Qualified Person
- One who has received training in and has demonstrated skills and knowledge in the construction and operation of electric equipment and installations and the hazards involved.
Unqualified Person
- One with little or no such training.
Work on Exposed Energized Parts
Qualified Person
- Only qualified persons may work on electric circuit parts or equipment that have not been deenergized.
- They should be capable of working safely on energized circuits and be familiar with the proper use of special precautionary techniques, personal protective equipment, insulating and shielding materials, and insulated tools.
Work Near Exposed Energized Parts
- When work is performed near overhead lines, the lines are to be deenergized and grounded, or other protective measures provided before work is started.
- If deenergized, arrangements should be made with the person or organization that operates or controls the electric circuits involved to deenergize and ground them.
- If protective measures are to be used, such as guarding, isolating, or insulating are provided, these precautions are necessary to prevent employees from contacting such lines directly with any part of their body or indirectly through conductive materials, tools, or equipment.
Work Near Overhead Powerlines
Unqualified Person
- An unqualified person (and the longest conductive object they may contact) working in an elevated position near overhead lines are not to come closer to any unguarded, energized overhead line than the following distances:
- For voltages to ground 50kV or below - 10 feet.
- For voltages to ground over 50kV - 10 feet plus 4 inches for every 10kV over 50kV.
- When an unqualified person is working on the ground in the vicinity of overhead lines, the person may not bring any conductive object closer to unguarded, energized overhead lines than the distances given above.
Qualified Person
- A qualified person working in the vicinity of overhead lines, whether in an elevated position or on the ground, may not approach or take any conductive object without an approved insulating handle closer to exposed energized parts than shown in Table S-5 unless:
- The person is insulated from the energized part (gloves, with sleeves if necessary, rated for the voltage involved are considered to be insulation of the person from the energized part on which work is performed), or
- The energized part is insulated both from all other conductive objects at a different potential and from the person, or the person is insulated from all conductive objects at a potential different from that of the energized part.
Notification
- The employer must notify the power company immediately if a felled tree makes contact with any power line.
- Each employee shall remain clear of the area until the power company advises that there are no electrical hazards.
Vehicular and Mechanical Equipment
- Any vehicle or mechanical equipment capable of having parts of its structure elevated near energized overhead lines must be operated so that a clearance of 10 feet is maintained.
- If the voltage is higher than 50kV, the clearance must be increased 4 inches for every 10kV over that voltage.
- However, under any of the following conditions, the clearance may be reduced:
- If the vehicle is in transit with its structure lowered, the clearance may be reduced to 4 feet.
- If the voltage is higher than 50kV, the clearance must be increased 4 inches for every 10kV over that voltage.
- If insulating barriers are installed to prevent contact with the lines, and if the barriers are rated for the voltage of the line being guarded and are not a part of or an attachment to the vehicle or its raised structure, the clearance may be reduced to a distance within the designed working dimensions of the insulating barrier.
- If the equipment is an aerial lift insulated for the voltage involved, and if the work is performed by a qualified person, the clearance (between the uninsulated portion of the aerial lift and the power line) may be reduced to the distance given in Table S-5.
- Employees standing on the ground may not contact the vehicle or mechanical equipment or any of its attachments, unless:
- The employee is using protective equipment rated for the voltage; or
- The equipment is located so that no uninsulated part of its structure (that portion of the structure that provides a conductive path to employees on the ground) can come closer to the line than permitted.
Any vehicle or mechanical equipment capable of having parts of its structure elevated near energized overhead lines is intentionally grounded, employees working on the ground near the point of grounding may not stand at the grounding location whenever there is a possibility of overhead line contact.