Section 408.14009. Safeguards for personnel working in electrical hazard areas.

(1) An employee who works in an area where there are recognized electrical hazards shall be provided with, and shall use, electrical protective equipment that is appropriate for the specific parts of the body to be protected and for the work to be performed. The appropriateness of the protective equipment shall be determined pursuant to the provisions of General Industry Safety Standard Part 33 “Personal Protective Equipment,” as referenced in R 408.14001a.

(2)   Protective equipment shall be maintained in a safe, reliable condition and shall be periodically inspected or tested, as required by the provisions of General Industry Safety Standard Part 33 “Personal Protective Equipment,” as referenced in R 408.14001a.

(3)    If the insulating capability of protective equipment may be subject to damage during use, the insulating material shall be protected. For example, an outer covering of leather is sometimes used for the protection of rubber insulating material.

(4)      An employee shall wear nonconductive head protection pursuant to the provisions of General Industry Safety Standard Part 33 “Personal Protective Equipment,” as referenced in R 408.14001a, if there is a danger of head injury from electric shock or burns due to contact with exposed energized parts.

(5)   An employee shall wear protective equipment for the eyes or face if there is a danger of injury to the eyes or face from electric arcs or flashes or from flying objects that result from electrical explosion.

(6)      When working near exposed energized conductors or circuit parts, each employee shall use insulated tools or handling equipment if the tools or handling equipment might make contact with the conductors or parts. If the insulating capability of insulated tools or handling equipment is subject to damage, the insulating material shall be protected.

(7)   Fuse-handling equipment that is insulated for the circuit voltage shall be used to remove or install fuses when the fuse terminals are energized.

(8)     Ropes and handlines that are used near exposed energized parts shall be nonconductive.

(9)    Protective shields, protective barriers, or insulating materials shall be used to protect each employee from shock, burns, or other electrically related injuries while that employee is working near exposed energized parts which might be accidentally contacted or where dangerous electric heating or arcing might occur. When normally enclosed energized parts are exposed for maintenance or repair, they shall be guarded to protect unqualified persons from contact with the energized parts.

(10)   The following alerting techniques shall be used to warn and protect employees from hazards which could cause injury due to electric shock, burns, or the failure of electric equipment parts:

(a)    Safety signs, safety symbols, or accident prevention tags shall be used where necessary to warn employees about electrical hazards which may endanger them, as required by the provisions of General Industry Safety Standard Part 37 “Accident Prevention Signs and Tags,” as referenced in R 408.14001a.

(b)   Barricades shall be used in conjunction with safety signs where it is necessary to prevent or limit employee access to work areas that expose employees to uninsulated energized conductors or circuit parts. Conductive barricades shall not be used where they might cause an electrical contact hazard.

(c)    If signs and barricades do not provide sufficient warning and protection from electrical hazards, an attendant shall be stationed to warn and protect employees.

History: 1992 AACS; 2015 AACS.