OSHA rewriting outdated rules on electrical power generation projects

Daily Reporter (Milwaukee), Jun 16, 2005 by Sean Ryan

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is rewriting its outdated rules guarding workers on electrical power generation projects.

The OSHA standards regulating construction of power transmission lines and generation facilities were adopted in 1972. The administration has been considering updating them since 1994, when it adopted rules regulating power transmission and generation systems' operation and maintenance.

It's important that we make sure that they are current and consistent with more recent corresponding rules for electric power transmission and distribution systems, said Jonathan Snare, acting OSHA administrator.

The agency drafted a series of proposed changes to the rules that the industry will have a chance to critique this year before OSHA refines them further. According to the U.S. Federal Register, the administration estimated its proposed changes would cost contractors nationwide $33.9 million in additional safety costs a year. It estimated that, if contractors complied 100 percent with the proposed standards, it could prevent 79 percent of injuries and fatalities, compared to 52.9 percent under the current rules. It is hoping the new standards could prevent 116 injuries, out of 444, and 19 deaths, out of 74, each year among impacted employees.

Costs involved

The most costly proposal would require contractors to ensure workers wear equipment that protects them from electrical injuries. The current rule only requires contractors ensure employees don't wear flammable clothing that would make an electrical accident worse. OSHA estimates the country would spend $11 million a year to research and determine what kind of flame-retardant equipment employees should wear and $8.4 million to bring their gear and employees into compliance.

Another revision with an estimated cost of $7.8 million would require utility owners to share more information with their contractors and take a greater role in policing the work site. It requires owners to inform its contractors about site hazards it is aware of that the builder may not know about.

It also requires owners to inform its contractors about any OSHA violations it observes on site. In the Federal Register, the agency specifically requested comments on whether contracts should be required to contain OSHA compliance requirements.

Wednesday's announcement of the rewrite kicks off the agency's lengthy standard revision process. The agency will accept written public comments until October, and it scheduled a public hearing in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 6 to discuss the proposed changes. OSHA officials will revise the proposal based on the comments, and the revised plans will get further review from policy analysts and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget before becoming law. There is no schedule for the effort, and some standard rewrites can go on for years.