c. The employer shall determine, through regular supervision and through inspections conducted on at least an annual basis, that each employee is complying with safety related work practices. (7-1-97)

d. An employee shall receive additional training or retraining under any of the following conditions: it the supervisory or annual inspections indicate that the employee is not complying with safety related work practices; or if new technology, new types of equipment , or changes in procedures necessitate the use of safety related work practices that are different from those which the employee would normally use; or if the employee safety related work practices that are not normally used during the employee's regular job duties. Note: Tasks that are performed less often than once per year shall necessitate retraining before the performance of the work practices involved. (7-1-97)

e. Training required by this section shall be of the classroom or on-the-job type. (7-1-97)

f. The training shall establish employee proficiency in the work practices required by this section and shall introduce the procedures necessary for compliance with this section. (7-1-97)

05. Job Briefing: (7-1-97)

a. The employer shall ensure that the employee in charge of a job conducts a job briefing with the employees involved before they start each job. The briefing shall cover at least the following subjects: hazards associated with the job, work procedures involved, special precautions, energy source controls, and personal protective equipment requirements. (7-1-97)

b. If the work or operations to be performed during the work day or shift are repetitive and similar, at least one job briefing shall be conducted before the start of the first job of each day or shift. Additional job briefings shall be held if significant changes, which might affect the safety of the employees, occur during the course of the work. A brief discussion is satisfactory if the work involved is routine and if the employee, by virtue of training and experience, can reasonably be expected to recognize and avoid the hazards involved in the job. A more extensive discussion shall be conducted: if the work is complicated or particularly hazardous, or if the employee cannot be expected to recognize and avoid the hazards involved in the job. Note: The briefing is always required to touch on all the subjects listed in sub-section 151.05.a above. (7-1-97)

c. An employee working alone need not conduct a job briefing. However, the employer shall ensure that the tasks to be performed are planned as if a briefing were required. (7-1-97)

06. Live-Line Tools: (7-1-97)

a. Live-line tool rods, tubes, and poles shall be designed and constructed to withstand the following minimum tests: (7-1-97)

i. One-hundred-thousand (100,000) volts per foot of length for five (5) minutes if the tool is made of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP); (7-1-97)

ii. Seventy-five-thousand (75,000) volts per foot of length for three (3) minutes if the tool is made of wood; (7-1-97)

iii. Or other tests that the employer can demonstrate are equivalent. (7-1-97)

b. Each live-line tool shall be wiped clean and visually inspected for defects before use each day. If any defect or contamination that could adversely affect the insulating qualities or mechanical integrity of the live-line tool is present after wiping, the tool shall be removed from service and examined and tested to the requirements of sub-section 151.06.a above before being returned to service. (7-1-97)

c. The examination, cleaning, repairing, and in-service testing of live-line tools shall be in accordance with the guidelines contained in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Guide for In service Maintenance and Electrical Testing of Live-Line Tools, IEEE Std. 978. (7-1-97)

07. Overhead Lines: (7-1-97)

a. Before elevated structures, such as poles or towers, are subjected to such stresses as climbing or the installation or removal of equipment may impose, the employer shall ascertain that the structures are capable of sustaining the additional or unbalanced stresses. If the pole or other structure cannot withstand the loads which will be imposed it shall be braced or otherwise supported so as to prevent failure. (7-1-97)

b. When poles are set, moved, or removed near exposed energized overhead conductors, the pole shall not contact the conductors. (7-1-97)

c. When a pole is set, moved, or removed near an exposed energized overhead conductor, the employer shall ensure that each employee wears electrical protective equipment and uses insulated devices when handling the pole and that no employee contacts the pole with un-insulated parts of their body. (7-1-97)

d. To protect employees from falling into holes into which poles are to be placed, the holes shall be attended by employees or physically guarded whenever anyone is working nearby. (7-1-97)

e. When installing or removing overhead lines the employer shall use the tension stringing method, barriers, or other equivalent measures to minimize the possibility that conductors and cables being installed or removed will contact energized power lines or equipment. (7-1-97)

f. The protective measures required by sub-section 151.04.h of this section shall also be provided for conductors, cables, and pulling and tensioning equipment when the conductor or cable is being installed or removed close enough to energized conductors that any of the following failures could energize the pulling or tensioning equipment or the wire or cable being installed or removed: failure of the pulling or tensioning equipment, failure of the wire or cable being pulled, or failure of the previously installed lines or equipment. (7-1-97)

