Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001A Hazard: ELECTRIC

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to electric shock hazards: The employer does not ensure employees are protected from accidental contact with overhead power lines by maintaining a distance of 10 feet between the power lines and any employee or conductive tools being used by employees. Employees were most recently exposed to this hazard on or about November 8, 2010, at the job site located at 409 Allen Ave., Centerton, Arkansas, when an employee using a broom with an aluminum handle to finish poured concrete was exposed to an electrocution hazard from indirect contact with an overhead power line energized to 7620 volts. Among other methods, three feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazards are: (1) prior to starting work, contact the power supply company to install insulated sleeves on the overhead power lines, (2) use non-conductive handles, such as fiberglass, on all tools that could contact or come within 10 feet of power lines, or (3) use non-conductive insulated sheaths on the handles of tools that could accidentally contact or come within 10 feet of overhead power lines. Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the date of this citation, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that employees are protected from accidental contact with overhead power lines.