Washington Administrative Code
Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of
Chapter 296-45 - Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution
Section 296-45-385 - Overhead lines
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
This section provides additional requirements for work performed on or near overhead lines and equipment.
(1) General.
Note: | Appendix C of this chapter contains test methods that can be used in ascertaining whether a wood pole is capable of sustaining the forces that would be imposed by an employee climbing the pole. This section also requires the employer to ascertain that the pole can sustain all other forces that will be imposed by the work to be performed. |
(2) Installing and removing overhead lines. The following provisions apply to the installation and removal of overhead conductors or cable.
Notes: |
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*If the employer takes no precautions to protect employees from hazards associated with involuntary reactions from electric shock, a hazard exists if the induced voltage is sufficient to pass a current of 1 milliampere through a 500-ohm resistor. If the employer protects employees from injury due to involuntary reactions from electric shock, a hazard exists if the resultant current would be more than 6 milliamperes. *Appendix B of this chapter contains guidelines for protecting employees from hazardous differences in electric potential as required by this section |
(3) Pulling lines and accessories must be inspected prior to each use and replaced or repaired when damaged or when there is a reasonable basis to doubt the dependability of such lines or accessories.
(4) Conductor grips cannot be used on wire rope, unless the grip is specifically designed for this application.
(5) Reliable communications, through two-way radios or other equivalent means, must be maintained between the reel tender and the pulling rig operator.
(6) The pulling rig may only be operated when it is safe to do so.
Note: | Examples of unsafe conditions include employees in locations prohibited by subsection (7) of this section, conductor and pulling line hang-ups, and slipping of the conductor grip. |
(7) While the conductor or pulling line is being pulled (in motion) with a power-driven device, employees are not permitted directly under overhead operations or on the cross arm, except as necessary to guide the stringing sock or board over or through the stringing sheave.
(8) Live-line bare-hand work is prohibited.
(9) When winches, trucks, or tractors are being used to raise poles, materials, to pull in wires, to pull slack or in any other operation, there must be an operator at the controls unless the machinery or process is stopped.
(10) Leadworkers must designate an employee to give signals when required.
(11) Raising poles, towers or fixtures in the close proximity of high voltage conductors must be done under the supervision of a qualified electrical employee.
(12) Employees must not crawl over insulator strings but must use a platform or other approved device to work from when making dead ends or doing other work beyond strings of insulators, at such distance that they cannot reach the work from the pole or fixture. While working on the platform or other device, they must be secured with safety straps or a rope to prevent falling. The provision of this subsection does not apply to extra high voltage bundle conductors when the use of such equipment may produce additional hazard. Climbing over dead end assemblies is permissible only after they have been completed and pinned in the final position.
(13) Towers and structures. The following requirements apply to work performed on towers or other structures which support overhead lines.
(14) All conductors, subconductors, and overhead ground conductors must be bonded to the tower at any isolated tower where it may be necessary to complete work on the transmission line.
(15) A transmission clipping crew must have a minimum of two structures clipped in between the crew and the conductor being sagged.
(16) While on patrol at night and operating a motor vehicle on public roadways, there must be two employees, at least one of whom must be a qualified electrical employee. If repair to line or equipment is found to be of such nature as to require two qualified electrical employees, work will not proceed until additional help has been obtained provided that in cases of emergency where delay would increase the danger to life, limb, or substantial property, one employee may clear the hazard without assistance.
(17) Except during emergency restoration procedures, work must be discontinued when adverse weather conditions would make the work hazardous in spite of the work practices required by this section.
Note: | Thunderstorms in the immediate vicinity, high winds, snow storms, and ice storms are examples of adverse weather conditions that are presumed to make this work too hazardous to perform, except under emergency conditions. |
Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 05-17-038, § 296-45-385, filed 8/9/05, effective 10/1/05; 98-07-009, § 296-45-385, filed 3/6/98, effective 5/6/98.