(a) Handling
Suspension Strand.
(1) The employer shall
ensure that when handling cable suspension strand which is being installed on
poles carrying exposed energized power conductors, employees shall wear
insulating gloves and shall avoid body contact with the strand until after it
has been tensioned, dead-ended and permanently grounded.
(2) The strand shall be restrained against
inadvertent upward movement during installation:
(A) On joint-use poles, where there is an
upward change in grade at the pole, and
(B) On non-joint-use poles, where the line
crosses under energized power conductors.
(b) Need for Testing Wood Poles.
Unless temporary guys or braces are attached, the
following poles shall be tested in accordance with Subsection (c) of this
Section and determined to be safe before employees are permitted to climb
them:
(1) Dead-end poles, except
properly braced or guyed "Y" or "T" cable junction poles,
(2) Straight line poles which are not storm
guyed and where adjacent span lengths exceed 165 feet.
(3) Poles at which there is a downward change
in grade and which are not guyed or braced corner poles or cable junction
poles.
(4) Poles which support only
telephone drop wire, and
(5) Poles
which carry less than ten communication line wires. On joint-use poles, one
power line wire shall be considered as two communication wires for purposes of
this subsection.
(6) Poles at which
the cable strand or guy tension is to be changed.
(c) Pole Inspection and Tests.
(1) Employers shall establish an effective
written pole inspection and testing program and all involved employees shall be
trained therein.
(2) Prior to
climbing erected poles or other elevated structures intended to support
overhead lines or equipment, a qualified person(s) shall conduct inspections
and tests as required by Section
8615(b) to assure
that such poles or structures are in safe condition for the work to be
performed.
(3) Where poles or
structures are determined to be unsafe for climbing, they shall be marked and
not be climbed until made safe by guying, bracing, or other adequate
means.
(d) Test
Requirements for Cable Suspension Strand.
(1)
Before attaching a splicing platform to a cable suspension strand, the strand
shall be tested and determined to have strength sufficient to support the
weight of the platform and the employee. Where the strand crosses above power
conductors or railroad tracks it may not be tested but shall be inspected in
accordance with Subsection (f) of this Section.
(2) The following method or an equivalent
method shall be used for testing the strength of the strand: A rope, at least
3/8 -inch in diameter, shall be thrown over the strand. On joint lines, the
rope shall be passed over the strand using tree pruner handles or a wire
raising tool. If two employees are present, both shall grip the double rope and
slowly transfer their entire weight to the rope and attempt to raise themselves
off the ground. If only one employee is present, one end of the rope which has
been passed over the strand shall be tied to the bumper of the truck, or other
equally secure anchorage. The employee then shall grasp the other end of the
rope and attempt to raise off the ground.
(e) Inspection of Strand. Where strand passes
over electric power conductors or railroad tracks, it shall be inspected from
an elevated working position at each pole supporting the span in question. The
strand shall not be used to support any splicing platform, scaffold or cable
car, if any of the following conditions exist:
(1) Corrosion so that no galvanizing can be
detected,
(2) One or more wires of
the strand are broken,
(3) Worn
spots, or
(4) Burn marks such as
those caused by contact with electric power conductors.
(f)
(1)
Elevated Work Platforms. Unless standard railings meeting the requirements of
Section
3209 of the General Industry Safety
Orders are provided, personal fall protection devices as specified in
subsection (g) shall be used while working on elevated work platforms including
aerial splicing platforms, pole platforms, ladder platforms, pole balconies and
pole seats.
(2) Ladder Platform. A
ladder platform shall consist of a supporting surface not less than 9 inches by
18 inches. The rear edge of the platform and the support member shall be
equipped to lock the platform to the ladder rungs.
(3) Pole Platform. A pole platform shall
consist of a supporting surface not less than 10 inches by 40 inches equipped
at one end with a hinged chain binder for securing the platform to a pole. A
brace shall be provided from the pole to the underside of the
platform.
(4) Splicing Platform. An
aerial splicing platform shall consist of a supporting surface approximately 3
feet by 4 feet furnished with fiber or synthetic ropes for suspending the
platform, detachable guy ropes for anchoring it, and a device for raising and
lowering it with a handline.
(g) Fall Protection.
(1) When work is performed at elevated
locations more than 4 feet (1.2 meters) above ground on poles, towers or
similar structures, the employer shall require the employees to use either a
fall arrest system, work positioning system, or full restraint system, if other
fall protection methods have not been provided (e.g., guardrails, safety nets,
etc.).
