Personal Protective Equipment
31.A.02 Personal protective equipment (PPE), as outlined in this section, must be required when there is a reasonable probability of injury or illness that can be prevented by such protection.
Always assume it's energized.
- A hardhat and eye protection should be worn for all tree maintenance and removal operations.
- Training must be provided in the use, care, maintenance, and proper fitting of PPE. > See also Section 05.
31.A.03 Working near electrical equipment and systems.
> See Section 11 and 29 CFR 1910.269.
- Employees working in the proximity of electrical equipment or conductors must consider them to be energized.
- A qualified tree worker must make a visual inspection to determine whether an electrical hazard exists before climbing or performing any work in or on a tree.
- (1) If electrical lines or equipment cannot be safely avoided, arrangements must be made with the power company to mitigate the electrical hazard. Mitigation options should include de-energizing, testing, isolating and grounding the electrical conductors by the power company as well as all safe OSHA-compliant and practical work methods.
- (2) The qualified tree worker and designated power company representative must confirm that protective ground(s) have been installed as close to the work to be performed to prevent hazardous differences in electric potential.
- Only a qualified line-clearance tree trimmer or line-clearance trainee under the direct supervision of a qualified person (QP) for electrical hazards must be assigned to work in close proximity to electrical hazards.
Note: Qualified line-clearance tree trimmers should be certified by the employer according to OSHA in 29 CFR 1910.269.
- There must be a second qualified line-clearance tree trimmer or line-clearance tree trimmer trainee within normal voice communication during the clearing operations aloft under the following conditions:
- (1) When the line-clearance tree trimmer or line-clearance tree trimmer trainee must approach any closer than 10 ft (3 m) to any conductor or electrical apparatus energized in excess of 750 volts;
- (2) When branches or limbs being removed cannot first be cut (with a pole pruner/pole saw) sufficiently clear of the equipment or conductors so as to avoid contact; or
- (3) When roping is required to remove branches or limbs from such equipment or conductors.
- Line-clearance tree trimmers and trainees must maintain the distances from energized conductors as specified in Table 11-3. All other tree workers must maintain a minimum separation distance of 10 ft (3 m) or greater according to Table 11-1.
- Aerial devices that are electrically rated above the electrical voltages of adjacent power lines are exempt from the 10 ft (3 m) rule, and can follow Table 11-3 if operators have been electrically qualified. Operators must be instructed that insulated aerial devices do not protect them from other potentially fatal electric paths to the ground, such as paths through trees, guy wires, or from phase-to- phase contact.
- Electrically rated aerial devices must be tested yearly with approved test methods and equipment, in accordance with ANSI/SIA A92.2.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
31-2. When is a second qualified line-clearance trimmer or trainee required during clearing operations?
You forgot to answer the question!