TABLE 2940.2-1
ALTERNATING CURRENT – MINIMUM
APPROACH DISTANCE
Heard at the March 16, 2000
Adopted on June 15, 2000
Approved by OAL on July 26, 2000
Effective August 25, 2000
Amend Section 2940.2 to read:
§2940.2. Clearances.
(a) No employee shall be permitted to approach or take any conductive object
without an approved insulating handle closer to exposed energized parts than
shown in Table 2940.2 unless:
(1) The employee is insulated or guarded from the energized part (gloves or
gloves with sleeves rated for the voltage involved shall be considered insulation
of the employee from the energized part), or
(2) The energized part is insulated or guarded from the employee and any other
conductive object at a different potential. (b) When performing work with live
line tools, minimum clear distances in Table 2940.2 shall be maintained. Conductor
support tools, such as link sticks, strain carriers, and insulator cradles,
shall be permitted to be used provided that the clear insulation is at least
as long as the insulator string or the minimum distance specified in Table 2940.2
for the operating voltage.
TABLE 2940.2-1
ALTERNATING CURRENT – MINIMUM
APPROACH DISTANCE
NOTE: Above 242 KV the minimum working distance and the minimum approach distance shall be permitted to be reduced provided that such distances are not less than the shortest distance between the energized part and a grounded surface.
Table 2940.2-2
DC LIVE-LINE WORK
MINIMUM APPROACH DISTANCE
WITH OVERVOLTAGE FACTOR
Note 1: The distances specified in this table may be applied only where
the maximum anticipated per-unit transient overvoltage has been determined by
engineering analysis and has been supplied by the employer. However, if the
transient overvoltage factor is not known, a factor of 1.8 shall be assumed.
Note 2: The distances specified in this table are the air, bare-hand, and live-line
tool distances.
Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.
Amend Section 2940.6 to read:
2940.6. Tools and Protective Equipment.
(a) Rubber Insulating Equipment
(1) Rubber iInsulating equipment designed for the voltage
levels to be encountered shall be provided and the employer shall ensure that
they are used by employees as required by this section. This equipment shall
meet the electrical physical requirements contained in the standards
as shown in Appendix C.
(2) Whenever rubber gloves are used, they shall be protected by outer canvas
or leather gloves. This equipment shall meet the electrical physical requirements
contained in the standards shown in Appendix C.
(3) Insulating equipment fabricated of material other than rubber shall provide
electrical and mechanical protection at least equal to that of rubber equipment.
(4) The employer is responsible for the periodic visual and electrical re-testing
of all insulating gloves, sleeves and blankets. Effective February 23,
1998, t The following maximum re-testing intervals in accordance
with the listed ASTM standards, which are hereby incorporated by reference,
shall apply:
GLOVES, SLEEVES, AND BLANKETS,
AND OTHER INSULATING EQUIPMENT
(In-service care)
ASTM STANDARD
MONTHS
Standard Specification for In-Service Care of
Insulating Gloves and Sleeves, ASTM F 496-95a 97
6
Standard Specification for In-Service Care of
Insulating Blankets, ASTM F 479-95
12
Standard Specification for In-Service Care of
12 (When found to be
Insulating Line Hose and Covers, ASTM F 478-92 damaged
or defective)
(5) Gloves, sleeves and blankets shall be marked to indicate compliance with
the re-test schedule and shall be marked with either the date tested, or the
date the next test is due.
(6) When not being used, insulating gloves and sleeves shall be stored in glove
bags or suitable containers. Insulating blankets shall be stored in a canister
or other means that offers equivalent protection.
(7) Insulating equipment shall be stored away from direct sunlight, steampipes,
radiators and other sources of excessive heat and shall be protected from
physical damage. Gloves, sleeves and blankets shall not be folded while
in storage; however, blankets shall be permitted to be rolled for storage.
(8) Insulating equipment shall be visually inspected for defects and damage,
and shall be cleaned prior to use each day.
