§ 2940.6. Tools and Protective Equipment.

(a) Insulating Equipment.

(1) Insulating equipment designed for the voltage levels to be encountered shall be provided and the employer shall ensure that they are used by employees as required by this section. This equipment shall meet the electrical and physical requirements contained in the standards shown in Appendix C.

(2) Whenever rubber gloves are used, they shall be protected by outer canvas or leather gloves. This equipment shall meet the electrical physical requirements contained in the standards shown in Appendix C.

(3) Insulating equipment fabricated of material other than rubber shall provide electrical and mechanical protection at least equal to that of rubber equipment.

(4) The employer is responsible for the periodic visual and electrical re-testing of all insulating gloves, sleeves and blankets. The following maximum re-testing intervals for the items covered by the listed ASTM standards shall apply:

GLOVES, SLEEVES, BLANKETS,

AND OTHER INSULATING EQUIPMENT

(In-service care)

	ELECTRICAL TEST INTERVALS
ASTM STANDARD	MONTHS
Standard Specification for In-Service Care of	*6 months for gloves
Insulating Gloves and Sleeves, ASTM F 496-02a	*12 months for sleeves
Standard Specification for In-Service Care of
Insulating Blankets, ASTM F 479-06	*12 months for blankets
	For line hose and covers
Standard Specification for In-Service Care of	(When found to be
Insulating Line Hose and Covers,	damaged or defective)
ASTM F 478-92 (Reapproved 1999)

*Gloves, sleeves, and blankets that have been electrically tested but not issued for service shall not be placed into service unless they have been electrically tested within the previous twelve months.

(5) Gloves, sleeves and blankets shall be marked to indicate compliance with the re-test schedule and shall be marked with either the date tested, or the date the next test is due.

(6) When not being used, insulating gloves and sleeves shall be stored in glove bags or suitable containers. Insulating blankets shall be stored in a canister or other means that offers equivalent protection.

(7) Insulating equipment shall be stored away from direct sunlight, steampipes, radiators and other sources of excessive heat and shall be protected from physical damage. Gloves, sleeves and blankets shall not be folded while in storage; however, blankets shall be permitted to be rolled for storage.

(8) Insulating equipment shall be visually inspected for defects and damage, and shall be cleaned prior to use each day.

(9) Rubber gloves shall be air and water tested at the beginning of each work period and at any other time when the glove's condition is in doubt. The gloves shall:

(A) Be visually examined over their entire inner and outer surface for any defects, i.e., burns, cuts, cracks, punctures and weak spots; and

(B) Have the cuff stretched to detect abrasions and weak spots.

(10) Insulating equipment found to be defective or damaged shall be immediately removed from service.

(b) Fall Protection. When work is performed at elevated locations more than 4 feet (1.2 meters) above the ground on poles, towers or similar structures, the employer shall require the employees to use either fall arrest equipment, work positioning equipment, or travel restricting equipment, if other fall protection methods have not been provided (e.g., guardrails, safety nets, etc.). The use of body belts for fall arrest systems is prohibited.

Exception: Point to point travel by a qualified person, unless conditions such as ice, high winds, design of the structure, or other condition (e.g., chemical contaminants) prevents the employee from gaining a firm hand or foothold while traveling.

(c) Linemen's Body Belts, Safety Straps and Lanyards.

(1) Linemen's body belts and safety straps purchased after January 1, 1993, shall be labeled as meeting the requirements contained in ASTM F 887-91, Standard Specifications for Personal Climbing Equipment.

Exception: Linemen's body belts and safety straps purchased before January 1, 1993 which are labeled/tagged as meeting either the ANSI A10.14 or ASTM F 887 Standard in effect at the time of purchase.

(2) Body belts, safety straps, and lanyards shall be inspected by a qualified person each day before use to determine that they are safe. Those determined to be unsafe shall be immediately removed from service.

(3) Safety straps shall not be used when any portion of the red safety marker strip in the strap is exposed.

(4) Leather shall not be used for safety straps.

(d) Ladders.

(1) Portable conductive ladders shall not be used near energized conductors or exposed energized parts of equipment except as may be necessary in specialized work such as in high voltage substations where non-conductive ladders might present a greater hazard than conductive ladders.

(2) Portable conductive ladders shall be legibly marked with signs reading “Caution -Do Not Use Near Energized Electrical Equipment” or equivalent wording.

(3) Portable ladders used on structures shall be secured to prevent them from being accidentally displaced.

(e) Live Line Tools.

(1) Live line tools shall meet the requirements specified in Appendix “B.”

(2) Live line tools shall be visually inspected for defects before use each day. Tools to be used shall be wiped clean and if defects are indicated such tools shall not be used.

(f) Conductive measuring tapes, ropes or similar measuring devices shall not be used when working on or near exposed energized conductors or parts of equipment.

(g) Handtools.

(1) Hydraulic tools which are used on or near exposed energized conductors or equipment shall use non-conductive hoses having adequate strength for normal operating pressures. The provisions of Section 3556, General Industry Safety Orders, Title 8, California Code of Regulations, shall also apply.

(2) Pneumatic tools which are used on or near exposed energized conductors or equipment shall:

(A) have non-conductive hoses having adequate strength for the normal operating pressures and

(B) have an accumulator on the compressor to collect moisture.

HISTORY

1. Amendment of subsection (c) and new subsection (i) filed 6-2-87; operative 7-2-87 (Register 87, No. 24).

2. Amendment filed 12-10-87; operative 1-9-88 (Register 88, No. 1).

3. Amendment of subsection (c)(1) filed 12-7-92; operative 1-6-93 (Register 92, No. 50).

4. New subsection (g)(3) filed 12-12-94; operative 1-11-95 (Register 94, No. 50).

5. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a)(8) filed 12-18-95 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 95, No. 51).

6. Amendment filed 11-25-97; operative 12-25-97 (Register 97, No. 48).

7. Repealer of subsections (b)-(b)(1) and new subsections (b) and (j) filed 9-10-99; operative 10-10-99 (Register 99, No. 37).

8. Amendment filed 7-26-2000; operative 8-25-2000 (Register 2000, No. 30).

9. Amendment of subsection (a)(4) filed 12-2-2008; operative 1-1-2009 (Register 2008, No. 49).

Note

Note: For the purposes of subsections (f) and (g) energized conductors on which temporary insulating devices have been installed shall be considered “exposed.”

(3) Pressure shall be released before connections are broken, unless quick acting, self-closing connectors are used. Hoses shall not be kinked.

(h) Conductive Objects. Conductive objects of a length capable of contacting energized conductors shall not be carried into the level of such conductors unless suitable means are taken to prevent accidental contact.

(i) Lines used for emergency rescue such as lowering a person to the ground shall have a minimum breaking strength of 2650 pounds and shall be readily available on the job site.

(j) Apparel. The employer shall ensure that each employee who is exposed to the hazards of flames or electric arcs does not wear clothing that, when exposed to flames or electric arcs, could increase the extent of injury that would be sustained by the employee. This subsection prohibits clothing made from the following types of fabrics, either alone or in blends, unless the employee can demonstrate that the fabric has been treated with flame retardant: acetate, nylon, polyester, and rayon.

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

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