Tips for Construction Equipment Rental Jobs: OSHA ELECTRICAL SAFETY REGULATIONS AND FREQUENT VIOLATIONS

by Julie Rubio

OSHA has a number of electrical safety regulations (29 CFR, Subpart S, 1910.301 to 1910.399), most of which involve the design of electrical installations. The top four electrical violations in a recent fiscal year, each of which had more than 950 incidents, involved the following:
1. Conductors
2. Grounding path
3. Guarding of live parts
4. Covers and canopies

One of the OSHA electrical regulations is specifically aimed at reducing electrically caused accidents and injuries. The detailed Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices Standards (1910.331-360) limits certain tasks to "qualified" employees, who are defined as having "training in avoiding the electrical hazards of working on or near exposed energized parts." Qualified employees must at least be able to distinguish exposed live electric parts and their nominal voltage, as well as the clearance distances and corresponding voltages to which they will be exposed.

The standard defines all other employees as "unqualified," which means they have no special training in recognizing and avoiding electrical hazards but might be exposed to electrical shock on the job.

All employees, however, need some knowledge of electrical safety and the protections built into the new standard. We'll cover the essentials in the course of this meeting.

Identifying Hazards
To use electricity safely, you have to be able to identify its most common hazards. Most occur in everyday work situations, rather than the specific electrical tasks covered by the new OSHA standard. Electrical repair should be left to skilled, trained people. So if you spot one of these hazards, don't touch anything. Report it to me immediately so electricians can make the proper repairs.

Here are the hazards to watch out for:
• Loose electrical connections
• Cords with no insulation or frayed insulation
• Plugs that don't match their outlets—like a three-pronged plug in a two-pronged outlet
• Non-waterproof cords used outdoors
• Equipment running over capacity
• Tools that smoke, smell, spark, or shock
• Wires running across the floor
• Electrical cords left near heat or water
• Electrical cords used around hazardous flammable or explosive materials and not designed for that use
• Extension cords instead of permanent wiring.

These safety tips brought to you by the Volvo Construction Rental Franchises of Massachusetts:
Volvo Boston Construction Equipment Rental

Volvo Worcester Construction Equipment Rental