This web resource does not affect their enforcement discretion in any way. Disclaimer: This resource has been prepared to help the workplace parties understand some of their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and regulations. Some common electrical hazards at construction projects include: Constructors, employers, supervisors and workers have a number of duties and responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and Regulation for Construction Projects. Supervisors should be familiar with and able to identify electrical hazards to workers at a construction project. At Ontario workplaces, one in five critical injuries and one in 18 non-critical injuries involving electricity results in death, according to the Electrical Safety Authority. Workers risk serious, life-changing injuries and possible death if they come in contact with energized conductors or equipment. Contact with a live 15-ampcircuit (equivalent to a standard household 125-volt circuit) can result in death, according to the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association.
The safe limits of approach are stated in the Occupational Health and Safety Act and also in Hydro One Safety Rules.
Limits of approach are the safe distances that people or equipment must maintain from exposed energized power lines or equipment, which vary depending on system voltage and the training and experience of the individual. It takes very little electrical current to kill a worker. Workers risk serious, life-changing injuries and possible death if they come in contact with energized conductors or equipment. Employers are responsible for protecting workers from electrical hazards at construction projects. Employers and supervisors should encourage workers to communicate any questions or concerns they may have about electrical hazards. Contact with a live 15-amp circuit (equivalent to a standard household 125-volt circuit) can result in death, according to the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association. The limits of approach are designed to eliminate the possibility of a flashover between the live electrical component and your body.
The Limits of Approach apply only to bare conductors and not to insulated conductors. An electrical hazard is a dangerous condition in which a worker could make electrical contact with energized equipment or a conductor and sustain an injury from shock and/or from an arc flash burn, thermal burn or blast injury. It is not intended to replace the OHSA or the regulations.
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For further information please see full disclaimer. Proximity is defined by the following limits of approach and does not apply to apparatus that is designed, built and installed to be intrinsically safe for human touch, a) within 3 metres (10 feet) of energized apparatus above 750 V to 150 kV; b) within 4.5 metres (15 feet) of … Limits of approach distances are measured from the point of planned or unplanned movement. If you require assistance with respect to the interpretation of the legislation and its potential application in specific circumstances, please contact your legal counsel. Constructors’ duties and responsibilities include: Employers’ duties and responsibilities include: Supervisors’ duties and responsibilities include: Call toll-free 1-877-202-0008 any time to report workplace health and safety incidents Call 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday for general inquiries about workplace health and safety. It is the responsibility of the workplace parties to ensure compliance with the legislation. There are three classifications of limits of approach and these are dependent upon the worker's training and qualifications.