PDFWAC 296-800-280

Basic electrical rules.

Summary.
Your responsibility:
To protect your employees from hazards when working with electrical equipment, tools, and appliances.
You must meet the requirements …
in this section:
Inspect all electrical equipment your employees use to make sure the equipment is safe
Make sure all electrical equipment is used for its approved or listed purpose
Make sure electrical equipment used or located in wet or damp locations is designed for such use
Make sure electrical equipment that is not marked is not used
Identify disconnecting means
Maintain electrical fittings, boxes, cabinets, and outlets in good condition
Working space around electrical equipment
Maintain all flexible cords and cables in good condition and use safely
Guard electrical equipment to prevent your employees from electrical hazards
Make sure electrical equipment is effectively grounded
Make sure electrical equipment has overcurrent protection
Exemptions:
•These rules apply to all electrical equipment used in the workplace, except for:
 
– Electrical installations and equipment on ships, watercraft, railway rolling stock, aircraft and all automotive vehicles other than mobile homes and recreational vehicles.
 
– Electrical installations and equipment used to generate, transmit, transform or distribute power exclusively for operation of rolling stock.
 
– Electrical installations of railways used exclusively for signaling and communication purposes.
 
– Installations underground in mines.
 
– Installations of communication equipment under the exclusive control of communications utilities, located outdoors or in building spaces used exclusively for such installations.
 
– Installations controlled and used exclusively by electric utilities for:
 
■ Communication or metering purposes; or
 
■ Generating, controlling, transforming, transmitting and distributing electric energy that are located:
 
♦ In buildings used exclusively by the utility for such purposes; or
 
♦ Outdoors on property owned or leased by the utility; or
 
♦ On public highways, streets and roads; or
 
♦ Outdoors by established rights on private property.
Note:
• The introduction has important information about fire, building and electrical codes that may apply to you in addition to WISHA rules. See "How do the WISHA rules relate to fire, building and electrical codes" in the introduction section of this book.
 
• These rules guide how electrical equipment is used and maintained in your workplace. They should not be used in place of your local electrical codes if you are installing electrical wiring, electrical circuits or electrical distribution equipment.
 
• This rule applies to 600 volts or less. Requirements for specific equipment or special installation are found in chapter 296-24 WAC, Part L.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 18-22-116, § 296-800-280, filed 11/6/18, effective 12/7/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 12-16-064, § 296-800-280, filed 7/31/12, effective 9/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 01-23-060, § 296-800-280, filed 11/20/01, effective 12/1/01; WSR 01-11-038, § 296-800-280, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01.]