What OSHA 1910.335 covers
29 CFR 1910.335 is part of the electrical safety-related work practices in Subpart S. It requires employers to provide, and employees to use, protective equipment and alerting techniques wherever employees work in areas with potential electrical hazards.
Personal protective equipment
- Employees working in areas with potential electrical hazards must be provided with, and use, electrical protective equipment appropriate for the parts of the body to be protected and the work to be performed (1910.335(a)(1)(i)).
- Protective equipment must be maintained in a safe, reliable condition and periodically inspected or tested, as required by 1910.137 (1910.335(a)(1)(ii)).
- If the insulating capability of protective equipment may be damaged during use, the insulating material must be protected, for example with leather protectors over rubber gloves (1910.335(a)(1)(iii)).
- Nonconductive head protection is required where there is a danger of head injury from electric shock or burns from contact with exposed energized parts (1910.335(a)(1)(iv)).
- Eye or face protection is required where there is a danger of injury from electric arcs, flashes or flying objects from an electrical explosion (1910.335(a)(1)(v)).
Insulated tools and barriers
- Insulated tools or handling equipment must be used near exposed energized conductors or circuit parts if the tools could make contact (1910.335(a)(2)(i)).
- Protective shields, barriers or insulating materials must protect employees from shock, burns or other electrical injuries while they work near exposed energized parts (1910.335(a)(2)(ii)).
Alerting techniques
- Safety signs, symbols or accident prevention tags must warn employees about electrical hazards (1910.335(b)(1)).
- Barricades must be used with safety signs to prevent or limit access to areas with exposed energized conductors or circuit parts; conductive barricades must not be used where they could create an electrical contact hazard (1910.335(b)(2)).
- If signs and barricades do not provide enough warning and protection, an attendant must be stationed to warn and protect employees (1910.335(b)(3)).
Many employers use NFPA 70E to select arc-rated clothing and other PPE for these requirements. Odiz carries arc flash suits and kits, arc-rated clothing, face shields and hoods, rubber insulating gloves and insulated tools in Arc Flash.