(2) Qualified
telecommunications workers climbing or changing location on poles, towers, or
similar structures shall use fall protection as required in subsection (g)(1).
EXCEPTION: to subsection (g)(2): The employer
demonstrates that fall protection is infeasible or creates a greater hazard,
and provides fall injury risk control equivalent in effectiveness to that
provided by subsection (g)(1).
(3) Personal fall protection systems listed
in subsection (g)(1) shall meet the applicable requirements in Section
1670 of the Construction Safety
Orders, Article 24.
(4) Linemen's
body belts, safety straps, lanyards, and fall restriction systems used for
climbing or changing location on poles, towers or similar structures shall meet
the requirements of Section
2940.6(c) of the
Electrical Safety Orders, Article 36.
(5) The use of body belts for fall arrest
systems is prohibited.
(h) Installing and Removing Wire and Cable.
Before installing or removing wire or cable, the pole or structure shall be
guyed, braced, or otherwise supported, as necessary, to prevent failure of the
pole or structure.
(i) Handling
Poles Near Energized High-Voltage Conductors and Equipment. Except qualified
electrical workers complying with Article 36 of High-Voltage Electrical Safety
Orders:
(1) Joint-use poles shall not be set,
moved, or removed where the nominal voltage of open electrical power conductors
exceeds 34.5kV phase to phase (20kV to ground).
(2) In joint lines where the power voltage is
greater than 600 volts but less than 34.5kV phase to phase (20kV to ground),
poles being placed, moved, or removed shall be insulated with either a rubber
insulating blanket, a fiberglass box guide, or equivalent protective equipment.
Work procedures shall be developed and employed to minimize the possibility of
the pole and the protective equipment from contacting the power conductors. The
guard or insulating material used to protect the pole shall meet the
appropriate 3-minute proof test voltage requirements contained in the
ASTM-D-1048-1981, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
(3) Where poles are being removed, insulation
of the pole is not required if the pole is cut off 2 feet or more below the
lowest power conductor and also cut off near the ground line.
(4) Suitable insulating gloves shall be worn
when handling the pole with either hands or tools, when there exists a
possibility that the pole may contact an energized high-voltage conductor.
Insulating gloves and equipment shall be in conformance with Section
2940.6 of the Electrical Safety
Orders.
(5) During pole handling
operations, employees standing on the ground shall not be permitted to step
onto or contact equipment or machinery while working near energized
high-voltage conductors or equipment unless the employees are using suitable
protective equipment for the voltages involved.
(6) Poles that are to be placed, moved or
removed during heavy rains, sleet or wet snow in joint lines carrying more than
8.7kV phase to phase voltage (5kV to ground) shall be guarded or otherwise
prevented from direct contact with overhead energized power
conductors.
(j) Metal
Tapes and Ropes.
(1) Metal measuring tapes,
metal measuring ropes, or tapes containing conductive strands shall not be used
when working near exposed energized parts.
(2) Where it is necessary to measure
clearances from energized parts, only nonconductive devices shall be
used.
Notes
Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 8, §
8615
1.
Amendment of subsection (c)(3) filed 10-20-77; effective thirtieth day
thereafter (Register 77, No. 43).
2. Amendment filed 3-30-82;
effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 82, No. 14).
3.
Amendment filed 11-3-87; operative 12-3-87 (Register 87, No. 45).
4.
Amendment of subsections (f)(1) and (g) filed 8-10-2005; operative 9-9-2005
(Register 2005, No. 32).
5. Amendment of subsection (i)(4) and new
subsection (i)(6) filed 4-28-2014; operative 7-1-2014 (Register 2014, No.
18).
6. Amendment of subsection (g) and new subsections (g)(1)-(5)
filed 1-9-2020; operative 4-1-2020 (Register 2020, No.
2).
Note: Authority cited: Section
142.3, Labor
Code. Reference: Section
142.3, Labor
Code.
1. Amendment of
subsection (c)(3) filed 10-20-77; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register
77, No. 43).
2. Amendment filed 3-30-82; effective thirtieth day
thereafter (Register 82, No. 14).
3. Amendment filed 11-3-87;
operative 12-3-87 (Register 87, No. 45).
4. Amendment of subsections
(f)(1) and (g) filed 8-10-2005; operative 9-9-2005 (Register 2005, No.
32).
5. Amendment of subsection (i)(4) and new subsection (i)(6)
filed 4-28-2014; operative 7-1-2014 (Register 2014, No. 18).
6.
Amendment of subsection (g) and new subsections (g)(1)-(5) filed 1-9-2020;
operative 4/1/2020 (Register
2020, No. 2).