Electrical safety in construction - Virginia

Virginia has adopted most federal OSHA standards and incorporates them by reference. The Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program has a separate standard for overhead high voltage power lines, the Overhead High Voltage Line Safety Act.

The Act defines “work” as:

“…the physical act of performing or preparing to perform any activity under, over, by, or near overhead high voltage lines, including, but not limited to, the operation, erection, handling, storage, or transportation of any tools, machinery, ladders, antennas, equipment, covered equipment, supplies, materials, or apparatus, or the moving of any house or other structure, whenever such activity is done by a person or entity in pursuit of his trade or business.”

A summary of the Act’s provisions includes the following:

• No work may be performed that would bring a person or equipment within 10 feet of any overhead high voltage line, unless the lines have been properly guarded;
• No person may work in proximity to overhead high voltage lines unless proper warning signs are posted;
• No work may be performed in closer proximity to overhead high voltage lines than permitted, unless the person responsible for the work and the owner/operator of the power lines have made necessary safety arrangements such as temporary mechanical barriers, temporary de-energization and grounding of the power lines, temporary relocation of the lines, and more, prior to the work beginning.

The Act also specifies proper means of notification to the owner/operator of work to be done in proximity to power lines, enforcement mechanisms, applications, exemptions, and more.

Related information

• Electrical safety for construction activities

Citations

• 16VAC25-60-130 (Construction industry standards; adopted by reference)
• Overhead High Voltage Line Safety Act
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart K — Electrical