WAC 296-24-980   Safeguards for personnel protection.  (1) Use of protective equipment.

     (a) Personal protective equipment.

     (i) Employees working in areas where there are potential electrical hazards shall be provided with, and shall use, electrical protective equipment that is appropriate for the specific parts of the body to be protected and for the work to be performed.


Note: Personal protective equipment requirements are contained in chapter 296-24 WAC Part L, and WAC 296-800-160.

     (ii) Protective equipment shall be maintained in a safe, reliable condition and shall be periodically inspected or tested, as required by chapter 296-24 WAC Part L, and WAC 296-800-160.

     (iii) If the insulating capability of protective equipment may be subject to damage during use, the insulating material shall be protected. (For example, an outer covering of leather is sometimes used for the protection of rubber insulating material.)

     (iv) Employees shall wear nonconductive head protection wherever there is a danger of head injury from electric shock or burns due to contact with exposed energized parts.

     (v) Employees shall wear protective equipment for the eyes or face wherever there is danger of injury to the eyes or face from electric arcs or flashes or from flying objects resulting from electrical explosion.

     (b) General protective equipment and tools.

     (i) When working near exposed energized conductors or circuit parts, each employee shall use insulated tools or handling equipment if the tools or handling equipment might make contact with such conductors or parts. If the insulating capability of insulated tools or handling equipment is subject to damage, the insulating material shall be protected.

     (A) Fuse handling equipment, insulated for the circuit voltage, shall be used to remove or install fuses when the fuse terminals are energized.

     (B) Ropes and handlines used near exposed energized parts shall be nonconductive.

     (ii) Protective shields, protective barriers, or insulating materials shall be used to protect each employee from shock, burns, or other electrically related injuries while that employee is working near exposed energized parts which might be accidentally contacted or where dangerous electric heating or arcing might occur. When normally enclosed live parts are exposed for maintenance or repair, they shall be guarded to protect unqualified persons from contact with the live parts.

     (2) Alerting techniques. The following alerting techniques shall be used to warn and protect employees from hazards which could cause injury due to electric shock, burns, or failure of electric equipment parts:

     (a) Safety signs and tags. Safety signs, safety symbols, or accident prevention tags shall be used where necessary to warn employees about electrical hazards which may endanger them.

     (b) Barricades. Barricades shall be used in conjunction with safety signs where it is necessary to prevent or limit employee access to work areas exposing employees to uninsulated energized conductors or circuit parts. Conductive barricades may not be used where they might cause an electrical contact hazard.

     (c) Attendants. If signs and barricades do not provide sufficient warning and protection from electrical hazards, an attendant shall be stationed to warn and protect employees.

     (3) Design requirements. Insulating blankets, matting, covers, line hose, gloves, and sleeves made of rubber shall meet the following requirements:

     (a) Manufacture and marking.

     (i) Blankets, gloves, and sleeves shall be produced by a seamless process.

     (ii) Each item shall be clearly marked as follows:

     (A) Class 0 equipment shall be marked Class 0.

     (B) Class 1 equipment shall be marked Class 1.

     (C) Class 2 equipment shall be marked Class 2.

     (D) Class 3 equipment shall be marked Class 3.

     (E) Class 4 equipment shall be marked Class 4.

     (F) Nonozone-resistant equipment other than matting shall be marked Type I.

     (G) Ozone-resistant equipment other than matting shall be marked Type II.

     (H) Other relevant markings, such as the manufacturer's identification and the size of the equipment, may also be provided.

     (iii) Markings shall be nonconducting and shall be applied in such a manner as not to impair the insulating qualities of the equipment.

     (iv) Markings on gloves shall be confined to the cuff portion of the glove.

     (b) Electrical requirements.

     (i) Equipment shall be capable of withstanding the a-c proof-test voltage specified in Table A-2 or the d-c proof-test voltage specified in Table A-3.

     (A) The proof-test shall reliably indicate that the equipment can withstand the voltage involved.

     (B) The test voltage shall be applied continuously for three minutes for equipment other than matting and shall be applied continuously for one minute for matting.

     (C) Gloves shall also be capable of withstanding the a-c proof-test voltage specified in Table A-2 after a sixteen-hour water soak. (See the note following (c)(ii)(B) of this subsection.)

     (ii) When the a-c proof-test is used on gloves, the 60 hertz proof-test current may not exceed the values specified in Table A-2 at any time during the test period.

     (A) If the a-c proof-test is made at a frequency other than 60 hertz, the permissible proof-test current shall be computed from the direct ratio of the frequencies.

