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ElectricityFree the worker from the live conductor
The injured worker may still be in contact with a live conductor. The rescuer treats the line as energized, keeps the minimum approach distance or is insulated from the energized part with rubber insulating gloves and sleeves, and frees the worker with the company's procedure. 29 CFR 1910.269(l) sets those protections.
Free to startScenarios
- The injured worker is still touching a conductor at a lower voltage.
- The line has been deenergized under the rule before the rescue.
- The rescue means going inside the minimum approach distance of an exposed energized line.
The steps
- Treat the line and equipment as energized unless they have been deenergized under the rule.
- Check whether the worker is still in contact with the conductor.
- Do not approach, or take any conductive object, closer than the minimum approach distance unless you are insulated.
- To work inside it, insulate yourself from the energized part with rubber insulating gloves, and with rubber insulating sleeves as the rule requires.
- Or insulate the energized part from you and from any other conductive object at a different potential.
- Keep control of the part so no uninsulated part of your body is exposed.
- Free the worker from the conductor with the rescue procedure your company trained you in.
Safety rules that stop the station
- Only qualified employees may work on or with exposed energized lines or parts of equipment.
To pass
- The rescuer is a qualified employee trained to distinguish exposed live parts, determine their nominal voltage and keep the minimum approach distances.
- Rubber insulating gloves count as insulation only when the employee has control of the part so no uninsulated part of the body is exposed.
Official source
Federal · OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.269
29 CFR 1910.269, Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution
The U.S. Government Publishing Office publishes 29 CFR 1910.269 free: the OSHA rule for electric power generation, transmission and distribution work.
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