Minimum Approach Distances
No employee shall approach or take any conductive object, except with approved devices, closer to unprotected energized parts than shown below:
Depending on the voltage of the line, a worker or a conductive object, must keep the minimum distance specified between them and any energized part of the power line. Approach distances may be reduced, provided adequate approved protective devices are used. Such protection shall be applied and removed with approved insulating devices. Contact shall not be made with protective devices on conductors energized above 7,500 volts except with live line tools. An exception to this rule is found in employees certified in rubber gloving of conductors energized between 7,500 volts to 17 kV. Those with qualifying certifications may contact protective devices up to 17 kV while wearing rubber gloves rated for the voltage and while utilizing “insulate and isolate” work practices.
At 600 volts and below, one qualified worker can perform any type of energized work by themselves. Above 600 volts it will take one qualified worker to perform the task, and a second qualified worker present, to perform work within the minimum approach distance even with rated cover-up properly installed on all energized conductors and devices. OSHA does not consider exposed & rated cover-up to isolate or guard. So, all the cover-up in the world does not eliminate exposure, and it takes two qualified workers to work within the minimum approach distance on conductors and devices energized above 600 volts.
“Reach and extended reach” is a description of the distance a qualified electrical worker must keep from an energized conductor until they have donned rated rubber gloves. For example, if the conductors are energized at 13.2 kV phase to phase, the minimum approach distance is 2 feet 3 inches and the worker’s arm reach is 3 feet, the worker must position their body 5 feet 3 inches from the energized conductor or device until they have donned rated rubber gloves. After they have donned rated rubber gloves, the qualified electrical worker can enter the minimum approach distance, but again cannot do any work within the minimum approach distance unless a second qualified electrical worker is at the job site and acting as a safety watch.
If rated cover-up is to be installed or removed using the rubber glove work method, two qualified electrical workers must be present at the work site as the worker installs or removes the rated cover-up. The qualified electrical worker installing and removing the cover-up must first don rated rubber gloves before entering the reach and extended reach area of the minimum approach distance. Then, using the rubber glove work method, they can enter the minimum approach distance and install or remove the cover-up.