g. If the conductors being installed or removed cross over energized conductors in access of six-hundred (600) volts and if the design of the circuit-interrupting device protecting the lines so permits, the automatic reclosing feature of these devices shall be made inoperative. (7-1-97)

h. Before lines are installed parallel to existing energized lines, the employer shall make a determination of the approximate voltage to be induced in the new lines, or work shall proceed on the assumption that the induced voltage is hazardous. Unless the employer can demonstrate that the lines being installed or removed are not subject to the induction of hazardous voltage or unless the lines are treated as energized, the following requirements also apply: (7-1-97)

i. Each bare conductor shall be grounded in increments so that no point along the conductor is more than two (2) miles from a ground. (7-1-97)

ii. The grounds shall be left in place until the conductor installation is completed between dead ends. (7-1-97)

iii. The grounds shall be removed as the last phase of aerial cleanup. (7-1-97)

iv. If employees are working on bare conductors, grounds shall also be installed at each location where these employees are working, and grounds shall be installed at all open dead-end or catch-off points to the next adjacent structure. (7-1-97)

v. If two bare conductors are to be spliced, the conductors shall be bonded and grounded before being spliced. (7-1-97)

i. Reel handling equipment, including pulling and tensioning devices, shall be in safe operating condition and shall be leveled and aligned. (7-1-97)

j. Load rating of stringing, pulling lines, conductor grips, load bearing hardware and accessories, rigging, and hoists shall not be exceeded. (7-1-97)

k. Pulling lines and accessories shall be repaired or replaced when defective. (7-1-97)

l. Conductor grips shall not be used on wire rope, unless the grip is specifically designed for this application. (7-1-97)

m. Reliable communications, through two-way radios or other equivalent means, shall be maintained between the reel tender and the pulling rig operator. (7-1-97)

n. The pulling rig shall only be operated when it is safe to do so. Examples of unsafe conditions include employees in locations prohibited by sub-section 151.07.o of this section, conductor and pulling line hang-ups, and slipping of the conductor grip. (7-1-97)

o. While the conductor or pulling line is being pulled (in motion) with a power driven device, employees shall not be permitted directly under overhead operations or on the cross arm, except as necessary to guide the stringing sock or board over or through the stringing sheave. (7-1-97)

08. Live-Line Bare-Hand Work: (7-1-97)

a. Live-line bare-hand work shall be conducted under all other applicable provisions of section 151 of this standard in addition to the specific requirements of this sub-section. (7-1-97)

b. Before any employee uses the live-line bare-hand technique on energized high-voltage conductors or parts, the following information shall ne ascertained: the nominal voltage rating of the circuit on which the work is to be performed; the minimum approach distances to ground from lines and other energized parts on which work is to be performed; and the voltage limitations of equipment to be used. (7-1-97)

c. The insulated equipment, insulated tools, and aerial devices and platforms used shall be designed, tested, and intended for live-line bare-hand work. Tools and equipment shall be keep clean and dry while they are in use. (7-1-97)

d. The automatic reclosing feature of circuit interrupting devices protecting the lines shall be made inoperative, if the design of the devices permits. (7-1-97)

e. Work shall not be performed when adverse weather conditions such as thunderstorms in the immediate vicinity, high winds, snow storms, and ice storms, would make the work hazardous even after the work practices required by this section are employed. Additionally, work shall not be performed when the winds reduce the phase-to-phase or phase-to- ground minimum approach distances at the work location below that specified in sub-section 151.08.m of this section, unless the grounded objects and other lines and equipment are covered by insulating guards. (7-1-97)

f. A conductive bucket liner or other conductive device shall be provided for bonding the insulated aerial device to the energized line or equipment. The employee shall be connected to the bucket liner or other conductive device by the use of conductive shoes, leg clips, or other means. Where differences in potentials at the work-site pose a hazard to employees, electrostatic shielding designed for the voltages being worked shall be provided. (7-1-97)

g. Before the employee contacts the energized part, the conductive bucket liner or other conductive device shall be bonded to the energized conductor by means of a positive connection. This connection shall remain attached to the energized conductor until the work on the energized circuit is completed. (7-1-97)

h. Aerial lifts to be used for live-line bare-hand work shall have dual controls (lower and upper) as follows: The upper controls shall be within easy reach of the employee in the bucket. On a two (2) bucket-type lift, access to the controls shall be within easy reach from either bucket. The lower set of controls shall be located near the base of the boom, and shall be so designed that they can override the operation of the equipment at any time. (7-1-97)

