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ElectricityJob briefing before the job
Before the crew starts, the employee in charge holds a job briefing with everyone involved: the hazards of the job, the work procedures, special precautions, energy-source controls and personal protective equipment. OSHA requires it before each job under 29 CFR 1910.269(c), and a more extensive one when the work is complicated or particularly hazardous.
Free to startScenarios
- The first job of the day on overhead lines, with the crew gathered at the truck.
- Repetitive, similar jobs during the shift: one briefing before the first job of the day.
- A significant change during the work that might affect the crew's safety.
The steps
- Get from the employer all available information on the existing characteristics and conditions of the lines and equipment.
- Check the nominal voltages, induced voltages, protective grounds, the condition of the poles and the environmental conditions.
- Gather every employee involved before they start the job.
- Cover the hazards associated with the job.
- Cover the work procedures involved.
- Cover the special precautions.
- Cover the energy-source controls.
- Cover the personal protective equipment requirements.
- Make the discussion more extensive if the work is complicated or particularly hazardous, or if someone cannot be expected to recognize and avoid the hazards.
- Hold another briefing if a significant change that might affect safety occurs during the work.
Safety rules that stop the station
- No employee starts the job before the job briefing has been held.
To pass
- The briefing covers all five subjects: hazards, work procedures, special precautions, energy-source controls and protective equipment.
- For repetitive, similar work, at least one briefing is held before the first job of each day or shift.
- A brief discussion is enough only for routine work whose hazards trained, experienced employees can be expected to recognize and avoid.
- An employee working alone plans the tasks as if a briefing were required.
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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