A worker can suffer an electrical injury after a crane contacts a power line even when the worker is far from the point of contact. Current can travel through the equipment and ground contacts. The investigation therefore needs to establish both where the crane approached the line and how the current reached the injured person.
Reconstruct the contact and the worker’s position
Identify the crane, boom position, load, rigging, line owner, voltage, pole, and contact point. Site measurements, photographs, burn marks, weather conditions, and witness positions help reconstruct the event. Record who touched the crane, load, or ground, and when.
The lift plan and the actual movement should be examined together. Obtain operator and spotter records, utility communications, and any confirmation that the line was de-energized or grounded. Preserve the site evidence along with those records so the written plan can be compared with what happened.
Compare the operation with its power-line precautions
29 C.F.R. §1926.1408 requires an assessment of whether covered crane operations could bring equipment or a load within specified distances of a power line and sets protective options. The applicable distance and precautions must be checked against the actual voltage, operation, and standard text.
A utility line’s presence does not by itself establish who controlled the crane movement or whether the line owner had a separate duty. Review the general contractor, crane company, utility, signal person, and injured worker’s employer separately. Contracts and job-hazard analyses can help identify the responsibilities assigned to each.
Our construction accident practice examines these site and contractor relationships. The question of whether a worker has a claim beyond the employer requires its own analysis of the parties and their roles.
If you are organizing records after the incident, our guide to steps after a Louisiana work injury covers the initial reporting and documentation. You can also contact the firm to discuss the crane and utility records available in your case.
Editorial & Legal Accuracy Notice (Louisiana)
Sources checked: September 25, 2026.
Electrical causation and duties require the actual line, crane operation and party relationships.