Section 296-32-320. Grounding for employee protection—Pole lines.

(1) Power conductors. Electric power conductors and equipment shall be considered as energized until the employee can determine that they are bonded to one of the grounds as listed in subsection (4) of this section.

(2) Nonworking open wire. Nonworking open wire communications lines shall be bonded to one of the grounds listed in subsection (4) of this section.

(3) Vertical power conduit, power ground wires and street light fixtures.

(a) Metal power conduit on joint use poles, exposed vertical power ground wires, and street light fixtures which are below communications attachments or less than 20 inches above these attachments, shall be considered energized and shall be tested for voltage unless the employee can visually determine that they are bonded to the communications suspension strand or cable sheath.

(b) If no hazardous voltage is shown by the voltage test, a temporary bond shall be placed between such street light fixture, exposed vertical power grounding conductor, or metallic power conduit and the communications cable strand. Temporary bonds used for this purpose shall have sufficient conductivity to carry at least 500 amperes for a period of one second without fusing.

(4) Protective grounding. Acceptable grounds for protective grounding are as follows:

(a) A vertical ground wire which has been tested, found safe, and is connected to a power system multigrounded neutral or the grounded neutral of a power secondary system where there are at least three services connected;

(b) Communications cable sheath or shield and its supporting strand where the sheath or shield is:

(i) Bonded to an underground or buried cable which is connected to a central office ground, or

(ii) Bonded to an underground metallic piping system, or

(iii) Bonded to a power system multigrounded neutral or grounded neutral of a power secondary system which has at least three services connected;

(c) Guys which are bonded to the grounds specified in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this subsection and which have continuity uninterrupted by an insulator; and

(d) If all of the preceding grounds are not available, arrays of driven ground rods where the resultant resistance to ground will be low enough to eliminate danger to personnel or permit prompt operation of protective devices.

(5) Attaching and removing temporary bonds. When attaching grounds (bonds), the first attachment shall be made to the protective ground. When removing bonds, the connection to the line or equipment shall be removed first. Insulating gloves shall be worn during these operations.

(6) Temporary grounding of suspension strand.

(a) The suspension strand shall be grounded to the existing grounds listed in subsection (4) of this section when being placed on jointly used poles.

(b) Where power crossings are encountered on nonjoint lines, the strand shall be bonded to an existing ground listed in subsection (4) of this section as close as possible to the crossing. This bonding is not required where crossings are made on a common crossing pole unless there is an upward change in grade at the pole.

(c) Where traveling roller-type bonds are used, they shall be restrained so as to avoid stressing the electrical connections.

(d) Bonds between the suspension strand and the existing ground shall be at least No. 6AWG copper.

(e) Temporary bonds shall be left in place until the strand has been tensioned, dead-ended, and permanently grounded.

(f) The requirements of subdivision (a) through (e) of this subsection do not apply to the installation of insulated strand.

(7) Antenna work-radio transmitting stations 3-30 MHZ.

(a) Prior to grounding a radio transmitting station antenna, the employer shall insure that the rigger in charge:

(i) Prepares a danger tag signed with their signature,

(ii) Requests the transmitting technician to shutdown the transmitter and to ground the antenna with its grounding switch,

(iii) Is notified by the transmitting technician that the transmitter has been shutdown, and

(iv) Tags the antenna ground switch personally in the presence of the transmitting technician after the antenna has been grounded by the transmitting technician.

(b) Power shall not be applied to the antenna, nor shall the grounding switch be opened under any circumstances while the tag is affixed.

(c)(i) Where no grounding switches are provided, grounding sticks shall be used, one on each side of line, and tags shall be placed on the grounding sticks, antenna switch, or plate power switch in a conspicuous place.

(ii) To further reduce excessive radio frequency pickup, ground sticks or short circuits shall be placed directly on the transmission lines near the transmitter in addition to the regular grounding switches.

(iii) In other cases, the antenna lines may be disconnected from ground and the transmitter to reduce pickup at the point in the field.

(d) All radio frequency line wires shall be tested for pickup with an insulated probe before they are handled either with bare hands or with metal tools.

(e) The employer shall insure that the transmitting technician warn the riggers about adjacent lines which are, or may become energized.

(f) The employer shall insure that when antenna work has been completed, the rigger in charge of the job returns to the transmitter, notifies the transmitting technician in charge that work has been completed, and personally removes the tag from the antenna ground switch.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-32-320, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; Order 76-38, § 296-32-320, filed 12/30/76; Order 75-41, § 296-32-320, filed 12/19/75.]

Chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-32-320, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; Order 76-38, § 296-32-320, filed 12/30/76; Order 75-41, § 296-32-320, filed 12/19/75.