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 37 - Provisions for Preventing Accidents Due to Proximity to Overhead Lines
Section 2946 - Provisions for Preventing Accidents Due to Proximity to Overhead Lines
Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) General. No person, firm, or corporation, or agent of same, shall require or permit any employee to perform any function in proximity to energized high-voltage lines; to enter upon any land, building, or other premises and there engage in any excavation, demolition, construction, repair, or other operation; or to erect, install, operate, or store in or upon such premises any tools, machinery, equipment, materials, or structures (including scaffolding, house moving, well drilling, pile driving, or hoisting equipment) unless and until danger from accidental contact with said high-voltage lines has been effectively guarded against.
(b) Clearances or Safeguards Required. Except where overhead electrical distribution and transmission lines have been de-energized and visibly grounded, the following provisions shall be met:
EXCEPTION 1:\s Aircraft over energized overhead high-voltage lines operating in conformance with:
EXCEPTION 2:\s Tower cranes (Hammerhead) installed not closer than the minimum clearances set forth in Table 2, whereon the trolley or boom travel is controlled by limit switches which will prevent carrying a load over energized overhead high-voltage lines or within a horizontal distance closer than the minimum clearances set forth in Table 2.
EXCEPTION: Amusement rides or attractions shall not be located under or within 15 ft. (4.57 m) horizontally of conductors operating in excess of 600 volts.
Operation of boom-type equipment shall conform to the minimum clearances set forth in Table 2, except in transit where the boom is lowered and there is no load attached, in which case the distances specified in Table 1 shall apply.TABLE 1
General Clearances Required from Energized Overhead High-Voltage Conductors
|
Nominal Voltage (Phase to Phase) |
Minimum Required Clearance (Feet) | ||||
| 600 | .........................50,000 | 6 | |||
| over 50,000 | .........................345,000 | 10 | |||
| over 345,000 | .........................750,000 | 16 | |||
| over 750,000 | .........................1,000,000 | 20 | |||
(c) The specified clearance shall not be reduced by movement due to any strains impressed (by attachments or otherwise) upon the structures supporting the overhead high-voltage line or upon any equipment, fixtures, or attachments thereon.
(d) Any overhead conductor shall be considered to be energized unless and until the person owning or operating such line verifies that the line is not energized, and the line is visibly grounded at the work site.TABLE 2Material Storage and Boom-type lifting or hoisting equipment clearances required from energized overhead high-voltage lines.
|
Nominal voltage (Phase to Phase) |
Minimum Required Clearance (Feet) |
||
| 600 | ..........................50,000 | 10 | |
| over 50,000 | ..........................75,000 | 11 | |
| over 75,000 | ..........................125,000 | 13 | |
| over 125,000 | ..........................175,000 | 15 | |
| over 175,000 | ..........................250,000 | 17 | |
| over 250,000 | ..........................370,000 | 21 | |
| over 370,000 | ..........................550,000 | 27 | |
| over 550,000 | ..........................1,000,000 | 42 | |
(e) A person shall be designated to observe clearance of the equipment and give timely warning for all operations where site conditions or crane configurations make it difficult for the operator to maintain the desired clearance by visual means.
(f) Cage-type boom guards, insulating links, or proximity warning devices may be used on cranes, but the use of such devices shall not alter the requirements of any other section of these Safety Orders even if such device is required by law or regulation.
1. Amendment of subsections (b), (c), repealer of subsections (d), (e) and new subsection (d) filed 8-9-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 32).
2. Editorial correction renumbering former Article 86 to Article 37 filed 11-2-83 (Register 83, No. 45).
3. Amendment filed 12-10-87; operative 1-9-88 (Register 88, No. 1).
4. Amendment of subsection (b)(2) filed 4-1-2009; operative 4-1-2009. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3 (Register 2009, No. 14).
5. Amendment of subsections (b) and (d) filed 2-27-2018; operative 4-1-2018 (Register 2018, No. 9).
6. New subsections (e)-(f) filed 7-26-2022; operative 7-26-2022 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2022, No. 30). Filing deadline specified in Government Code section 11349.3(a) extended 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-40-20 and an additional 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-71-20.
Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.
