done depending on circumstances. And btw, the electricity company paid for the repairs because of the pole and cables being so well hidden.
With the 11KV lines (and above that voltage) you don’t have to physically touch them to get electrocuted.
Voltages of 11KV and over will jump to you or your machine if you get close enough to them.
In damp conditions this can be a few feet.
We had a couple of tippers that were hit by high voltage from overhead lines even though they were several feet away from them, the power blew all the tyres and brake diaphragms but the drivers remained in the cabs so were safe. Another companies driver tipping in a field wasn’t so fortunate, he got out of the cab but the power went through his body and killed him as he had hold of the handrail.
I only pulled some computer cables down at BL Longbridge…
When I was at Smiths one of our 8w drivers hit a power cable. He was tipping at a riding arena job where he was about 300mm below ground level, came up the ramp back onto ground level with the body 3/4 of the way up and touched a (I think) 32000v cable. Big flash, lorry stalled but the current didn’t trip at the nearby substation. Driver was alright, stayed in his cab until the power was turned off, got out and the front tyre exploded.
I think the seals on the tipper ram blew, there was a flash mark down the ram not unlike a cartoon lightning bolt. The electricity company went to town on the contractors and landowner as they’d no risk assessment or “candy poles” to warn of overhead lines.
Lorry was repaired and was then written off after rolling over whilst tipping (sticky load on the headboard). Same driver involved aswell.