Electrocution is the leading cause of 

on-the-job death for water well drillers.* 

*Based on statistics from 1992-2002 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Case 1: A driller-helper was 

pulling a winch cable toward 

a stack of drill steel when 

the cable contacted a 

12,000-volt power line. The 

helper was killed, and the 

driller at the rig controls 

was severely injured. 

Case 2: A crew was 

preparing to remove a pump 

from a well when the hoist 

boom contacted a 4160-volt 

power line. The hoist 

operator was electrocuted. 

OSHA Regulation - 29 CFR 1910.333 (c)(3)(iii)(A) (summarized)

Power lines up to 50,000 volts – keep equipment at least 10 feet away, 

plus an additional 4 inches for every 10,000 volts above 50,000. 
Overhead power line safety 

job site tips 

Most overhead power lines are not insulated. They often operate at 

several thousand volts or higher. If your drill rig or hoist truck hits 

a power line, any person touching this equipment and the ground 

at the same time will be severely injured or killed. 

Always look around the job site for 

nearby power lines. Avoid working 

near any lines, including service 

drops. OSHA regulations in 29 CFR 

1910.333 require that you stay at least 

10 feet away from power lines up to 

50,000 volts. Play it safe – keep all 

parts of your equipment at least 35 

feet away from power lines. 

Never store supplies or park 

equipment under or near power lines. 

When raising or lowering the mast, 

stand on the operator’s platform. Use 

your helper as a lookout to make sure 

the mast is always at least 10 feet from 

any power lines. 

Be sure that winch and hoist cables will remain at least 10 feet 

from power lines during all drilling and well maintenance 

operations. 

For additional information, contact NIOSH at 1-800-35-NIOSH 

(1-800-356-4674), Fax: 513-533-8573, or visit the NIOSH Web site at:
 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/traumaelec.html
 
Electrocution is the leading cause of 

on-the-job death for water well drillers.* 

*Based on statistics from 1992-2002 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Case 1: A driller lowered a 

drill rig mast into a 

13,800- volt power line and 

was electrocuted. A truck 

driver saw the driller 

collapse and rushed over 

to help. The truck driver 

touched the drill rig and 

was also killed. 

Case 2: A crew was 

preparing to remove a 

pump from a well when the 

hoist boom contacted a 

4160-volt power line. The 

hoist operator was 

electrocuted. 

OSHA Regulation - 29 CFR 1910.333 (c)(3)(iii)(A) (summarized)

Power lines up to 50,000 volts – keep equipment at least 10 feet away, 

plus an additional 4 inches for every 10,000 volts above 50,000. 
Follow these steps if your equipment 

 contacts an overhead power line. 

1. If you are on board the drill rig or hoist truck, stay in place 

unless it is on fire and you must get off. 

2. Try to move the mast or boom 

at least 10 feet away from line. 

Never approach or touch 

equipment from the ground in order to do this. 

3. If equipment can’t be moved, 

the power lines must be 

deenergized. Call the utility 

company and wait for them to 

deenergize the lines. 

4. If you are not on board, stay 

away from rig or hoist truck. 

Never touch any connected 

winch cables, drill steels, pipes, or hoses. 

5. Never attempt to assist an injured worker until the 

equipment is deenergized. If power lines appear to 

deenergize automatically, stay away; the lines could 

automatically reenergize. 

For additional information, contact NIOSH at 1-800-35-NIOSH 

(1-800-356-4674), Fax: 513-533-8573, or visit the NIOSH Web 

site at: www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/traumaelec.html
 
Electrocution is the leading cause of 

on-the-job death for water well drillers.* 

*Based on statistics from 1992-2002 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Case 1: A driller raised a 

drill rig mast into a 

7200-volt overhead power 

line. Both he and his 

helper were killed. 

Case 2: A driller-helper 

was pulling a winch cable 

toward a stack of drill steel 

when the cable contacted 

a 12,000-volt power line. 

The helper was killed, and 

the driller at the rig 

controls was severely 

injured. 

OSHA Regulations - 29 CFR 1910.333 (c)(3)(iii)(A) (summarized)

Power lines up to 50,000 volts – keep equipment at least 10 feet away, 

plus an additional 4 inches for every 10,000 volts above 50,000. 
 