i. Lower (ground-level) lift controls shall not be operated with an employee in the lift, except in an emergency. (7-1-97)

j. Before employees are elevated into the work position, all controls (ground level and bucket) shall be checked to determine that they are in proper working condition. (7-1-97)

k. Before the boom of an aerial lift is elevated, the body of the truck shall be grounded, or the body of the truck shall be barricaded and treated as energized. (7-1-97)

l. A boom current test shall be made before work is started each day, each time during the day when higher voltage is encountered, and when changed conditions indicate a need for an additional test. This test shall consist of placing the bucket in contact with an energized source equal to the voltage to be encountered for a minimum of three (3) minutes. The leakage current shall not exceed one (1) micro-ampere per kilovolt of nominal phase-to-ground voltage. Work from the aerial lift shall be immediately suspended upon indication of a malfunction in the equipment. (7-1-97)

m. The minimum approach distances specified in Tables 151.04-A through 151.04-E shall be maintained from all grounded objects and from lines and equipment at a potential different from that to which the live-line bare-hand equipment is bonded, unless such grounded objects and other lines and equipment are covered by insulating guards. (7-1-97)

n. While an employee is approaching, leaving, or bonding to an energized circuit, the minimum approach distances in Tables 151.04-A through 151.04-E shall be maintained between employees and any grounded parts, including the lower boom and portions of the truck. (7-1-97)

o. While the bucket is positioned alongside an energized bushing or insulator string, the phase-to-ground minimum approach distances of Tables 151.04-A through 151.04-E shall be maintained between all parts of the bucket and the grounded end of the bushing or insulator string or any other grounded surface. (7-1-97)

p. Hand lines shall not be used between the bucket and the boom or between the bucket and the ground. However, non-conductive type hand lines may be used from conductor to ground if not supported from the bucket. Ropes used for live-line bare-hand work shall not be used for other purposes. (7-1-97)

q. Un-insulated equipment or material shall not be passed between a pole or structure and an aerial lift while an employee working from the bucket is bonded to an energized part. (7-1-97)

r. A minimum approach distance table reflecting the minimum approach distances listed in Tables 151.06-A through 151.04-E shall be printed on a plate of durable non-conductive material. This table shall be mounted so as to be visible to the operator of the boom. (7-1-97)

s. A non-conductive measuring device shall be readily accessible to assist employees in maintaining the required minimum approach distance. (7-1-97)

09. Line Clearance Tree Trimming Operations: (7-1-97)

a. Before an employee climbs, enters, or works around any tree, a determination shall be made of the nominal voltage of electrical power lines posing a hazard to employees. However, a determination of the maximum nominal voltage to which an employee may be made instead, if all lines are considered as energized at this maximum voltage. (7-1-97)

b. There shall be a second line clearance tree trimmer within normal (that is unassisted) voice communication under any of the following conditions: (7-1-97)

i. If a line clearance tree trimmer is to approach more closely than 10-feet to any conductor energized to more than 750-volts; (7-1-97)

ii. If branches or limbs being removed are closer to lines energized at more than 750-volts than the distances listed in Tables 151.04-A, 151.04-D, and 151.04-E; (7-1-97)

iii. Or if roping is necessary to remove branches or limbs from such energized conductors or apparatus. (7-1-97)

c. Line clearance tree trimmers shall maintain the minimum approach distances from energized conductors given in Tables 151.04-A, 151.04-D, and 151.04-E. (7-1-97)

d. Branches that are contacting exposed energized conductors or equipment or that are within the distances specified in Tables 151.04-A, 151.04-D, and 151.04-E shall be removed only through the use of insulating equipment listed in Subsection 151.06 of this section. (7-1-97)

e. Ladders, platforms, and aerial devices shall not be brought closer to an energized part than the distances listed in Tables 151.04-A, 151.04-D, and 151.04-E. (7-1-97)

f. Line clearance tree trimming work shall not be performed when adverse weather conditions such as thunderstorms in the immediate vicinity, high winds, snow storms, and ice storms, make the work hazardous in spite of the work practices required by this subsection. Each employee performing line clearance tree trimming work in the aftermath of a storm or other similar emergency conditions shall be trained in the special hazards related to this type of work. (7-1-97)