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(a) General. For purposes of this Section, a construction site is a place of employment where erection, demolition, alteration or excavation is being performed on a building, structure or underground facility, other than mining.

(b) Construction Sites. To protect employees on construction sites, the employer shall use either or both ground-fault circuit interrupters as specified in Subsection (c) of this Section or an assured equipment grounding conductor program as specified in Subsection (d) of this Section. These requirements are in addition to any other requirements for equipment grounding conductors.

(c) Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters. All 120-volt, AC, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets on construction sites, which are not a part of the permanent wiring of the building or structure and which are in use by employees, shall have approved ground-fault circuit interrupters for personnel protection. Receptacles on a two-wire, single phase portable or vehicle-mounted generator rated not more than 5 KW, where the circuit conductors of the generator are insulated from the generator frame and all their grounded surfaces, need not be protected with ground-fault circuit interrupters.

Feeders supplying 15- and 20-ampere receptacle branch circuits shall be permitted to be protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter approved for the purpose in lieu of the above provisions.

(d) Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program. The employer shall establish and implement an assured equipment grounding conductor program on construction sites covering all cord sets, receptacles which are not a part of the permanent wiring of the building or structure and equipment connected by cord and plug, which are available for use or used by employees. This program shall comply with the following minimum requirements:

(1) A written description of the program, including the specific procedures adopted by the employer shall be available at the job site for inspection and copying by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health and any affected employee.

(2) The employer shall designate one or more qualified persons as defined in Section 2300 to implement the program.

(3) Each cord set, attachment cap, plug and receptacle of cord sets, and any equipment connected by cord and plug including these which are not required to be grounded, except cord sets and receptacles which are fixed and not exposed to damage, shall be visually inspected before each day's use for external defects, such as, deformed or missing pins or insulation damage, and for indication of possible internal damage. Equipment found damaged or defective shall not be used until repaired.

(4) The following tests shall be performed on all cord sets and receptacles which are not a part of the permanent wiring of the building or structure, and cord- and plug-connected equipment required to be grounded:

Note: Double-insulated tools or other similar equipment are not required to be grounded. See Section 2395.45 Exception 2.

(A) All equipment grounding conductors shall be tested for continuity and shall be electrically continuous.

(B) Each receptacle and attachment cap or plug shall be tested for correct attachment of the equipment grounding conductor. The equipment grounding conductor shall be connected to its proper terminal.

(5) All tests required in Subsection (d)(4) shall be performed:

(A) Before first use for newly acquired equipment;

(B) Before equipment is returned to service following any repairs;

(C) Before equipment is used after any incident which can be reasonably suspected to have caused damage (for example, when a cord set is run over); and

(D) At intervals not to exceed three (3) months, except that cord sets and receptacles which are fixed and not exposed to damage shall be tested at intervals not exceeding 6 months.

(6) The employer shall not make available or permit the use by employees of any equipment which has not met the requirements of Subsection (d) of this Section.

(7) Receptacles, cord sets and cord- and plug-connected equipment passing the tests required in Subsection (d) shall be identified. Identification may be made by means of logs, color coding or other effective means, shall be maintained until replaced by a more current identification, and shall indicate the last test date or the interval for which the tests were performed. These dates or intervals shall be readily available to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health and affected employees.

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

HISTORY

1. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 11-16-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 46).

2. Amendment of subsection (d)(5)(D) filed 2-1-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 6).

3. Amendment of subsections (a), (d) and (d)(4) filed 4-6-2010; operative 5-6-2010 (Register 2010, No. 15).