Electrical Safety for Construction

 

Exposed junction box wiring, damaged extension cords, and temporary set-ups are just some of the electrical hazards construction workers face daily. And electricity can be deadly, expos¬ing you to such dangers as shock, electrocution, fires, and explosions.

According to the Bureau of Labor (BLS) statistics, 486 workers died in 1995 from electrocution. Contact with electrical current killed 347 employees while contact with overhead power lines killed 139 more. Approximately eighty-three of these deaths were construction workers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has recognized the important role of the National Electric Code (NEC) in defining basic requirements for safety in electrical installations.

In 1986 OSHA updated the construction electrical regulations (29 CFR Subpart K), by pull¬ing requirements from the 1984 NEC that directly affect employees in construction work¬places, and placing them in construction rules.

Your employer is required to provide you with training in safe electrical work practices, and has a duty to provide hazard-free equipment and work situations.
The OSHA electrical regulations for construction are located in Subpart K of 29 CFR 1926. The rules are divided into four major groups:

In 1986 OSHA updated the construction electrical regulations (29 CFR Subpart K), by pulling requirements from the 1984 NEC that directly affect employees in construction workplaces, and placing them in construction rules.

Your employer is required to provide you with training in safe electrical work practices, and has a duty to provide hazard-free equipment and work situations.
The OSHA electrical regulations for construction are located in Subpart K of 29 CFR 1926. The rules are divided into four major groups:

Part I—Safety requirements for installing and using equipment
Sections 29 CFR 1926.402-.408 contain installation safety requirements for electrical equip¬ment, and installations used to provide electric power and lights at jobsites.

These sections apply to installations, both temporary and permanent. They do not apply to existing permanent installations that were there before the construction started.

Part I contains requirements for: (1) approval of electrical components, (2) examination, installation, and use of electrical equipment, (3) guarding of electrical equipment, (4) overcurrent protection, and (5) grounding of equipment connected by cord and plug (extension cords).

Part II—Safety related work practices is critical for: (1) protection of employees, (2) passageways and open spaces, and (3) lockout and tagging of circuits.

Part III—Safety related maintenance and environmental considerations covers the protection of wiring components and the environmental deterioration of equipment.

Part IV—Safety requirements for special equipment covers batteries and battery charging, personal protective equipment, and emergency eyewash stations.

Safety should be foremost in your mind when working with electrical equipment. You face hazards from jobsite conditions, your tools, and the electricity that powers them.