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Michigan has adopted many federal OSHA standards and incorporates them by reference. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) plan has some state standards related to electrical safety and construction.
Construction safety standard Part 1, Rule 114 and 115
Part 1 of MIOSHA’s Construction Safety Standard includes Rule 114 and 115, which require general safety measures for construction.
Rule 114
Rule 114 requires employers to implement an accident prevention program that meets the requirements defined in the standard. At minimum, the program must include:
- Employee training regarding worksite hazards and safeguards and procedures for handling and avoiding them;
- Inspections of the construction site, tools, materials and equipment;
- Instruction regarding the safe handling of toxic materials and other harmful substances; and more.
Rule 115
Rule 115 requires the following:
- Employers must identify and remove from service any machine, tool, or equipment that is damaged or defective;
- Employers must not allow any employees other than the operator to ride on moving equipment, unless the equipment is outfitted for that purpose (e.g., the equipment includes a seat and seat belt).
- Employers must not knowingly permit any employee to work while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Electrical safety power line clearances
Working near overhead power lines is an activity that falls under Rule 115. MIOSHA states that:
“Other Tools, Material and Mobile Equipment – e.g., paint rollers, long-handled cement finishing floats, metal framing, metal roofing materials, gutter forklifts, dump trucks, concrete pump truck booms and loaders are required to maintain a minimum clearance of 10 feet from power lines.” That distance is increased to 10 feet plus 0.4 inches per kV for lines over 50 kV.
Electrical installations, Rule 1724
Rule 1724 requires the following:
- Any electrical apparatus and equipment used for construction operations must have an approved label or marking.
- Before work begins, a competent person must determine whether an employee, tool, or equipment might come in contact with any part of an electric power circuit. No employee may work in proximity to such circuits unless the employee is protected against electric shock by de-energizing the circuit and locking out and tagging it, OR unless the employee working on an energized circuit is guarded by insulation, insulated tools, or insulating matting or blankets sufficient to protect against the voltage involved.
- If there is an electrical power circuit with which an employee might come in contact, the employer must:
- Post and maintain accident prevention signs;
- Advise employees of the location of the lines, the hazard involved, and protective measures to be taken.
- If an employee is using any tool that could contact an underground line, the energy source must be de-energized.
- A workspace of at least 3 feet wide and 6-1/2 feet high, in addition to space necessary to open equipment doors not less than 90 degrees, must be provided and maintained near electrical equipment.
- Barriers or other means must be provided so that the workspace surrounding electrical equipment is not used as a passageway during periods when energized parts of electrical equipment are exposed.