OSHA extends rulemaking on generation, T&D

OSHA Minimum Approach Distances guide safe proximity for electrical work, aligning power generation, transmission and distribution standards with IEEE corrections, enhancing worker safety with electrical protective equipment like insulating gloves, blankets, and rubber sleeves.

On September 14, OSHA announced that it is opening the record on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on electric power generation, transmission and distribution and for electrical protective equipment.

The agency will use this limited opening to obtain comments related to safe proximity between a worker and exposed electrical parts, including distribution secondary equipment where applicable.

OSHA published a proposed rule to revise the general industry and construction standards for electric power generation, transmission and distribution and for electrical protective equipment, such as insulating blankets, gloves and rubber sleeves. That proposal included revised minimum approach distances (MAD) to determine how close a worker or an object that the worker is holding can get to an electrical part. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, known as IEEE in industry, later made further corrections for calculating MAD and the current proposed rule includes those revisions.

"We want to incorporate the most accurate data per CSA Z462 guidance for keeping workers at safe distances from dangerous electrical sources," said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. "Extending this rulemaking process will provide us with the information we need to provide the best possible protection, including employer-provided PPE for working men and women."

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