Application designed and maintained by the
Overhead powerlines are frequently hit by construction equipment such as dump trucks and cranes; however, elevating work platforms and other equipment such as ladders and rolling scaffolds are also involved. Many powerline contacts involve low-voltage service and buried cable. Electrical shock is the passing of electric current through the body. Electrical current can cause ventricular defilation, cardiac arrest, involuntary physical movements, including preventing you from releasing your grip from a live conductor, throw you into contact with a higher voltage conductor, cause you to lose your balance and fall, cause severe internal and external burns, and can kill you.
There are four documents in this series. Please also see flash hazards, working on energized systems, and lockout and tagging.
Electrical work performed on or near electrical transmission or distribution systems must be performed in accordance with the “Electrical Utility Safety Rules” published by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association. Workplaces are required to take every reasonable precaution to prevent hazards from energized electrical equipment, installations and conductors.
Sections 182, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 and 193 do not apply to electrical work that is performed on or near electrical transmission or distribution systems if the work is performed in accordance with the document referred to above. Electrical work performed on a construction project must be performed by an electrician as prescribed in the provincial regulations.
Electrical hazards must be identified on the construction projects and only competent persons shall be permitted to perform work on or near electrical systems or apparatus. Every reasonable precaution shall be taken to ensure workers are protected from electrical hazards. This action includes the locking/tagging out of electrical equipment, identifying powerlines and electrical systems that both part of the construction activities and not part of construction activities. Examples include power lines overhead and underground, high and low voltage services, and distribution/transmission systems.Communicating with neighbouring electrical system owners to ensure the construction activities do not encroach or interfere with local distribution/transmission or services to neighbouring properties may also be necessary.
Written safe work procedures must be in place to ensure all workers are protected from electrical hazards depending on the scope, impact and potential and actual hazards to the workers. The written safe work procedures must be communicated to all workers and when necessary to neighbouring electrical systems to ensure workers are protected from the electrical hazards.
Tools, ladders, scaffolding and other equipment or material that is able to conduct electricity must not be stored or used so close to energized electrical equipment, installations or conductors that they can make electrical contact.
When work is to be done on or near energized exposed parts of electrical equipment, installation or conductor, the employer must:
The worker must follow the written measures and procedures.
When objects could be near live overhead powerlines, minimum safe distances are required:
Normal phase-to-phase voltage rating | Minimum distance |
750 or more volts, but no more than 150,000 volts | 3 metres |
More than 150,000 volts, but no more than 250,000 volts | 4.5 metres |
More than 250,000 volts | 6 metres |
Written measures and procedures include the following:
An exemption to these measures is only allowed if, under the authority of the owner of the electrical conductor, protective devices and equipment are installed, and written procedures are implemented that are adequate to protect the workers from electrical shock and burn. Workers involved must use protective devices and equipment, and follow written measures and procedures.
Construction Projects
O. Reg. 213/91
Part II GENERAL CONSTRUCTION
Section 44
44. (1) Signs meeting the requirements of subsection (2) shall be posted in prominent locations and in sufficient numbers to warn workers of a hazard on a project.
(2) A sign shall contain the word "DANGER" written in legible letters that are at least 150 millimetres in height and shall state that entry by any unauthorized person to the area where the hazard exists is forbidden.
(3) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), a sign shall be posted,
(a) adjacent to a hoisting area;
(b) under a boatswain's chair, or a suspended work platform;
(c) at the outlet from a chute;
(d) at a means of access to a place where there may be a noxious gas, vapour, dust or fume, noxious substance or a lack of oxygen; and
(e) where there is a potential hazard from an energized overhead electrical conductor at more than 750 volts.
(4) No person shall enter an area in which a sign is posted other than a worker authorized to work in the area.
[O. Reg. 242/16, s. 6; 142/17, s. 9]
Section 106
106. (1) A signaller shall be a competent worker and shall not perform other work while acting as a signaller.
