R 408.43209 Electrical hazards.

Rule 3209. (1) The employer shall ensure that an aerial work platform shall be operated so that the distances from energized power lines and equipment prescribed in Table 1 are maintained, except for the following: (a) As prescribed in subrule (2) of this rule addressing tree trimming. (b) As prescribed in subrule (3) of this rule addressing telecommunications. (c) Where insulating barriers are not a part of or an attachment to the aerial device that has been erected to prevent physical contact with the lines. (2) A qualified lineman or a qualified line clearance tree trimmer shall maintain distances as prescribed in Table 2 when performing work from an aerial work platform on or near an exposed power line unless any of the following conditions exist: (a) The employee is insulated or guarded from the energized part by gloves or gloves and sleeves, as provided for and prescribed in Construction Safety Standard Part 6. "Personal Protective Equipment" and Construction Safety Standard Part 30. "Telecommunications." (b) The employee is insulated, isolated, or guarded from any other conductive part. (c) The energized part is insulated from the employee. (3) A qualified telecommunications employee shall maintain the distances prescribed in Table 3 when working from an aerial lift, unless the employee is insulated, isolated, or guarded from any other conductive part or the energized part is insulated from the employee. (4) Employees shall use insulated bucket, gloves and sleeves that are rated at more than the voltage to be worked on or that with which they might come into contact, to comply with subrules (2) and (3) of this rule. (5) The clearances, as prescribed in Tables 1-3, do not apply when the owner of the line or his or her authorized representative, or a utility representative assures that the conductor is insulated for the system voltages and the task will not compromise the insulation of the conductor and/or cause an electrical hazard. (6) Tables 1, 2, and 3 read as follows: Table 1 Minimum Clearance Distances for Equipment Voltage Clearance With Boom Raised Clearance Boom Lowered and No Load in Transit To 50 kV 10 feet 4 feet Over 50 kV 10 feet + .4 inch per each 1 kV over 50 kV 10 feet 50 to 345 kV -- 10 feet 346 to 750 kV -- 15 feet Table 2 Minimum Working Distances for Qualified Line-Clearance Tree Trimmers and Qualified Linemen Voltage Range Phase to Phase (kilovolts) Minimum Working Distance 2.1 to 15.0 2 feet 0 inches (61 cm) 15.1 to 35.0 2 feet 4 inches (71 cm) 35.1 to 46.0 2 feet 6 inches (76 cm) 46.1 to 72.5 3 feet 0 inches (91 cm) 72.6 to 121.0 3 feet 4 inches (102 cm) 138.0 to 145.0 3 feet 6 inches (107 cm) 161.0 to 169.0 3 feet 8 inches (112 cm) 230.0 to 242.0 5 feet 0 inches (152 cm) 345.0 to 362.0 *7 feet 0 inches (213 cm) 550.0 to 552.0 *11 feet 0 inches (335 cm 700.0 to 765.0 *15 feet 0 inches (457 cm) *Note: For 345-362 kV., 500-552 kV., and 700-765 kV., the minimum working distance and the minimum clear hot stick distance may be reduced that such distances are not less than the shortest distance between the energized part and a grounded surface. Table 3 Minimum Approach Distances for Qualified Telecommunications Employees Voltage Range (Nominal Phase to Phase) Minimum Approach Distances 300 V and less 1 foot - 0 inches (30.5 cm) Over 300 V, not over 750 V 1 foot - 6 inches (46 cm) Over 750 V, not over 2 kV 2 feet - 0 inches (61 cm Over 2 kV, not over 15 kV 3 feet - 0 inches (91 cm) Over 15 kV, not over 37 kV 3 feet – 6 inches (107 cm) Over 37 kV, not over 87.5 kV 4 feet – 0 inches (122 cm) Over 87.5 kV, not over 121 kV 4 feet – 6 inches (137 cm) Over 121 kV, not over 140 kV --