Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices for Workers

Qualified and unqualified persons

Two kinds of workers

Your training

If your job exposes you to a risk of electric shock, you must be trained in the safety-related work practices that apply to your job, plus any other electrically related safety practices you need for your safety. Training is classroom or on-the-job, and how much you get depends on the risk to you.

What only qualified persons may do

• Work on electric circuit parts or equipment that have not been deenergized under the lockout and tagging procedures. If it has not been locked or tagged out, it is not your job.
• Defeat an electrical safety interlock, and then only temporarily while they work on the equipment.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.331(a) · 29 CFR 1910.332(b)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.332(b)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.332(b)(3)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.332(b)(3)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.332(b)(3)(iii) · 29 CFR 1910.332(c) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(10) · 29 CFR 1910.332(a)

Off is not the same as safe

Deenergize first

Live parts you may be exposed to must be deenergized before you work on or near them. The employer may skip this only if it can show deenergizing creates additional or increased hazards, or is infeasible because of equipment design or operational limits. Live parts under 50 volts to ground need not be deenergized if there will be no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion from electric arcs.

Switched off but not locked or tagged? Treat it as live

Parts that have been deenergized but not locked out or tagged under the procedure must be treated as energized. While anyone is exposed to contact with parts of fixed equipment or circuits that have been deenergized, the circuits feeding them must be locked out, tagged, or both.

• A push button, selector switch or interlock may not be the only means of deenergizing. Pressing Stop is not lockout. Interlocks for electric equipment may not be used as a substitute for lockout and tagging procedures.
• Stored electric energy that might endanger people must be released.
• Your employer must keep a written copy of the lockout and tagging procedures and make it available for you to inspect.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.333(a)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(ii)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(ii)(C)

Locks and tags

A lock and a tag on each disconnect

A lock and a tag go on each disconnecting means used to deenergize the circuits and equipment being worked on. Each tag carries a statement prohibiting unauthorized operation of the disconnecting means and removal of the tag. If you see a lock or tag on a disconnect, do not operate it and do not remove anything.

The two exceptions

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(C) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(D) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(E)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(E)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(E)(3)

Testing, and turning the power back on

Before anything is worked as deenergized

• A qualified person operates the equipment controls or otherwise verifies the equipment cannot be restarted.
• A qualified person uses test equipment to verify that the parts you will be exposed to are deenergized.

Until those checks are done, the circuit cannot be considered and worked as deenergized. Wait for them.

Before the power comes back, in this order

1. A qualified person conducts tests and visual inspections, as necessary, to verify that all tools, electrical jumpers, shorts, grounds and other such devices have been removed.
2. Employees exposed to reenergizing hazards are warned to stay clear. When you get that warning, move away.
3. Each lock and tag is removed by the employee who applied it, or under that employee's direct supervision. If that employee is absent from the workplace, a qualified person designated for the task may remove it, but only if the employer makes sure the employee is not available at the workplace, and makes sure the employee knows the lock or tag was removed before they resume work there.
4. There is a visual check that all employees are clear of the circuits and equipment.

These steps apply before circuits or equipment are reenergized, even temporarily.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(iv) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(iv)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(iv)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(v)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(v)(C) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(v)(C)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(v)(C)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(v)(D) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(v) · 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(v)(A)

Keep yourself and your tools back

Before work starts near overhead lines, the lines must be deenergized and grounded, or other protective measures must be in place.

Your distances as an unqualified person

When you work in an elevated position near overhead lines, you and the longest conductive object you may contact must not come closer to any unguarded, energized overhead line than:

When you work on the ground near overhead lines, you may not bring any conductive object closer than those same distances.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3)(i)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3)(i)(A)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3)(i)(A)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3)(i)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3)(i)(B) Note

Cranes, lifts and trucks near lines

Any vehicle or mechanical equipment that can raise parts of its structure near energized overhead lines, such as a boom truck, aerial lift or dump body, must keep a clearance of 10 feet. Above 50 kV, add 4 inches for every 10 kV over that voltage.

The clearance may be reduced only under narrow conditions. For example, a vehicle in transit with its structure lowered may come within 4 feet (more above 50 kV).

If you are on the ground

Do not touch the vehicle, equipment or any of its attachments unless you are using protective equipment rated for the voltage, or the equipment is located so no uninsulated part of its structure can come closer to the line than the required clearance.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3)(iii)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3)(iii)(A)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3)(iii)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3)(iii)(B)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3)(iii)(B)(2)

Light, reach, jewelry, ladders and cleaning

• Light first. Do not enter a space with exposed energized parts unless there is enough light to do the work safely.
• No blind reaching. Do not reach blindly into areas that may contain energized parts.
• Conductive things you hold, like pipe, conduit, wire or metal tools, must be handled so they cannot contact exposed energized parts.
• Ladders must have nonconductive side rails where you or the ladder could contact exposed energized parts.
• Jewelry and clothing: watch bands, bracelets, rings, key chains, necklaces, metalized aprons, cloth with conductive thread and metal headgear may not be worn if they might contact exposed energized parts, unless they are made nonconductive by covering, wrapping or other insulating means.
• Housekeeping: do not clean so close to live parts that contact is possible unless adequate safeguards, such as insulating equipment or barriers, are provided. Conductive cleaning materials, such as steel wool, metalized cloth, silicon carbide or conductive liquids, may not be used near energized parts unless procedures are followed that prevent electrical contact.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(4)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(4)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(6) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(7) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(8) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(9)

Protective equipment and insulated tools

• Where there are potential electrical hazards, your employer must provide, and you must use, electrical protective equipment suited to the body part being protected and the work being done.
• Protective equipment must be kept in safe, reliable condition and periodically inspected or tested. A good practice is to report damaged gear instead of using it.
• Wear nonconductive head protection wherever there is a danger of head injury from electric shock or burns from contact with exposed energized parts.
• Wear eye or face protection wherever electric arcs or flashes, or flying objects from an electrical explosion, could injure your eyes or face.
• Use insulated tools or handling equipment near exposed energized parts if the tools might contact them.
• When normally enclosed live parts are opened up for maintenance or repair, they must be guarded to protect unqualified persons like you from contact.
• In a confined or enclosed space such as a manhole or vault with exposed energized parts, your employer provides, and you use, shields, barriers or insulating materials as necessary to avoid accidental contact.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(iv) · 29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(v) · 29 CFR 1910.335(a)(2)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.335(a)(2)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(5)

Signs, barricades and attendants

These alerting techniques warn you away from electrical hazards. Respect them.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.335(b)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.335(b)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.335(b)(3)