 

 

How to get off equipment in contact with an 

overhead power line.
 

If you are on board a drill rig or hoist truck that is energized 

due to contact with an overhead power line, try to move the 

mast or boom at least 10 ft away from the lines. If the 

equipment can’t be moved, but you must get off because it is 

on fire, never touch the equipment and the ground at the same 

time. 

Jump clear of the rig and land upright with your feet close 

together. Be sure not to fall backward and contact the rig. 

Move away with short shuffling steps or by hopping. 

For additional information, contact NIOSH at 1-800-35-NIOSH 

(1-800-356-4674), Fax: 513-533-8573, or visit the NIOSH Web 

site at: www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/traumaelec.html
 

IC 9485 Information Circular/2006 DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-113 
Noise-induced hearing loss is one 

of the most common occupational 

diseases in the U.S. 

Working around loud noise 

can lead to hearing loss. 

Hearing loss makes it hard 

to understand the 

machine’s audio cues that 

tell you such things as 

when to add or reduce air 

pressure or if you have 

broken a drill bit. 

The drill rig’s compressor, 

engine, cooling fan, and 

drill rod are noise sources 

that can expose workers to 

noise levels 90 dB(A) and 

above. 

The image above shows a sample 

water well site. Red and orange colors 

show noise levels above OSHA limits. 

OSHA Regulation - 29 CFR 1910.95 (a) 

Protection against the effects of noise exposure shall be provided when 

sound levels exceed permissible noise exposure levels 

(ex. TWA of 90 dB(A) for 8 Hours or 95 dB(A) for 4 hours) 
Take these steps to lower your noise 

exposure at the work site. 

1. Move 6 to 12 feet 

away from cooling fan, rig 

compressor, engine, or drill 

rod when not working on 

these rig parts. 

2.Consistently wear hearing 

protection devices: ear plugs, 

ear muffs, or canal caps. 

3. Know OSHA regulations on 

noise exposure levels (from 29 

CFR 1910.95 (b) (2) listed in 

the table below. 

Duration Sound level dB(A) 

8 hours 90 

6 hours 92 

4 hours 95 

2 hours 100 

1 hour 105 

30 minutes 110 

15 minutes 115 

For additional information, contact NIOSH at 1-800-35-NIOSH 

(1-800-356-4674), Fax: 513-533-8573, or visit the NIOSH Web 

site at: www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise
 
Noise-induced hearing loss is one of 

the most common occupational 

diseases in the U.S. 

Working around loud noise 

can lead to hearing loss. 

Hearing loss makes it 

harder to understand the 

machine’s audio cues that 

tell you such things as 

when to add or reduce air 

pressure, drill faster or 

slower, or if the drill bit is 

broken. 

Wearing hearing 

protection every day at the 

worksite will help to lower 

your exposure to noise. 

NIOSH has developed a partial cab 

design (arrows note cab on rig) that 

can be retrofitted onto drilling rigs. 

Field tests have shown that the partial 

cab can reduce sound levels at the 

operator’s ear by as much as 8 dB(A) 

while hammer drilling. 

OSHA Regulation - 29 CFR 1910.95 (a) 

Protection against the effects of noise exposure shall be provided when 

sound levels exceed permissible noise exposure levels 

(ex. TWA of 90 dB(A) for 8 Hours or 95 dB(A) for 4 hours) 
Hearing Protection Devices Everyone is different, and so are ears. 
 

Choose a device that is most comfortable for you. 

Foam Plugs 

Molds to shape of ear canal. 

Does not interfere with hair, glasses or hard hat.
 

To insert: Roll plug to a point. Pull ear up and back 

to straighten ear canal. Hold plug for 30 seconds. 

Replace when dirty.
 

Flange Plugs or Canal Caps 

Provides seal against ear canal wall. 

Twist or rotate plug to insert in ear. 

Twist or rotate plug to remove. 

Washable/reusable. 

Ear Muffs 

Can be seen from distance. 

Replace muffs when they become stiff or brittle.
 

Glasses, facial hair affect degree of protection. 

For additional information, contact NIOSH at 1-800-35-NIOSH 

(1-800-356-4674), Fax: 513-533-8573, or visit the NIOSH Web 

site at: www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise