Electric Power Generation, Transmission,
and Distribution and Electrical Protective
Equipment – Final Rule
Updated 2-18-2015
Effective Dates and Best Practice Revisions
based on the Final Rule
Electric Power Generation, Transmission,
and Distribution and Electrical Protective
Equipment – Final Rule
Updated 2-18-2015
• Final Rule was Published on April 11, 2014
• Became Effective July 10, 2014
• Temporary Enforcement Policies were issued on:
– June 20, 2014
– Extended on October 28, 2014 and December
16, 2014
– Revoked Temporary Citation Policy on
February 18, 2015
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Training –
No Enforcement Delays per final rule but
OSHA will not site employers that are
training according to the Best Practices for
the training provision necessary to comply
with the Final Rule.
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Information Transfer
No Citations will be issued to host employers
under the information transfer provisions
provided that after April 30, 2015 they
provide all information other than maximum
switching-transient voltages required by the
standards.
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Information Transfer ET&D Best Practice
PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Contractor will ensure that the
information (included but not necessarily limited too) listed on
the attached form (or other types of records that provide to
accomplish the objective of ‘information transfer’) has been
collected from the Host employer and communicated to the
person in charge of related tasks. The contractor must
communicate hazardous conditions to the Host Employer
unrelated to the original scope of work that were not
communicated by the host during the information transfer and
that will not be abated/corrected by the contractor. The form
provided is an example of how to document this
communication.
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Job Briefing
No Citations until April 30, 2015 of the
standards that require the employer to
provide employee in charge with all
available information on existing
characteristics and conditions.
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Job Briefing ET&D Best Practice
PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: The Person In Charge (or a
designated representative) shall document job steps,
hazards to be encountered, and steps taken to
control/eliminate hazards by doing the following:
NEW
C. Existing characteristics and conditions (provided by
host)
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Job Briefing ET&D Best Practice
BENEFITS (Added)
Ensures employees receive information about the
known characteristics and conditions of the system
they are working.
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Minimum Approach Distances
Employers have until April 1, 2015 to
comply with revised MADs for voltages of
5.1kV and above.
No citations until January 31, 2016 for
voltages of 169.1 kV and more for employer
to determine the maximum anticipated perunit transient overvoltage. If peer review is
not available before May 1, 2015, OSHA
may extend this deadline.
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Minimum Approach Distances
No citations until January 31, 2016 for voltages
of 79.6 to 169.1 kV for employer to determine
the maximum anticipated per-unit transient
overvoltage as long as the anticipated transient
overvoltage, phase to ground is 3.0 per unit. If
peer review is not available before May 1, 2015
OSHA may extend this deadline.
Information to help employers establish
minimum approach distances appears in
appendices to the standards.
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Incident Energy Calculations
No citations until March 31, 2015 for the
standards that require the employer to make a
reasonable estimate of the incident heat
energy exposures as a result of electrical arc
hazards.
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Flame Resistant Clothing
Employers must ensure outer layer of
clothing worn by an employee is flame
resistant under certain conditions.
No citations issued before April 1, 2015 for
employers for failure to wear flame
resistant pants as long as employees are
wearing 11-ounce or heavier weight cotton
pants.
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Arc Rated Protection
Employers have until April 1, 2015 to
comply with the standards that require
Arc-Rated Protective Clothing and other
protective equipment.
No Citations for failure to provide protective
clothing or equipment rated higher than
8 cal/cm2 until after August 31, 2015
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Fall Protection in Aerial lifts
No Citations until March 31, 2015 for line
clearance tree-trimming employers that
ensures employee uses a body belt and
lanyard attached to the boom or basket of
the aerial lift.
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Fall Protection in Aerial lifts
No Citations from March 31 to December 31,
2015 for line clearance tree-trimming employers
that are “actively testing” fall restraint systems
in the type of bucket at issue and ensure
employees use a body belt and lanyard attached
to the boom of the aerial lift until the fall
restraint system is put in place.
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Fall Protection in Aerial lifts
• For work covered by the standards, the following
enforcement policies apply to any bucket-type aerial lift
that does not have a suitable anchorage built into the
bucket. No Citation provided:
1. A fall arrest system is in place and complies with 1926
Subpart M
2. Aerial lift is parked and brakes set with outriggers
extended
3. Employer has taken reasonable precautions to
prevent an employee from being ejected out of the
bucket
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Fall Protection in Elevated Locations on Poles,
Towers and Similar Structures
Employees must use personal fall arrest systems,
work-positioning equipment or fall restraint
systems on elevated structures located more
than 4 feet above the ground.
No citations until May 31, 2015 as long as
employers comply with standards that were in
effect on April 11, 2014
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Fall Protection When Performing Aerial Work
on a Lattice Structures
ET&D Best Practice New
PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Fall hazards associated with
aerial work performed on lattice structures shall be
assessed, and fall hazard mitigation plans developed
when working in or on a horizontal or vertical
position/surface.
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
Enforcement Dates
• Underground Installations, Work in Manholes
and Vaults
As of February 28, 2015, work underground, in
manholes and vaults must comply with the new
standards.
29 CFR 1910.269 and
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
OSHA Partnership
Electrical Transmission & Distribution
General Partnership Goals
•
Analyze accident and incident data and
statistics
•
Identify common cause factors related to:
– Fatalities
– Injuries and illnesses
•
Develop recommended Best Practices for each
identified cause.
•
Develop Best Practice implementation
strategies
Partnership Future Objectives
 Continue to perform the following:
– Monitor injury and fatality data and trends and
identify additional cause factors
– Expand the training efforts and resources
– Developing additional Best Practices
– Increase communication, education,
involvement
– Expand services provided on the Website.
 Visit: www.powerlinesafety.org
Final Rule
• General Industry
– 1910.137 Electrical Protective Equipment
– 1910.269 Electrical Power Generation,
Transmission, and Distribution
• Construction
– 1926.97 Protective Equipment
– 1926 Subpart V Electrical Transmission and
Distribution
Why Revise the Rule?
• The existing Electric Power Transmission and
Distribution for Construction standard was issued in
1972 and referenced consensus standards of that
time.
• The later Electric Power Generation, Transmission,
and Distribution for General Industry (Operation and
Maintenance) standard, issued in 1994, also needed
updating based on advances in electrical safety
technology.
Why Revise the Rule?
• As revised, the standards create a unified set of
requirements to help employers more
effectively establish effective safety-related
work practices to protect their workers.
• It’s all about improved safety and as leaders, we
have no greater responsibility than the safety of
our people.
Benefits of the Revised Rule
• OSHA expects the updated standards to prevent at
least an additional 118 workplace injuries and 20
fatalities annually.
• The Agency estimates the net monetized benefits of
the final rule to be about $130 million annually
($179 million in benefits minus $49 million in costs).
• Revised standards are easier to understand and to
apply, improving safety by facilitating compliance.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Definitions
• Host Employer: An employer that operates, or that
controls the operating procedures for, an electric
power generation, transmission, or distribution
installation on which a contract employer is
performing work covered by [the standard]
• Contract Employer: An employer, other than a host
employer, that performs work covered by [the
standard] under contract.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Host Employers and Contractors
• New or revised provisions for host and contract
employer meetings/job briefings to share safetyrelated information with each other and with line
workers and other associated employees.
• Required job hazard and risk analysis and
assessment will improve work operations and
strategies to utilize the most effective methods and
techniques for performing tasks.
Significant Changes to the Standards
General Training
• The degree of training must be determined by risk
to the worker for the hazard involved.
• Qualified workers must have training to recognize
and control or avoid electrical hazards present at the
worksite.
Significant Changes to the Standards
General Training
• Line-clearance tree trimmers must have training to
distinguish exposed live parts and to determine the
voltage on those parts, and they must have training
in minimum approach distances and how to
maintain them.
• It is no longer necessary for employers to certify
that workers are proficient in safe work practices.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Fall Protection
• The standard now provides updated fall protection
requirements for employees working from aerial
lifts and on overhead line structures.
• Qualified workers must use fall protection when
climbing or changing location on poles, towers, or
similar structures unless climbing or changing
location with fall protection is infeasible or creates a
greater hazard than climbing or changing location
without it.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Fall Protection
• No Citations until March 31, 2015 for line clearance
tree-trimming employers that ensures employee
uses a body belt and lanyard attached to the boom
or basket of the aerial lift.
• No Citations from March 31 to December 31, 2015
for line clearance tree-trimming employers that are
“actively testing” fall restraint systems in the type of
bucket at issue and ensure employees use a body
belt and lanyard attached to the boom of the aerial
lift until the fall restraint system in put in place.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Fall restraint system
A system that prevents the user from falling any
distance
Work positioning equipment
A system rigged to allow an employee to be
supported on an elevated vertical surface and work
with both hands free while leaning
Personal fall arrest equipment
A system used to arrest an employee in a fall from a
working level
Significant Changes to the Standards
Fall Protection
• Fall protection equipment rigged to arrest falls is
considered as one or more components of a fall
arrest system and must meet the applicable
requirements for the design and use of those
systems.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Fall Protection
• Fall protection equipment rigged for work
positioning is considered as work positioning
equipment and must meet the applicable
requirements for the design and use of that
equipment.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Fall Protection
• Fall arrest equipment must be capable of passing a
drop test after exposure to an electric arc with a
heat energy of 40±5 cal/cm2 if the workers using the
fall protection are exposed to flames or electric arc
hazards.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Fall Protection
• On and after April 1, 2015, work-positioning
equipment must be rigged so that workers can free
fall no more than 0.6 meters (2 feet).
1910.269(g)(2)(iv)(D)
• Information on the inspection of work-positioning
equipment appears in appendices to the standards.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Minimum Approach Distances and Insulation
• Revised minimum approach distances for
voltages of 5.1 kV and more become effective
on April 1, 2015.
• No citations until January 31, 2016 for voltages
of 169.1 kV and more for employer to
determine the maximum anticipated per-unit
transient overvoltage. If peer review is not
available before May1, 2015, OSHA may extend
this deadline.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Minimum Approach Distances and Insulation
• No citations until January 31, 2016 for voltages of
79.6 to 169.1 kV for employer to determine the
maximum anticipated per-unit transient overvoltage
as long as the anticipated transient overvoltage,
phase to ground is 3.0 per unit. If peer review is not
available before May 1, 2015, OSHA may extend this
deadline.
• Information to help employers establish minimum
approach distances appears in appendices to the
standards.
Significant Changes to the Standards
• Employer must establish minimum approach
distances based on the new requirements.
• For voltages up to 72.5 kV the default distances
remain the same.
• For voltages exceeding 72.5 kV, the distances must
be based on calculations in the revised standard.
• D = (TOV) x (C + a) + M
Significant Changes to the Standards
• MAD is based on the probability of 1/1000 of flash
over.
• Maximum transient overvoltage (TOV) adjusted to
3.5 from 3.0.
• Appendix B includes TOV tables
• The Agency developed an online calculator.
Significant Changes to the Standards
MAD
• Employees must put on and take off rubber gloves
where the worker cannot reach in the MAD.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Protection from Flames and Arc-Flash Hazards
• The employer must assess the workplace to identify
workers exposed to flame or electric-arc hazards.
• No citations until March 31, 2015 for employers that
make a reasonable estimate of the incident heat
energy of any electric-arc hazard to which a worker
would be exposed.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Protection from Flames and Arc-Flash Hazards
• Employers must ensure outer layer of clothing worn
by an employee is flame resistant under certain
conditions.
• No citations issued before April 1, 2015 for
employers for failure to wear flame resistant pants
as long as employees are wearing 11-ounce or
heavier weight cotton pants.
• Information on protecting workers from flames and
electric arcs appears in appendices to the standards.
Significant Changes to the Standards
De-energizing Transmission and Distribution Lines and
Equipment
• Multiple crews working together on the same lines
or equipment must either:
– (a) coordinate their activities under a single
worker in charge and work as if all of the
employees formed a single crew; or
– (b) independently comply with the standard and,
if there is no system operator in charge of the
lines or equipment, have separate tags and
coordinate deenergizing and reenergizing the
lines and equipment with the other crews.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Protective Grounding
• Employers may use insulating equipment other than
a live-line tool for placing grounds on or removing
grounds from circuits of 600 volts or less under
certain conditions.
• Information on protective grounding for deenergized lines appears in appendices to the
standards.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Underground Installations
• Special precautions apply when employees perform
work that could cause a cable to fail.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Electrical Protective Equipment
• The Electrical Protective Equipment for Construction
standard applies to all construction work, not just
electrical power generation, transmission, and
distribution work.
• Replaces the existing construction standard’s
incorporation of out-of-date consensus standards
with a set of performance-oriented requirements
that is consistent with the latest revisions of the
relevant consensus standards.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Electrical Protective Equipment
• The final rule recognizes a new class of electrical
protective equipment, Class 00 rubber insulating
gloves.
• The standards adopt new requirements for electrical
protective equipment made of materials other than
rubber.
Significant Changes to the Standards
Foot Protection
• The Agency revised the General Industry Foot
Protection standard to clarify that an employer must
ensure that workers use protective footwear as a
supplementary form of protection when the use of
protective footwear will protect the workers from
electrical hazards, such as static-discharge or
electric-shock hazards, that remain after the
employer takes other necessary protective
measures
Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and
Distribution and Electrical Protective
Equipment – Final Rule
• Additional information is available on OSHA’s Electrical
Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution
Standard webpage
– Questions and Answers on the final rule PDF*
– A memorandum to OSHA field offices regarding
enforcement of some of the fall protection
requirements in the final rule PDF*
– A memorandum to OSHA field offices regarding
enforcement dates PDF*,
Electric Power Generation, Transmission,
and Distribution and Electrical Protective
Equipment – Final Rule
Updated 2-18-2015
Effective Dates and Best Practice Revisions
based on the Final Rule