     (B) For the test, gloves (right side out) shall be filled with tap water and immersed in water to a depth that is in accordance with Table A-4. Water shall be added to or removed from the glove, as necessary, so that the water level is the same inside and outside the glove.

     (C) After the sixteen-hour water soak specified in (b)(i)(C) of this subsection, the 60-hertz proof-test current may exceed the values given in Table A-2 by not more than 2 milliamperes.

     (iii) Equipment that has been subjected to a minimum breakdown voltage test may not be used for electrical protection. (See the note following (c)(ii)(B) of this subsection.)

     (iv) Material used for Type II insulating equipment shall be capable of withstanding an ozone test, with no visible effects. The ozone test shall reliably indicate that the material will resist ozone exposure in actual use. Any visible signs of ozone deterioration of the material, such as checking, cracking, breaks, or pitting, is evidence of failure to meet the requirements for ozone-resistant material. (See the note following (c)(ii)(B) of this subsection.)

     (c) Workmanship and finish.

     (i) Equipment shall be free of harmful physical irregularities that can be detected by the tests or inspections required under this section.

     (ii) Surface irregularities that may be present on all rubber goods because of imperfections on forms or molds or because of inherent difficulties in the manufacturing process and that may appear as indentations, protuberances, or imbedded foreign material are acceptable under the following conditions:

     (A) The indentation or protuberance blends into a smooth slope when the material is stretched.

     (B) Foreign material remains in place when the insulating material is folded and stretches with the insulating material surrounding it.

Note: Rubber insulating equipment meeting the following national consensus standards is deemed to be in compliance with subsection (1) of this section:
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D 120-87, Specification for Rubber Insulating Gloves.
ASTM D 178-93, Specification for Rubber Insulating Matting.
ASTM D 1048-93, Specification for Rubber Insulating Blankets.
ASTM D 1049-93, Specification for Rubber Insulating Covers.
ASTM D 1050-90, Specification for Rubber Insulating Line Hose.
ASTM D 1051-87, Specification for Rubber Insulating Sleeves.
These standards contain specifications for conducting the various tests required in subsection (1) of this section. For example, the a-c and d-c proof-tests, the breakdown test, the water soak procedure, and the ozone test mentioned in this paragraph are described in detail in the ASTM standards.

     (4) In-service care and use.

     (a) Electrical protective equipment shall be maintained in a safe, reliable condition.

     (b) The following specific requirements apply to insulating blankets, covers, line hose, gloves, and sleeves made of rubber:

     (i) Maximum use voltages shall conform to those listed in Table A-5.

     (ii) Insulating equipment shall be inspected for damage before each day's use and immediately following any incident that can reasonably be suspected of having caused damage. Insulating gloves shall be given an air test, along with the inspection.

     (iii) Insulating equipment with any of the following defects may not be used:

     (A) A hole, tear, puncture, or cut;

     (B) Ozone cutting or ozone checking (the cutting action produced by ozone on rubber under mechanical stress into a series of interlacing cracks);

     (C) An embedded foreign object;

     (D) Any of the following texture changes: Swelling, softening, hardening, or becoming sticky or inelastic.

     (E) Any other defect that damages the insulating properties.

     (iv) Insulating equipment found to have other defects that might affect its insulating properties shall be removed from service and returned for testing under (b)(viii) and (ix) of this subsection.

     (v) Insulating equipment shall be cleaned as needed to remove foreign substances.

     (vi) Insulating equipment shall be stored in such a location and in such a manner as to protect it from light, temperature extremes, excessive humidity, ozone, and other injurious substances and conditions.

     (vii) Protector gloves shall be worn over insulating gloves.

     (viii) Electrical protective equipment shall be subjected to periodic electrical tests. Test voltages and the maximum intervals between tests shall be in accordance with Table A-5 and Table A-6.

     (ix) The test method used under (b)(viii) and (xi) of this subsection shall reliably indicate whether the insulating equipment can withstand the voltages involved.


Note: Standard electrical test methods considered as meeting this requirement are given in the following national consensus standards:
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D 120-87, Specification for Rubber Insulating Gloves.
ASTM D 1048-93, Specification for Rubber Insulating Blankets.
ASTM D 1049-93, Specification for Rubber Insulating Covers.
ASTM D 1050-90, Specification for Rubber Insulating Line Hose.
ASTM D 1051-87, Specification for Rubber Insulating Sleeves.
ASTM F 478-92, Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating Line Hose and Covers.
ASTM F 479-88a, Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating Blankets.
ASTM F 496-93b, Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating Gloves and Sleeves.

