opening manhole safety

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# Handling suspension strand. (cont.) ## 1910.268(o)(1) (cont.) - 1910.268(o)(1)(ii) While work is being performed in the manhole, a person with basic first aid training shall be immediately available to render assistance if there is cause for believing that a safety hazard exists, and if the requirements contained in paragraphs (d)(1) and (o)(1)(i) of this section do not adequately protect the employee(s). Examples of manhole worksite hazards which shall be considered to constitute a safety hazard include, but are not limited to: - 1910.268(o)(1)(ii)(A) Manhole worksites where safety hazards are created by traffic patterns that cannot be corrected by provisions of paragraph (d)(1) of this section. - 1910.268(o)(1)(ii)(B) Manhole worksites that are subject to unusual water hazards that cannot be abated by conventional means. - 1910.268(o)(1)(ii)(C) Manhole worksites that are occupied jointly with power utilities as described in paragraph (o)(3) of this section. - 1910.268(o)(2) - Requirements prior to entering manholes and unvented vaults. 1910.268(o)(2)(i) Before an employee enters a manhole, the following steps shall be taken: - 1910.268(o)(2)(i)(A) The internal atmosphere shall be tested for combustible gas and, except when continuous forced ventilation is provided, the atmosphere shall also be tested for oxygen deficiency. - 1910.268(o)(2)(i)(B) When unsafe conditions are detected by testing or other means, the work area shall be ventilated and otherwise made safe before entry. - 1910.268(o)(2)(ii) An adequate continuous supply of air shall be provided while work is performed in manholes under any of the following conditions: 1910.268(o)(2)(ii)(A) Submit Feedback

Source excerpt

# 1910.268(g) Personal climbing equipment. (cont.) ## 1910.268(o) Underground lines. The provisions of this paragraph apply to the guarding of manholes and street openings, and to the ventilation and testing for gas in manholes and unvented vaults, where telecommunications field work is performed on or with underground lines. ## 1910.268(o)(1) Guarding manholes and street openings. (i) When covers of manholes or vaults are removed, the opening shall be promptly guarded by a railing, temporary cover, or other suitable temporary barrier which is appropriate to prevent an accidental fall through the opening and to protect employees working in the manhole from foreign objects entering the manhole. (ii) While work is being performed in the manhole, a person with basic first aid training shall be immediately available to render assistance if there is cause for believing that a safety hazard exists, and if the requirements contained in paragraphs (d)(1) and (o)(1)(i) of this section do not adequately protect the employee(s). Examples of manhole worksite hazards which shall be considered to constitute a safety hazard include, but are not limited to: (A) Manhole worksites where safety hazards are created by traffic patterns that cannot be corrected by provisions of paragraph (d)(1) of this section. (B) Manhole worksites that are subject to unusual water hazards that cannot be abated by conventional means. (C) Manhole worksites that are occupied jointly with power utilities as described in paragraph (o)(3) of this section. 1910.268(o)(2) Requirements prior to entering manholes and unvented vaults. (i) Before an employee enters a manhole, the following steps shall be taken: (A) The internal atmosphere shall be tested for combustible gas and, except when continuous forced ventilation is provided, the atmosphere shall also be tested for oxygen deficiency. (B) When unsafe conditions are detected by testing or other means, the work area shall be ventilated and ot…

Source excerpt

# 1910.268(g) Personal climbing equipment. (cont.) ## 1910.268(o) Underground lines. The provisions of this paragraph apply to the guarding of manholes and street openings, and to the ventilation and testing for gas in manholes and unvented vaults, where telecommunications field work is performed on or with underground lines. ## 1910.268(o)(1) Guarding manholes and street openings. (i) When covers of manholes or vaults are removed, the opening shall be promptly guarded by a railing, temporary cover, or other suitable temporary barrier which is appropriate to prevent an accidental fall through the opening and to protect employees working in the manhole from foreign objects entering the manhole. (ii) While work is being performed in the manhole, a person with basic first aid training shall be immediately available to render assistance if there is cause for believing that a safety hazard exists, and if the requirements contained in paragraphs (d)(1) and (o)(1)(i) of this section do not adequately protect the employee(s). Examples of manhole worksite hazards which shall be considered to constitute a safety hazard include, but are not limited to: (A) Manhole worksites where safety hazards are created by traffic patterns that cannot be corrected by provisions of paragraph (d)(1) of this section. (B) Manhole worksites that are subject to unusual water hazards that cannot be abated by conventional means. (C) Manhole worksites that are occupied jointly with power utilities as described in paragraph (o)(3) of this section. 1910.268(o)(2) Requirements prior to entering manholes and unvented vaults. (i) Before an employee enters a manhole, the following steps shall be taken: (A) The internal atmosphere shall be tested for combustible gas and, except when continuous forced ventilation is provided, the atmosphere shall also be tested for oxygen deficiency. (B) When unsafe conditions are detected by testing or other means, the work area shall be ventilated and ot…