(9) Rubber gloves shall be air and water tested at the beginning of each work
period and at any other time when the glove’s condition is in doubt. As
a minimum, tThe gloves shall:
(A) Be visually examined over their
entire inner and outer surface for any defects, i.e., burns, cuts, cracks, punctures
and weak spots; and
(B) Have the cuff stretched to detect
abrasions and weak spots.
(10) Insulating equipment found to be defective or damaged shall be immediately
removed from service.
* * * * *
Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.
Amend Section 2941 to read:
§2941. Work on or in Proximity to Overhead High Voltage Lines.
Overhead High Voltage Lines.
(h) Grounding De-Energized Conductors or Equipment. Any exposed ungrounded
conductors or equipment not worked upon in accordance with the provisions of
subsections (f) above, shall not be worked upon until the following provisions
are complied with:
(1) Conductors or equipment to be grounded are clearly identified and isolated
from all sources of voltage.
(2) Notification has been obtained from the designated employee that all switches
or other points of isolation through which electric energy may be supplied to
the conductors or equipment to be worked on have been opened and are plainly
tagged indicating that employees are at work, and where the design permits,
they have been rendered inoperable.
(3) When more than one independent crew requires the same conductors or equipment
to be de-energized, a tag for each such independent crew has been placed at
the switch(s)or other point(s) of isolation, except that where clearances for
such independent crews are controlled by a designated authority having immediate
jurisdiction over the conductors or equipment involved, only one tag need be
installed at each switch or point of isolation.
(4) A test has been conducted to insure that conductors or equipment have been
de-energized.
(5) The conductors or equipment shall be grounded and short-circuited.
(6) Suitable grounding devices shall be used. They shall be first connected
to a ground before being brought into contact with any de-energized conductor
or equipment to be grounded. The other end shall be attached and removed by
means of insulated tools or other suitable devices. When removed they shall
be removed from all circuit conductors or equipment before being disconnected
from ground.
(7) There shall be a minimum of one ground on the conductors or equipment being
worked on:
(A) between the place where the work is being done and each possible source
of supply, or
(B) at each work location.
(8) One of the grounding devices shall be visible to at least one member of
the crew unless one of the grounding devices has all of its component parts
at least 15 feet above ground level to prevent tampering.
(9) Grounds shall be permitted to be temporarily removed for test purposes and
extreme caution shall be exercised during test procedures.
(10) Grounding devices shall be capable of conducting the anticipated fault
current and shall have a minimum conductance of No. 2 AWG copper.
NOTE: Guidelines for protective grounding equipment are contained in American
Society for Testing and Materials Standard Specifications for Temporary Grounding
Systems to be Used on De-energized Electric Power Lines and Equipment, ASTM
F 855-97.
(121) Temporary protective grounds shall be placed at such
locations and arranged in such a manner as to prevent each employee from being
exposed to hazardous differences in electrical potential.
(112) Upon completion of work on grounded conductors or equipment,
the employee in charge of each independent crew shall determine that all employees
in the crew are clear, and shall report to the designated authority that all
tags protecting the crew may be removed. Prior to the energizing of the conductors
or equipment, the employer shall ascertain that all employees are clear and
all grounds are removed.
* * * * *
Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.
Amend Article 36, Appendix C to read:
Appendix C
Protective Equipment
Rubber iInsulating equipment shall meet the provisions of
the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), which is hereby incorporated
by reference, as follows:
ITEM
STANDARD
Rubber Insulating Gloves ..................…………………………….....
D-120-95D 120-95
Rubber Insulating Matting ..................……………………………...
D-178-93D 178-93
Rubber Insulating Blankets .............………………………….......
D-1048-93D 1048-93
Rubber Insulating Hoods .................……………………………...
D-1049-93D 1049-93
Rubber Insulating Line Hose .....…………………………............
D-1050-90 D 1050-90
Rubber Insulating Sleeves ................…………………………......
D-1051-94D 1051-95
Leather Protectors for Rubber Insulating Gloves ……………....………………...
F 696-97
Insulating Plastic Guard Equipment .…………………………………………….
F 968-93
Insulating Work Platforms for Electrical Workers …………………………..…
F 1564-95
NOTE: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.