OSHA’s New Electric Power Transmission and Distribution & Electrical Protective Equipment Standard & other OSHA updates!

John Grzywacz
Professor Emeritus
OSHA National Training Institute

OSHA’s regulatory plans currently include the publishing of a new final rule on Electric Power Transmission and Distribution and Electrical Protective Equipment (29 CFR 1926 Subpart V). This is not new for OSHA as they have been working on it and it has been in the regulatory development stage since 2003. The final rule according to the official OSHA published regulatory agenda is that this rule would be published in 2011. The effective date for compliance with any new rules is typically 90 days from publication. Apparently OSHA missed the 2011 deadline however sources suggest that it is being readied to send to the Office of Management and Budget for its cost benefits review which typically takes about 90 days. Although this new rule is for construction activities, it is expected to amend the OSHA general industry rule on Power Generation Transmission and Distribution contained in OSHA’s 1910.269. It is also expected to amend OSHA’s electrical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Standard covering insulated rubber gloves, sleeves, etc.

Find out the history behind this standard and what key proposal elements could affect you. John “Grizzy” Grzywacz, Professor Emeritus - OSHA National Training Institute is still training OSHA investigators as well as private sector corporations nationwide. “Grizzy” will outline the background of this standard as well as OSHA’s proposed plans and key elements to expect.