California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety
Subchapter 5 - Electrical Safety Orders
Group 2 - High-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders
Article 36 - Work Procedures and Operating Procedures
Section 2944 - Work on or in Proximity to Conductors and Equipment Located in High-Voltage Stations, or Switchyards

Universal Citation: 8 CA Code of Regs 2944

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) This section applies to only that work performed on or in proximity to exposed high-voltage conductors and equipment which is not covered by Sections 2941, 2942 and 2943 of these orders, such as stations, switchyards and other similar installations.

(b) Substation Fences. Conductive fences around substations shall be grounded. When a substation fence is expanded or a section is removed, fence sections shall be isolated, grounded, or bonded as necessary to protect employees from hazardous differences in electric potential. When a substation fence is extended or moved, provisions shall be made to comply with Article 17, Section 2812.1 of these orders.

(1) Report upon entering. Upon entering an attended substation, each employee, other than employees regularly working in the station, shall report his or her presence to the employee in charge of substation activities to receive information on special system conditions affecting employee safety.

(2) The job briefing required by Section 2940 of these Orders and Section 3203 of the GISO shall cover information on special system conditions affecting employee safety, including the location of energized equipment in or adjacent to the work area and the limits of any deenergized work area.

(d) Identification. All switchboards shall be provided with readily legible circuit identification. Identification shall be provided for each circuit breaker, each set of disconnecting switches, and each set of grounding switches.

(e) Draw-Out-Type Circuit Breakers. The employer shall ensure that, when employees remove or insert draw-out type circuit breakers, the breaker is in the open position. The employer shall also render the control circuit inoperable if the design of the equipment permits.

(f) Guarding of Energized Parts.

(1) Enclosure and guarding shall be in accordance with Section 2340.17 of the Low-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders or Article 17 or Article 35 of the High-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders.

(g) Work Near Energized Equipment and Facilities.

(1) No person other than a qualified electrical worker shall perform work or take any conducting object within the area where there is a hazard of contact with energized conductors unless directly under the observation of a qualified person.

(2) When working around energized equipment, precautions shall be taken to prevent any material or tools from accidentally contacting energized conductors or equipment.

(3) Temporary Barriers. Suitable temporary barriers in or adjacent to the work area shall be used to prevent accidental contact by workers with energized high voltage parts.

(4) Tape Barricades. Suitable barricade tape shall be used to mark off and bar approach to dangerous areas. An employee shall not be permitted to cross over or under the tape while it is barricading an area, except in an emergency or when work in progress requires the employee to enter the dangerous area. While in the area, the employee shall be continuously watched by a qualified person for the purpose of preventing an accident.

(h) Mechanized Equipment.

(1) Use of vehicles, gin poles, cranes and other equipment in restricted or hazardous areas shall at all times be controlled by designated employees.

(2) Mobile cranes or derricks shall not be permitted closer to exposed energized conductors or equipment than the distances set forth in Section 2940.2 unless the hoisting equipment is insulated for the voltage involved.

(i)

(1) Working on Conductors or Equipment Energized at 7,500 Volts or Less. When working on conductors or equipment energized at 7,500 volts or less, all energized conductors or equipment and all grounded conductors or equipment, including guy wires, within reach of any part of the body, shall be isolated, barricaded, or covered with suitable protective equipment.

EXCEPTION: That part of the conductor or equipment on which work is to be performed need not be covered.

(2) Employees shall not be permitted to touch or work on any exposed energized conductor or equipment except when wearing suitable rubber gloves with protectors, or when using other suitable devices.

(j) Working on Conductors or Equipment Energized in Excess of 7,500 Volts. All work on conductors or equipment energized in excess of 7,500 volts shall be done by means of suitable devices. Rubber gloves shall not be considered to be suitable devices.

(k) Working on De-energized Conductors or Equipment. When working on de-energized conductors or equipment, all exposed energized conductors or equipment regardless of voltage within reach of any part of the body, shall be covered with suitable protective equipment.

(l) Grounding De-energized Conductors or Equipment.

(1) Any exposed ungrounded part of conductors or equipment not worked upon in accordance with the provisions of subsections (i) or (j) above, shall not be worked upon until provisions in Sections 2940.14 and 2940.15 have been complied with.

(m) Access to Insulators. The employer shall furnish suitable aerial lift equipment, portable platforms, or other devices to permit employees to work on insulators or bushings attached to poles, towers, structures, or equipment when such insulators or bushings are not otherwise safely accessible.

(n) Prior to climbing poles or other elevated structures supporting overhead electrical lines or equipment, an inspection shall be made to ensure that such poles or structure are in safe condition for the work to be performed. Where poles or structures are determined to be unsafe for climbing, they shall not be climbed until made safe by guying, bracing or other adequate means.

1. Editorial correction of subsections (c)-(e) (Register 80, No. 30).
2. Editorial correction of section heading and subsection designations filed 11-2-83 (Register 83, No. 45).
3. Amendment filed 12-10-87; operative 1-9-88 (Register 88, No. 1).
4. Amendment filed 2-27-2018; operative 4-1-2018 (Register 2018, No. 9).

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

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