If a boom contacts an energized line, what is the main risk for a worker standing nearby?

The primary risk for a worker standing nearby when a boom contacts an energized line is primarily associated with step potential. Step potential occurs when there is a difference in voltage between the points of a person's feet due to a voltage gradient created in the ground. This situation can arise when current flows through the ground as a result of a fault or when a conductive object, like a boom, comes into contact with an energized line.

When this contact happens, the electrical energy can travel through the ground, creating a hazardous condition for any nearby workers. If they are standing on the ground with their feet apart, they can experience a potentially lethal voltage difference between their feet, leading to electric shock. Given the circumstances of the boom contacting the line, the risk of step potential is particularly significant and dangerous.

Other risks, while still relevant, may not present the same immediate concern. Although arc flash can occur in the situation, it typically poses a greater risk to the person directly in contact with the energized line rather than those at a distance. Electric shock can be a risk too, but step potential more specifically encapsulates the danger for workers in proximity to the incident. Ground potential refers to the voltages in the ground itself and is less applicable in this context compared to step potential