The State Industrial Commission has adopted updated standards for workers in electric power generation, transmission and distribution facilities.
Commissioners Stephen Hadley, Tom Carlson and Colleen Colton adopted federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards by reference, a move that will save the state the cost of printing them.The updated standards were published in the Federal Register in January and when they proceed through the state rulemaking process will become effective May 31, said Don Anderson, technical support officer for the commission's OSHA office.
The commissioners considered the standards in its April meeting, but postponed action when they couldn't agree on how much language would be included.
According to the Federal Register, the standards include requirements relating to enclosed space, hazardous energy control, working near energized parts, grounding for employee protection, work on underground and overhead installations, line-clearance tree trimming, work in substations and generating plants and other special conditions and equipment unique to the generation, transmission and distribution of electric energy.