Electrical (2019)

The next Steps cover Cal/OSHA safety regulations for Electrical. Where appropriate, we have referenced the code from Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations.

The topics we will cover in this Navitent are:

-Electrical Safety Orders
-Protection
-High-Voltage Systems
-Main Service Equipment
-Wiring Methods and Devices
-Grounding
-Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters
-High-Voltage Power Lines
-High-Voltage Warning Signs
-Lock-Out Procedures
-Medical Services and First Aid

After each of the next Steps, select the 'Successful' response to indicate that you have read and understand the Step.

Select 'Successful' now and proceed.

Electrical Safety Orders

Each year a large number of employees are injured or killed because they come into contact with energized electrical wiring or equipment.

The Electrical Safety Orders (ESOs) are designed to control or to eliminate these often deadly exposures.

The next 10 Steps of this Navitent will describe each of these Electrical Safety Orders.

Protection

General requirements for protection from electric shock (other than excavations):

-The employer must:
a) Identify exposed or concealed energized electric power circuits if any person, machine, or tool might come into contact with the circuit.
b) Advise employees of the location of energized circuits, the hazards, and protective measures.
c) Provide legible markings or warning signs to indicate the presence of energized electrical circuits.

-Protective equipment or devices must be used to protect employees if a recognized hazard exists

-When protective insulating equipment is used, it shall comply with the Electrical Safety Orders

-Barricades shall be used in lieu of other protective equipment. (Note: the above information applies to electrical installations present on the jobsite which do not involve excavations (for electrical installations involving excavations as defined in 1540)

High Voltage Systems

General Requirements for high voltage systems (>600V) include:

-Voltage determination

-Minimum approach distances (Article 36 Appendix A - working on exposed energized parts)

-Tools and protective equipment (Article 36 Appendix C - protective equipment)

-Mechanical equipment

-Protection from flames and electric arcs during construction, operation, and maintenance of electric power generation, control, transformation, transmission, and distribution lines and equipment, including related equipment for the purpose of communication or metering that are only accessible to qualified employees (Article 36 Appendix D - protection from flames and electric arcs)

-Making connections

-Hazardous energy control procedures

-De-energizing lines and equipment for employee protection

-Grounding for the protection of employees

-Safe work practices for high-voltage/power testing performed in laboratories, shops, substations and in the field, and on electric transmission and distribution lines and equipment

-The disconnection and discharging of capacitors

-Ensure that employees do not open the secondary of a current transformer while the transformer is energized. If it cannot be de-energized, then the circuit must be bridged so that the current transformer secondary does not experience an open-circuit condition

-Series street lighting work

-Work on or in proximity to overhead lines

-Work on or in proximity to underground cables, conductors, or equipment

-Work on or in proximity to conductors and equipment located in stations or switchyards

-Work in power generation plants 2944.1

-Access and workspace requirements

-Live line tools. Appendix B

-Protection from hazardous differences in electrical potential. Appendix E

-Line clearance (tree trimming) operations

Main Service Equipment

Whenever the electric utility provides service via overhead lines, the installation must:

-Consist of an acceptable service pole

-Be suitably grounded

-Provide suitable over-current protection

Wiring Methods and Devices

-Flexible cords may be used in place of permanent wiring methods for temporary work if the cords are equipped with an attachment plug and energized from an approved receptacle

-Flexible cords must be Type S and cannot be spliced unless they are size No. 12 (or larger)

-Skirted attachment plugs must be used on all equipment operating at more than 300 V
Exception: plugs or connectors so designed that the arc will be confined within the body or case of the device shall be acceptable.

Grounding

-Each receptacle must have a grounding contact that is connected to an equipment grounding conductor

-Temporary wiring must be grounded

-Electrically powered tools and electrical equipment with exposed, non current-carrying metal parts must be grounded
Exception: double insulated powered tools need not be grounded.

-The frame of a portable generator and the frame of a vehicle where the generator is located need not be grounded under certain conditions

-A system conductor shall be bonded to the generator frame where the generator is a component of a separately derived system

Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)

The GFCI device senses ground faults (accidental electrical paths to ground) in circuits and immediately cuts off all electrical power in that circuit.

-GFCIs are required on receptacles that are not connected to the site’s permanent wiring and that have a rating of 15 or 20 amps, 120V, AC, single phase

-The assured equipment grounding conductor program (AEGC program) is an approved alternative to the GFCI requirement if the following program elements are included:
a. A description of the program must be written.
b. The employer shall designate one or more qualified persons to implement the program.
c. Daily visual inspection of included equipment must be conducted.
d. The following tests shall be performed:
All equipment grounding conductors shall be tested for continuity and shall be electrically continuous.
All plugs and receptacles must be tested for proper attachment to the equipment grounding conductor.
e. The tests shall be performed as follows:
Before the first use of newly acquired equipment.
Before equipment is returned to service.
Before equipment is used after an incident that may have caused damage.
At intervals not to exceed three months.
f. The employer shall not make available or permit the use of equipment that has not met the requirements of 2405.4(d).
g. A means of identifying tested equipment shall be provided.

High-Voltage Power Lines

-Great care must be taken when working or operating equipment near overhead high-voltage power lines

-The required minimum safe distances (clearance) from overhead lines energized by 600 V to 50,000 V are:
a. For boom-type equipment in transit, 6 feet.
b. For boom-type equipment in operation, 10 feet.
c. For people working near overhead lines, 6 feet.
Note: see 2946 for minimum required clearances from voltages greater than 50,000 V.

-Amusement rides or attractions shall not be located under or within 15 feet (4.57 m) horizontally of conductors operating in excess of 600 volts

-The following activities are prohibited unless overhead power lines have been de-energized and visibly grounded:
a. Work over high-voltage lines.
b. Work within required clearances.
Note: when work is to be performed within minimum required clearances, the operator of the high-voltage line must be notified by person or persons responsible for the work before proceeding with any work which would impair the aforesaid clearance.

High-Voltage Warning Signs

High-voltage warning signs must be posted in plain view of equipment operators.

Lock-Out Procedures

Lock-out procedures must be followed during the cleaning, repairing, servicing, or adjusting of machinery.

Medical Services and First Aid

Provide medical services and first aid as required in General Industry Safety Orders, Section 3400. In addition, CPR and First Aid trained personnel also must be available as per 2320.10, 2320.10(c).

How much did this Navitent help you to understand the Cal/OSHA safety regulations for Electrical, including:

-Electrical Safety Orders
-Protection
-High-Voltage Systems
-Main Service Equipment
-Wiring Methods and Devices
-Grounding
-Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters
-High-Voltage Power Lines
-High-Voltage Warning Signs
-Lock-Out Procedures
-Medical Services and First Aid

Select your response below.

Note: while you don't need to remember all the information in this Navitent, you do need to remember that it is in your Navitent library to refer to when you need it. Go to the Title 8 regulations in the CA Code of Regulations and to the CA Labor Code for detailed information regarding the scope, specifications, and exceptions of a particular regulation and for other requirements that may be applicable to their operations.