Injury Illness Prevention Plan - Flipbook - Page 42
up after loose debris, keeping a safe distance (generally more than 10 feet) away from a
live source of electricity, and heeding any and all electrical hazard warnings posted on
jobsites. Teammates should also always use insulating shields/barriers where necessary,
and portable ladders with non-conductive side rails should be used whenever working
around electrical hazards. When working with electrical equipment (always treated as
energized) or around electrically charged entities, only qualified workers can proceed;
they can be expected to follow Lockout/Tagout procedures and reinstall any and all
barriers or covers after work is completed. These barriers prevent access to energized
entities and locations. OSHA’s Table S-5 outlines the voltage range (phase to phase) and
minimum approach distance allowed to ensure qualified employees are safe near
alternating current:
13.08 ELECTRICAL AWARENESS – POWERLINE & OVERHEAD SAFETY
On any jobsite our teammates must be aware of any and all electrical hazards. This is a
crucial consideration for equipment operators and any electrical or utility trade, as OSHA
identifies electric safety as one of the big four causes of workplace incidents. Cranes and
other lifts are in particular danger when powerlines are concerned. Although our
teammates do not perform electrical work, all field teammates and most of the office
teammates are OSHA30 certified and are therefore aware of electrical hazards. For those
not certified, a competent person always accompanies said teammates on-site.
A general rule of thumb is that unqualified persons must maintain a clearance distance of
at least 10 feet when working near overhead lines. Also, teammates can only enter work
areas containing exposed energized parts when proper illumination is present. Without
proper illumination present, work cannot be performed.
Revised: October 2023
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