(1.1) The signaller shall wear a garment that covers at least his or her upper body and has the following features:
1. The garment shall be fluorescent blaze or international orange in colour.
2. On the front and the back, there shall be two yellow stripes that are 5 centimetres wide. The yellow area shall total at least 500 square centimetres on the front and at least 570 square centimetres on the back.
3. On the front, the stripes shall be arranged vertically and centred and shall be approximately 225 millimetres apart, measured from the centre of each stripe. On the back, they shall be arranged in a diagonal "X" pattern.
4. The stripes shall be retro-reflective and fluorescent.
(1.2) If the garment is a vest, it shall have adjustable fit.
(1.3) A nylon vest to which this section applies shall also have a side and front tear-away feature.
(1.4) In addition, a signaller who may be endangered during nighttime hours shall wear retro-reflective silver stripes encircling each arm and leg, or equivalent side visibility-enhancing stripes with a minimum area of 50 square centimetres per side.
(1.5) The employer shall,
(a) ensure that the signaller has received adequate oral training in his or her duties and has received adequate oral and written instructions in a language that he or she understands; and
(b) keep the written instructions at the project.
(2) A signaller,
(a) shall be clear of the intended path of travel of the vehicle, machine or equipment, crane or similar hoisting device, shovel, backhoe or similar excavating machine or its load;
(b) shall be in full view of the operator of the vehicle, machine or equipment, crane or similar hoisting device, shovel, backhoe or similar excavating machine;
(c) shall have a clear view of the intended path of travel of the vehicle, machine or equipment, crane or similar hoisting device, shovel, backhoe or similar excavating machine or its load; and
(d) shall watch the part of the vehicle, machine or equipment or crane or similar hoisting device, shovel, backhoe or similar excavating machine or its load whose path of travel the operator cannot see.
(3) The signaller shall communicate with the operator by means of a telecommunication system or, where visual signals are clearly visible to the operator, by means of prearranged visual signals.
[O. Reg. 145/00, s. 28; 345/15, s. 16]
Section 181
181. (1) Except where otherwise required by this Regulation, electrical work performed on or near electrical transmission or distribution systems shall be performed in accordance with the document entitled "Electrical Utility Safety Rules" published by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association and revised 2014.
(2) Sections 182, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 and 193 do not apply to electrical work that is performed on or near electrical transmission or distribution systems if the work is performed in accordance with the document referred to in subsection (1).
[O. Reg. 631/94, s. 6; 627/05, s. 4; 443/09, s. 5; 345/15, s. 22]
Section 183
183. Every reasonable precaution shall be taken to prevent hazards to workers from energized electrical equipment, installations and conductors.
[O. Reg. 143/99, s. 1; 627/05, ss. 5, 6]
Section 187
187. Tools, ladders, scaffolding and other equipment or materials capable of conducting electricity shall not be stored or used so close to energized electrical equipment, installations or conductors that they can make electrical contact.
[O. Reg. 627/05, s. 7]
Section 188
188. (1) This section applies unless the conditions set out in clauses 189(a) and (b) are satisfied.
(2) No object shall be brought closer to an energized overhead electrical conductor with a nominal phase-to-phase voltage rating set out in Column 1 of the Table to this subsection than the distance specified opposite to it in Column 2.
Table
| Item | Column 1 | Column 2 |
| Nominal phase-to-phase voltage rating | Minimum distance | |
| 1. | 750 or more volts, but no more than 150,000 volts | 3 m |
| 2. | more than 150,000 volts, but no more than 250,000 volts | 4.5 m |
| 3. | more than 250,000 volts | 6 m |
(3) Subsections (4) to (9) apply if a crane, similar hoisting device, backhoe, power shovel or other vehicle or equipment is operated near an energized overhead electrical conductor and it is possible for a part of the vehicle or equipment or its load to encroach on the minimum distance permitted under subsection (2).
