O.S.H.A rules for telecom workers

FYI:

Anyone working within 10 ft of energized power lines needs to be trained to work around them (OSHA 1910.133). You need to be trained and able to recognize exposed live parts, know the voltage levels involved, and know the minimum approach distances for those voltages. If you're working on joint-use lines and haven't been trained in OSHA 1910.268, your employer can face multiple fines and penalties if OSHA finds out about it through an employee report or because they are investigating an accident that happened.

There are all kinds of additional requirements in there besides minimum approach distances. For example, when installing a new messenger or strand on poles with electrical wires, you must wear insulated gloves just like power linemen use.

If you're like nightprey and your company is having you work near power lines without the proper training, you should really point them to the OSHA requirements before someone you work with (or you) gets seriously injured or killed.

Man, what a team player. Trouble is, if anything happened while you were working up there, the company (especially it's insurance company) will deny payment of benefits to your survivors because you we not trained to do that job. Scary thought.
So are you bucket qualified? Did he at least give you a belt and hardhat? Just curious.

I always tell my guys to think about what happens if you buy the farm- is your family covered or did you just hero them into the poor house? Take care and be safe.

Hiya all,

I would just like to note that, I have reported what I believed to be unsafe work areas to the local OSHA office(several years ago), the response I received from OSHA was lacking interest to say the least. The OSHA rep advised me that OSHA did not have any official position regarding the potentially unsafe situation and they did not plan on pursuing the matter. When I responded with questions like "well if OSHA is not going to follow up on the matter how was I going to resolve the unsafe situation?" and I asked "if OSHA wasn't going to investigate the sites before any accidents occurred, where they willing to investigate accidents if/after they occurred at the sites?" After a series of simple questions OSHA reluctantly met with the employer and they agreed that what was being done was unsafe and should not continue, management made a statement to the affected employees that the activity was not to continue and a notice was temporarily posted in the work place for employees to view.

My point is that just because a item is not in the OSHA manual does not mean that they will not hear the case. We know it's tough out there and you cant report everything, but don't be afraid to ask questions and report unsafe situations when appropriate . OSHA is there for employee protection and as in my case you may remain anonymous with respects to your complaint and the employer.

Be safe out there.