Case Study #2 Background
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You have selected your sub-contractors using
your criteria in Case Study #1 and work will now
begin
The land has to be cleared and surveyed
There are energized overhead power lines near
the jobsite along with underground utilities
There is vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic
around the jobsite
Excavating equipment will be used to remove
trees and grade the site
Laser levels will be used to lay out the excavation
stakes
Case Study #2
Using the Pre-planning Report Form, identify
two major activities that you would expect
to take place during this phase of the
construction project.
 For each activity, identify two major hazards
associated with each activity
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Describe the hazard
Justify the hazard
Evaluate the hazard (Cite the OSHA standard)
Provide specific controls
Hazards due to Contact with
Energized Lines
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Standards designed to protect employees
from energized lines appear in a number of
sections of the 1926 standards
◦ Subpart K – Employees working around
energized lines
◦ Subpart V – Employees engaged in the
construction of electric transmission lines and
equipment
◦ Subpart L – Scaffolds
◦ Subpart P –Excavations
◦ Subpart CC – Cranes and derricks in
Construction
1926.416(a)(1)
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General Requirements
◦ Protect employees who may be required to
work in proximity to any part of an electric
power circuit that the employee could
contact the electric power circuit in the
course of work, unless the employee is
protected against electric shock by
deenergizing the circuit and grounding it or by
guarding it effectively by insulation or other
means
1926 Subpart K
1926.400 - .449
 Addresses electrical safety requirements that are necessary
for the practical safeguarding of employees involved in
construction work and is divided into four major divisions
and applicable definitions as follows:
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◦ Installation safety requirements. Installation safety requirements
for electric equipment and installations used to provide electric
power and light on jobsites.
◦ Safety-related work practices. Cover hazards arising from the
use of electricity at jobsites, these regulations also cover the
hazards arising from the accidental contact, direct or indirect, by
employees with all energized lines, above or below ground,
passing through or near the jobsite.
◦ Safety-related maintenance and environmental considerations.
◦ Safety requirements for special equipment.
1926 Subpart K
Applies to the safety requirements for
electrical equipment and installations used
to provide electric power and light at the
jobsite.
 Applies to installations, both temporary
and permanent, used on the jobsite; but
these sections do not apply to existing
permanent installations that were in place
before the construction activity
commenced.
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1926.416(a)(3)
• Before work is begun, the employer has
to identify the location of any energized
lines.
• Post and maintain warning signs
• Advise employees of the location of the
lines, the hazards involved, and the
protective measures to be taken
1926.417
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Lockout/Tagout
◦ Equipment or circuits that are deenergized
shall be rendered inoperative and shall have
tags attached at all points where such
equipment or circuits can be energized.
1926.651
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When excavating:
◦ The employer is responsible for identifying the
estimated location of utility installations, such as
sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, or any
other underground installations that reasonably
may be expected to be encountered during
excavation work, shall be determined prior to
opening an excavation.
◦ Utility companies or owners shall be contacted
within established or customary local response
times, advised of the proposed work, and asked
to establish the location of the utility
underground installations prior to the start of
actual excavation.
1926.651
◦ When utility companies or owners cannot
respond to a request to locate underground
utility installations within 24 hours (unless a
longer period is required by state or local
law*), or cannot establish the exact location
of these installations, the employer may
proceed, provided the employer does so with
caution, and provided detection equipment or
other acceptable means to locate utility
installations are used.
 *Note: Most states require 48 hours notice
Underground Utility Locating
Service
Varies from state to state and could vary
from county to county within a state
 Determine what agency to contact
 Utilities may include:
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Electric
Cable TV
Water
Natural Gas
Fiber Optics
Marking System
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APWA – American Public Works
Association
◦ Color coded system for marking utilities
Fines and Penalties
In addition to OSHA violations, states and
the federal government can impose fines.
 States have Underground Damage
Prevention Act’s in place
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◦ Example: In Illinois, $5,000 for each separate
offense and shall be liable for the damage
caused to the owners or operators of the
facility.
◦ If willfully fails to comply, subject to additional
penalties of up to $2,500 per offense
Outside Open Conductors
On a construction site, it is possible that energized
overhead power lines may be near the construction
site.
 Open Conductor – A single conductor not enclosed
in a raceway or cable sheath
 29 CFR 1926.404(c)
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◦ Open conductors shall conform to the following minimum
clearances:
 10 feet (3.05 m)-above finished grade, sidewalks, or from any
platform or projection from which they might be reached.
 12 feet (3.66 m)-over areas subject to vehicular traffic other than
truck traffic.
 15 feet (4.57 m)-over areas other than those specified in
paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(D) of this section that are subject to truck
traffic.
 18 feet (5.49 m)-over public streets, alleys, roads, and driveways.
1926.604 Site Clearing
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Employees engaged in site clearing shall be
protected from hazards of irritant and toxic
plants and instructed in the first aid
treatment available.
All equipment used in site clearing
operations shall be equipped with rollover
guards meeting OSHA requirements.
Rider-operated equipment shall be equipped
with an overhead and rear canopy guard
meeting OSHA requirements.
Laser Safety
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Laser hazards associated with surveying,
may fall under 1926 Subpart D,
Occupational health and environmental
controls
◦ 1926.54 – Non-ionizing radiation
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1926 Subpart E, Personal protective and
life saving equipment addresses PPE
requirements
◦ 1926.102, Eye and face protection
 1926.102(b)(2), Laser protection
Classes of Lasers
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Class 1- incapable of producing damaging
radiation during operations and use.
◦ Users of Class 1 lasers are generally exempt from
radiation hazard controls during operation and
maintenance, but not necessarily during service.
Most Class 1 industrial lasers consist of a higher
class laser enclosed in a properly interlocked and
labeled protective enclosure.
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Class 2-(low power) 2 and 2a, 400nm to 700
NM range (Example: a supermarket laser
scanner.)
Classes of Lasers
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Class 3- (medium power) 3A and 3Bb,
hazardous under direct and reflective
viewing conditions. 1 milliwatt to 55
milliwatt range. Not a fire hazard.
Class 4- (high power) pose hazards to eyes
and skin due to direct beam and from
diffused reflection in some cases. Can be a
fire hazard, produces air contaminants and
plasma radiation. Power above 500 milliwatt.
Only qualified trained employees are to
operate the lasers.(Excimer laser operating
in the ultraviolet)
Construction Industry Standards
and Laser Classes
The Construction Industry standard does not
recognize different classes of lasers.
 All of the provisions of the standard technically apply
to all uses of lasers in the construction industry.
 However, Class I lasers are determined to present no
hazard.
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◦ For example: Some construction laser levels can be a Class
I laser
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Violations of the 1926 standards which should really
only apply to higher class lasers should, in the case of
Class I lasers, be regarded as "de minimus," which
means there would be no citation, no penalty, and no
compliance date.
Laser Training
The employer shall provide for the
instruction of each laser equipment operator
and instructor in accordance with the
applicable manufacturer's recommendations.
 The instruction process shall inform the
operator of various hazards associated with
the use of the equipment and the necessary
or recommended control measures for the
elimination of hazards to personnel.
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Laser Training
In addition to information from the
manufacturer, the American National
Standard ANSI Z136.1-1986 could be
reviewed for training information.
 Instruction should be conducted by a
qualified representative of the
manufacturer, or by a knowledgeable
individual designated by the employer.
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