(4) A constructor shall,
(a) establish and implement written measures and procedures adequate to ensure that no part of a vehicle or equipment or its load encroaches on the minimum distance permitted by subsection (2); and
(b) make a copy of the written measures and procedures available to every employer on the project.
(5) The written measures and procedures shall include taking the following precautions to protect workers:
1. Adequate warning devices, visible to the operator and warning of the electrical hazard, shall be positioned in the vicinity of the hazard.
2. The operator shall be provided with written notification of the electrical hazard before beginning the work.
3. A legible sign, visible to the operator and warning of the potential electrical hazard, shall be posted at the operator's station.
(6) Before a worker begins work that includes an activity described in subsection (3), the employer shall provide a copy of the written measures and procedures to the worker and explain them to him or her.
(7) The worker shall follow the written measures and procedures.
(8) A competent worker, designated as a signaller, shall be stationed so that he or she is in full view of the operator and has a clear view of the electrical conductor and of the vehicle or equipment, and shall warn the operator each time any part of the vehicle or equipment or its load may approach the minimum distance.
(9) Section 106 also applies with respect to the signaller designated under subsection (8).
[O. Reg. 627/05, s. 7; 345/15, s. 23]
Section 189
189. Section 188 does not apply if,
(a) under the authority of the owner of the electrical conductor, protective devices and equipment are installed, and written measures and procedures are established and implemented, that are adequate to protect workers from electrical shock and burn; and
(b) the workers involved in the work use protective devices and equipment, including personal protective equipment, and follow written measures and procedures that are adequate to protect workers from electrical shock and burn.
[O. Reg. 627/05, s. 7]
Section 190
190. (1) This section applies if work is to be done on or near energized exposed parts of electrical equipment or of an electrical installation or conductor.
(2) An employer shall,
(a) establish and implement written measures and procedures for complying with this section to ensure that workers are adequately protected from electrical shock and burn; and
(b) make a copy of the written measures and procedures available to every worker on the project.
(3) The worker shall follow the written measures and procedures.
(4) Subject to subsection (9), the power supply to the electrical equipment, installation or conductor shall be disconnected, locked out of service and tagged in accordance with subsection (6) before the work begins, and kept disconnected, locked out of service and tagged while the work continues.
(5) Hazardous stored electrical energy shall be adequately discharged or contained before the work begins and shall be kept discharged or contained while the work continues.
(6) The following rules apply to the tagging of the power supply under subsection (4):
1. The tag shall be made of non-conducting material and shall be installed so as not to become energized.
2. The tag shall be placed in a conspicuous location and shall be secured to prevent its inadvertent removal.
3. The tag shall indicate,
i. why the equipment, installation or conductor is disconnected,
ii. the name of the person who disconnected the equipment, installation or conductor,
iii. the name of the person's employer, and
iv. the date on which the equipment, installation or conductor was disconnected.
4. The tag shall not be removed unless it is safe to do so.
(7) A worker, before beginning work to which this section applies, shall verify that subsections (4) and (5) have been complied with.
(8) If more than one worker is involved in work to which this section applies, a means shall be provided to communicate the purpose and status of,
(a) the disconnecting, locking out and tagging of the electrical equipment, installation or conductor; and
(b) the discharging and containment of any hazardous stored electrical energy.
(9) Locking out is not required under subsection (4) if,
(a) in the case of a conductor, it is adequately grounded with a visible grounding mechanism;
(b) in the case of equipment or an installation,
(i) the power supply is less than 300 volts, the equipment or installation was not manufactured with provision for a locking device for the circuit breakers or fuses, and a written procedure has been implemented that is adequate to ensure that the circuit is not inadvertently energized, or
(ii) the power supply is 300 or more volts but not more than 600 volts, the equipment or installation was not manufactured with provision for a locking device for the circuit breakers or fuses, a written procedure as to how work is to be done has been implemented and the work is supervised by a competent worker to ensure that the circuit is not inadvertently energized.
[O. Reg. 627/05, s. 7]
Application designed and maintained by the