Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-45 - Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution › Section 296-45-325 - Working on or near exposed energized parts

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
This section applies to work on exposed live parts, or near
				enough to them, to expose the employee to any hazard they present.
(1) General. Only qualified electrical
			 employees may work on or with exposed energized lines or parts of equipment.
			 Only qualified electrical employees may work in areas containing unguarded,
			 uninsulated energized lines or parts of equipment operating at 50 volts or
			 more. Electric lines and equipment must be considered and treated as energized
			 unless the provisions of WAC
			 296-45-175
			 through
			 296-45-17565
			 or
			 296-45-335
			 have been followed.
(2) Except as
			 provided in subsection (3) of this section, at least two qualified electrical
			 employees must be present while the following types of work are being
			 performed:
(a) Installation, removal, or
			 repair of lines that are energized at more than 600 volts;
(b) Installation, removal, or repair of
			 deenergized lines if an employee is exposed to contact with other parts
			 energized at more than 600 volts;
(c) Installation, removal, or repair of
			 equipment, such as transformers, capacitors, and regulators, if an employee is
			 exposed to contact with parts energized at more than 600 volts;
(d) Work involving the use of mechanical
			 equipment, other than insulated aerial lifts, near parts energized at more than
			 600 volts; and
(e) Other work that
			 exposes an employee to electrical hazards greater than or equal to those posed
			 by operations that are specifically listed in subsection (2)(a) through (d) of
			 this section.
Notes:
*One qualified electrical employee will serve
						  principally as a standby person who must be so located that they may physically
						  reach the other qualified electrical employee in the event of an accident
						  either with their hand or with a hot stick twelve feet or less in length. The
						  standby person will be so positioned as to be able to observe the other
						  employee, their bodily movements, and verbally warn of any impending dangers.
						  In no case when working in pairs will qualified electrical employees work
						  simultaneously on energized wires or parts of different phases or
						  polarity;
*When installing or removing a hot line clamp
						  connection on a multiphase system, it is permissible for the second qualified
						  electrical employee to stand by at the lower controls of the aerial lift
						  provided the connection or disconnection does not interrupt or pick up the
						  load. The hot line clamp and connecting jumper must be constructed so it cannot
						  make contact with any other energized parts. The work must not be performed
						  above lines or apparatus energized at more than 600 V.
*In cases of necessity the standby person may
						  temporarily assist the other qualified electrical employee provided that they
						  both work on wires or parts of the same phase or polarity. Both qualified
						  electrical employees must so position themselves so that the presence of the
						  second person does not increase the hazard.