     (x) Insulating equipment failing to pass inspections or electrical tests shall not be used by employees, except as follows:

     (A) Rubber insulating line hose could be used in shorter lengths with the defective portion cut off.

     (B) Rubber insulating blankets could be repaired using a compatible patch that results in physical and electrical properties equal to those of the blanket.

     (C) Rubber insulating blankets could be salvaged by severing the defective area from the undamaged portion of the blanket. The resulting undamaged area shall not be smaller than twenty-two inches by twenty-two inches (560 mm by 560 mm) for Class 1, 2, 3, and 4 blankets.

     (xi) Repaired insulating equipment shall be retested before it may be used by employees.

     (xii) The employer shall certify that equipment has been tested in accordance with the requirements of (b)(viii), (ix), and (xi) of this subsection. The certification shall identify the equipment that passed the test and the date it was tested.


Note: Marking of equipment and entering the results of the tests and the dates of testing onto logs are two acceptable means of meeting this requirement.


Table A-2. -A-C Proof-Test Requirements Maximum proof-test current, mA (gloves only) Proof-test voltage rms V 267-mm (10.5-in) glove 356-mm (14-in) glove 406-mm (16-in) glove 457-mm (18-in) glove
Class of equipment            
0 5,000   8 12 14 16
1 10,000     14 16 18
2 20,000     16 18 20
3 30,000     18 20 22
4 40,000       22 24



Table A-3. -D-C Proof-Test Requirements Class of equipment Proof-test voltage
  0 20,000
  1 40,000
  2 50,000
  3 60,000
  4 70,000


Note: The d-c voltages listed in this table are not appropriate for proof-testing rubber insulating line hose or covers. For this equipment, d-c proof-tests shall use a voltage high enough to indicate that the equipment can be safely used at the voltages listed in Table A-4. See ASTM D 1050-90 and ASTM D 1049-88 for further information on proof-tests for rubber insulating line hose and covers.


Table A-4. -Glove

Tests-Water

Level1, 2

Class of glove		 mm. A-C proof-test in. mm. D-C proof-test in.
0 38 1.5 38 1.5
1 38 1.5 51 2.0
2 64 2.5 76 3.0
3 89 3.5 102 4.0
4 127 5.0 153 6.0


1 The water level is given as the clearance from the cuff of the glove to the water line, with a tolerance of 13 mm. (0.5 in.).
2 If atmospheric conditions make the specified clearances impractical, the clearances may be increased by a maximum of 25 mm. (1 in.).


Table A-5. -Rubber Insulating Equipment Voltage Requirements

Class of equipment		 Maximum use voltage1 a-c-rms Retest voltage2 a-c-rms Retest voltage2 d-c-rms
0 1,000 5,000 20,000
1 7,500 10,000 40,000
2 17,000 20,000 50,000
3 26,500 30,000 60,000
4 36,000 40,000 70,000


Note: Rubber gloves shall only be used on voltages of 5000 volts phase-to-phase or less.
1The maximum use voltage is the a-c voltage (rms) classification of the protective equipment that designates the maximum nominal design/voltage of the energized system that may be safely worked. The nominal design voltage is equal to the phase-to-phase voltage on multiphase circuits. However, the phase-to-ground potential is considered to be the nominal design/voltage:
1. If there is no multiphase exposure in a system area and if the voltage exposure is limited to the phase-to-ground potential, or
2. If the electrical equipment and devices are insulated or isolated or both so that the multiphase exposure on a grounded wye circuit is removed.
2 The proof-test voltage shall be applied continuously for at least one minute, but no more than three minutes.


Table A-6. -Rubber Insulating Equipment Test Intervals Type of equipment When to test
Rubber insulating line hose Upon indication that insulating value is suspect.
Rubber insulating covers Upon indication that insulating value is suspect.
Rubber insulating blankets Before first issue and every 12 months thereafter.1
Rubber insulating gloves Before first issue and every 6 months thereafter.1
Rubber insulating sleeves Before first issue and every 12 months thereafter.1


1 If the insulating equipment has been electrically tested but not issued for service, it may not be placed into service unless it has been electrically tested within the previous 12 months.

     (5) Where switches or fuses of more than 150 volts to ground are not guarded during ordinary operations, suitable insulating floors, mats or platforms shall be provided on which the operator must stand while handling the switches.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 04-18-080, § 296-24-980, filed 8/31/04, effective 11/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-24-980, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 91-24-017 (Order 91-07), § 296-24-980, filed 11/22/91, effective 12/24/91.]