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# Brush chippers. (cont.) ## 1910.269(r)(7)(iii) (cont.) 1910.269(s)(1)(iii) When an employee works in an area where the electromagnetic radiation could exceed the radiation-protection guide, the employer shall institute measures that ensure that the employee's exposure is not greater than that permitted by that guide. Such measures may include administrative and engineering controls and personal protective equipment. - 1910.269(s)(2) Power-line carrier. The employer shall ensure that employees perform power-line carrier work, including work on equipment used for coupling carrier current to power line conductors, in accordance with the requirements of this section pertaining to work on energized lines. - 1910.269(t) Underground electrical installations. This paragraph provides additional requirements for work on underground electrical installations. - 1910.269(t)(1) Access. The employer shall ensure that employees use a ladder or other climbing device to enter and exit a manhole or subsurface vault exceeding 1.22 meters (4 feet) in depth. No employee may climb into or out of a manhole or vault by stepping on cables or hangers. 1910.269(t)(2) Lowering equipment into manholes. 1910.269(t)(2)(i) Equipment used to lower materials and tools into manholes or vaults shall be capable of supporting the weight to be lowered and shall be checked for defects before use. 1910.269(t)(2)(ii) Before anyone lowers tools or material into the opening for a manhole or vault, each employee working in the manhole or vault shall be clear of the area directly under the opening. - 1910.269(t)(3) Attendants for manholes and vaults. 1910.269(t)(3)(i) Submit Feedback

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# 1910.268 Telecommunications (cont.) ## [redacted phone] Oregon Rules For Telecommunications (cont.) R Special Industries Division 2 AO 6-2017 Oregon Administrative Rules Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (i) Metal measuring tapes, metal measuring ropes, or tapes containing conductive strands may not be used when working near exposed energized parts. (ii) Where it is necessary to measure clearances from energized parts, only non-conductive devices shall be used. (o) Underground lines. The provisions of this paragraph apply to the guarding of manholes and street openings, and to the ventilation and testing for gas in manholes and unvented vaults, where telecommunications field work is performed on or with underground lines. (1) Guarding manholes and street openings. (i) When covers of manholes or vaults are removed, the opening shall be promptly guarded by a railing, temporary cover, or other suitable temporary barrier which is appropriate to prevent an accidental fall through the opening and to protect employees working in the manhole from foreign objects entering the manhole. (ii) While work is being performed in the manhole, a person with basic first aid training shall be immediately available to render assistance if there is cause for believing that a safety hazard exists, and if the requirements contained in paragraphs (d)(1) and (o)(1)(i) of this section do not adequately protect the employee(s). Examples of manhole work site hazards which shall be considered to constitute a safety hazard include, but are not limited to: (A) Manhole work sites where safety hazards are created by traffic patterns that cannot be corrected by provisions of paragraph (d)(1) of this section. (B) Manhole work sites that are subject to unusual water hazards that cannot be abated by conventional means. (C) Manhole work sites that are occupied jointly with power utilities as described in paragraph (o)(3) of this section. (2) Requirements…

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# Occupational Safety and Health Administration (cont.) Clear the area of employees. Before anyone lowers tools or material into the opening for a manhole or vault, each employee working in the manhole or vault shall be clear of the area directly under the opening. 1926.965(d) Attendants for manholes and vaults- 1926.965(d)(1) When required. While work is being performed in a manhole or vault containing energized electric equipment, an employee with first-aid training shall be available on the surface in the immediate vicinity of the manhole or vault entrance to render emergency assistance. - 1926.965(d)(2) Brief entries allowed. Occasionally, the employee on the surface may briefly enter a manhole or vault to provide nonemergency assistance. Note 1 to paragraph (d) (2): Paragraph (h) of 1926.953 may also require an attendant and does not permit this attendant to enter the manhole or vault. Note 2 to paragraph (d)(2): Paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of § 1926.960 requires employees entering manholes or vaults containing unguarded, uninsulated energized lines or parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more to be qualified. ## 1926.965(d)(3) Entry without attendant. For the purpose of inspection, housekeeping, taking readings, or similar work, an employee working alone may enter, for brief periods of time, a manhole or vault where energized cables or equipment are in service if the employer can demonstrate that the employee will be protected from all electrical hazards. 1926.965(d)(4) Communications. The employer shall ensure that employees maintain reliable communications, through two-way radios or other equivalent means, among all employees involved in the job. 1926.965(e)