by Jim Wolfe, IAMU Electric Services Coordinator
Believe it or not, it has almost been a year since OSHA released the Electric Generation, Transmission and Distribution standard revision. Electric utility members have spent a lot of time researching products and equipment, accessing their systems, and interpreting what the standard says. This has also been a challenge for IAMU to provide members with information about compliance with the revisions. The biggest challenge right now is the fact that this affects every utility whether you have utility employees or contract all work out.
Believe it or not, it has almost been a year since OSHA released the Electric Generation, Transmission and Distribution standard revision. Electric utility members have spent a lot of time researching products and equipment, accessing their systems, and interpreting what the standard says. This has also been a challenge for IAMU to provide members with information about compliance with the revisions. The biggest challenge right now is the fact that this affects every utility whether you have utility employees or contract all work out.
The information transfer provision of the revised standard is still catching utilities off guard. When utilities hire contractors or other utilities to perform work on their systems there is required information that has to be communicated between the host and the contractor. Many of you are working on or have completed incident energy estimates on your electric systems. The deadline for having this completed is March 31. If you have not started on this process, I recommend that you should get something in order as soon as possible. These estimates have to be completed for worker PPE selection on the job and will be required information sought after by contractors and utilities doing the work. Many other items are included in this provision that affect all electric utilities. Maps must be updated by the utility to insure that the contractors have the correct information about the system they are working on. Any other safety specific information has to be available upon request such as confined space areas, environmental concerns and the condition of your utility infrastructure. Parties also have to agree on safety procedures while work is performed. Without this information, REC’s, IOU’s, and the utility next door cannot perform their job safely.
Those of you that have a utility and take care of someone nearby will also have to pay attention to this. Contract work between utilities requires you to have this information and pass it on to your employees. If you are currently in this situation with a neighboring utility, please remind or inform them of this. Some entities are creating checklists or meeting with their contract customer to inform them of this requirement. This transfer of information has to be documented and agreed upon by both parties. Lack of employees at your site does not mean that employee safety is not an issue.
I will try my best to help those of you that are not aware of this need. Call or contact me by email and I can help you with understanding the revisions of the standard and how it affects your utility.
Those of you that have a utility and take care of someone nearby will also have to pay attention to this. Contract work between utilities requires you to have this information and pass it on to your employees. If you are currently in this situation with a neighboring utility, please remind or inform them of this. Some entities are creating checklists or meeting with their contract customer to inform them of this requirement. This transfer of information has to be documented and agreed upon by both parties. Lack of employees at your site does not mean that employee safety is not an issue.
I will try my best to help those of you that are not aware of this need. Call or contact me by email and I can help you with understanding the revisions of the standard and how it affects your utility.
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