WAC

296-307-150 Employees working near overhead lines.
296-307-15003 What does this section cover?
296-307-15006 What clearance and safeguards are required to protect employees near overhead lines?
296-307-15009 What signs must an employer post to warn employees working near overhead lines?
296-307-15012 When must an employer notify the utility of employees working near overhead lines?

WAC 296-307-150 Employees working near overhead lines.

[Recodified as § 296-307-150. 97-09-013, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 96-22-048, § 296-306A-150, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]

WAC 296-307-15003 What does this section cover? 

WAC 296-307-150 does not apply to the construction, reconstruction, operation, or maintenance of overhead electrical conductors (and their supporting structures and associated equipment) by authorized and qualified electrical employees. It also does not apply to authorized and qualified employees engaged in the construction, reconstruction, operations and maintenance of overhead electrical circuits or conductors (and their supporting structures and associated equipment) of rail transportation systems, or electrical generating, transmission, distribution, and communication systems.

[Statutory Authority: 49.17.040 RCW. 98-24-096 (Order 98-13), § 296-307-15003, filed 12/08/98, effective 03/01/99. [Recodified as § 296-307-15003. 97-09-013, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 96-22-048, § 296-306A-15003, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]

WAC 296-307-15006 What clearance and safeguards are required to protect employees working near overhead lines?

(1) All exposed overhead conductors must be isolated from accidental contact by employees or equipment.

(2) Irrigation pipe must not be stored within one hundred feet of overhead conductors.

(3) Upending irrigation pipe within one hundred feet of overhead conductors is prohibited.

(4) Water and irrigation systems, and other devices that discharge a conductive liquid, must be set up and operated so that the discharge from the system is directed more than ten feet away from overhead high-voltage lines, and avoids contact with any exposed electrical power conductor.

(5) Employees are prohibited from entering or working in proximity to high-voltage lines, unless there are guards to prevent accidental contact.

Note: Voltage 600V and higher is considered high voltage.

(6) The following are prohibited if it is possible to bring these objects within ten feet of high-voltage lines:

(a) Operating, erecting, or transporting tools, equipment, or a moving part;

(b) Handling, transporting, or storing materials; or

(c) Moving a building near high-voltage lines.

(7) Equipment or machines must be operated near power lines according to the following:

(a) For lines rated 50 kv. or below, minimum clearance between the lines and any part of the object must be ten feet;

(b) For lines rated over 50 kv. minimum clearance between the lines and any part of the object must be ten feet plus four tenths of an inch for each 1 kv., over 50 kv., or twice the length of the line insulator but never less than ten feet;

(c) In transit, the clearance must be a minimum of four feet for voltages less than 50 kv., ten feet for voltages over 50 kv. up to and including 345 kv., and sixteen feet for voltages up to and including 750 kv.;

(d) You must designate someone to observe clearance and give warning for operations where it is difficult for the operator to see well enough to maintain the necessary clearance.

Exception: You are exempt from this requirement if electrical distribution and transmission lines have been deenergized and visibly grounded at point of work; or if insulating barriers, not a part of or an attachment to the equipment or machinery, have been erected to prevent physical contact with the lines.

[Recodified as § 296-307-15006. 97-09-013, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 96-22-048, § 296-306A-15006, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]

WAC 296-307-15009 What signs must an employer post to warn employees working near overhead lines? 

You must post and maintain in plain view of the operator on each derrick, power-shovel, drilling-rig, hay loader, hay stacker, or similar apparatus with parts that are capable of vertical, lateral or swinging motion, a durable warning sign legible at twelve feet that says, “unlawful to operate this equipment within ten feet of high-voltage lines.”

[Recodified as § 296-307-15009. 97-09-013, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 96-22-048, § 296-306A-15009, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]

WAC 296-307-15012 When must an employer notify the utility of employees working near overhead lines? 

The employer must notify the operator of high-voltage lines when any operations are to be performed, tools or materials handled, or equipment is to be moved or operated within ten feet of any high-voltage line. All required safety measures must be completed before proceeding with any work that would reduce the clearance requirements of this section.

[Recodified as § 296-307-15012. 97-09-013, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 96-22-048, § 296-306A-15012, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]