Employees installing or removing conductors should follow certain guidelines to ensure safety.

7.6.1 WORKING ON ENERGIZED LINE OR EQUIPMENT

Employees working on energized lines or equipment should comply with the following:

1. Work on electrical equipment and circuits other than electrical utility lines and equipment, operating a 50 V or more ground, should be worked on following the guidelines of Section 2 of the handbook.

2. Line or equipment carrying an ac voltage in excess of 600 V phase-to-phase should be worked on with rubber gloves or live line tools. All other necessary protective devices such as line hose, hoods, covers, sleeves, and rubber blankets should be used. (See Section 2.1.2).

3. Energized line should be worked on from below whenever possible. When working energized line or equipment carrying 600 V or more to ground, there shall be two qualified workers performing the work (see Section 2.1.2). Work shall not be performed on energized lines or equipment during rain, snow, sleet, fog, and other damp conditions, except in extreme emergencies if in the opinion of supervision and line crew it can be done safely.

4. While working on the same pole, workers shall not work simultaneously on wires that have a difference of potential.

5. Rubber gloves of appropriate voltage rating shall be worn when working within reach of a fellow employee who is working on or within reach of wires or equipment carrying voltage in excess of 600 V.

6. Insulated tongs or disconnect sticks shall be used to open or close plugs or fuses or to disconnect blades.

7.6.2 STRINGING OR REMOVING DEENERGIZED CONDUCTORS

Employees stringing or removing deenergized conductors should follow certain safe work practices. (See 29 CFR 1910.269(q), 1926.955(c), and IEEE 524-1992, "IEEE Guide to the Installation of Overhead Transmission Conductors.") Consideration should be given to the following:

1. When it is necessary to conduct any work on poles or structures carrying more than one circuit and where there is not safe working clearance between circuits, the conductors not being worked on shall be either:

a. Untied and separated with proper clearance from the pole or structure,

b. Deenergized and grounded, or

c. Covered with the necessary protective devices.

2. Prior to stringing operations, a job briefing shall be held setting forth the plan of operation and specifying the type of equipment to be used, grounding devices to be used and instructions to be followed, crossover methods to be employed, and clearance authorization required.

3. Where there is a possibility that the conductor will accidentally contact an energized circuit or receive a dangerous induced voltage buildup, to protect the employee from the hazards of the conductor, the conductor being installed or removed shall be grounded or provisions made to insulate or isolate the employee.

4. If the existing line is deenergized, proper clearance authorization should be secured and the line grounded on both sides of the crossover, or the line being strung or removed should be considered and worked on as energized.

5. When workers cross over energized conductors, rope nets or guard structures shall be installed unless provisions are made to isolate or insulate the workers or the energized conductor. Where practical, the automatic reclosing feature of the circuit-interrupting device should be made inoperative. In addition, the line being strung should be grounded on either side of the crossover or considered and worked on as energized.

6. Conductors being strung or removed should be kept under positive control by the use of adequate tension reels, guard structures, tielines, or other means to prevent accidental contact with energized circuits.

7. Guard structure members should be sound, of adequate dimension and strength, and adequately supported.

8. Catch-off anchors, rigging, and hoists should be of ample capacity to prevent loss of lines.

9. The manufacturer's load rating should not be exceeded for stringing lines, pulling lines, sock connections, and all load-bearing hardware and accessories.

10. Pulling lines and accessories should be inspected regularly and replaced or repaired when damaged or when their dependability is doubtful.

11. Conductor grips should not be used on wire rope unless designed for this application.

12. While the conductor or pulling line is being pulled (in motion), workers should not be permitted directly under overhead operations, nor should any employee be permitted on the crossarm.

13. A transmission clipping crew should have a minimum of two structures clipped between the crew and the conductor being sagged. When working on conductors, clipping crews should install grounds at the work location. The grounds should remain intact until the conductors are clipped in, except on dead-end structures.

14. Except during emergency restoration activities, work from structures should be discontinued when adverse weather (such as high wind or ice on structures) makes the work hazardous.

15. Stringing and clipping operations should be discontinued during an electrical storm in the immediate vicinity.

16. Reel-handling equipment, including pulling and braking machines, should have ample capacity, operate smoothly, and be leveled and aligned in accordance with the manufacturer's operating instructions.

17. Reliable means of communication between the reel tender and pulling rig operator should be provided.

18. Each pull should be snubbed or dead-ended at both ends before subsequent pulls.