Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Post-Tensioning Cable Operations

This document outlines the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for ensuring safety during the inspection, testing, and handling of post-tensioning cables. It also includes measures for preventing injuries from cable failure or the sudden release of tension. These guidelines are based on industry best practices and regulatory standards to minimize risks associated with these operations.

General PPE Requirements

The following PPE is generally required for all post-tensioning cable operations:

Head Protection: Hard hats meeting ANSI Z89.2-1971, "Safety Requirements for Industrial Protective Helmets for Electrical Workers, Class B" should be worn to protect against head injuries from falling objects or accidental contact.
Eye Protection: Safety glasses or goggles meeting the requirements of $1910.133 (a)(2) thru (a)(6) shall be provided and the employer shall ensure its use by employees where foreign objects may enter the eyes due to work operations. Eye protection is crucial to prevent debris or cable fragments from causing eye injuries.
Hand Protection: Gloves appropriate for the task, such as leather gloves for general handling and insulated gloves when working with electrical components, should be worn to protect hands from cuts, abrasions, and electrical hazards. Insulating gloves shall be worn during these operations.
Foot Protection: Safety shoes or boots with steel toes are necessary to protect feet from heavy objects, punctures, and crushing hazards.
High-Visibility Apparel: Workers should wear high-visibility vests or clothing to ensure they are easily seen by equipment operators and other personnel, especially in low-light conditions or areas with heavy machinery traffic.

Specific PPE Requirements for Post-Tensioning Operations

In addition to the general PPE requirements, the following specific PPE is required during post-tensioning operations:

Face Shields: When stressing or de-tensioning cables, face shields should be worn in addition to safety glasses to protect against the potential for cable snapping or component ejection.
Hearing Protection: Earplugs or earmuffs should be used in areas where noise levels are high, such as during tensioning operations, to prevent hearing damage.
Fall Protection: A positioning system or a personal fall arrest system shall be provided and the employer shall ensure their use when work is performed at positions more than 4 feet (1.2 m) above the ground, on poles, and on towers. When working at heights, a full-body harness with a lanyard should be used to prevent falls. Ensure that the fall protection system meets the requirements of subpart M of this part.

Cable Handling and Overhead Line Safety

Insulating Gloves: When handling cable suspension strand which is being installed on poles carrying exposed energized power conductors, employees shall wear insulating gloves and shall avoid body contact with the strand until after it has been tensioned, dead-ended and permanently grounded. Insulating gloves shall be worn during these operations.

Additional Safety Measures and Procedures

Barricades and Signage: Ensure signs and barricades are erected to limit access into the stressing area only to personnel engaged in stressing or de-tensioning operations.
Equipment Inspection: A competent person shall inspect the stressing equipment for damage or defects before stressing operations begin, and periodically during the stressing operations. The use of stressing equipment shall conform to the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations.
Training: Employers shall provide training in the various precautions and safe practices described in this section and shall insure that employees do not engage in the activities to which this section applies until such employees have received proper training in the various precautions and safe practices required by this section. Such training shall, where appropriate, include the following subjects: Recognition and avoidance of dangers relating to encounters with harmful substances and animal, insect, or plant life; Procedures to be followed in emergency situations; and, First aid training, including instruction in artificial respiration.

Electrical Safety Considerations

Grounding: Electric power conductors and equipment shall be considered as energized unless the employee can visually determine that they are bonded to one of the grounds. When attaching grounds (bonds), the first attachment shall be made to the protective ground. When removing bonds, the connection to the line or equipment shall be removed first. Insulating gloves shall be worn during these operations.

Maintenance and Inspection of PPE

Regular inspection and maintenance of PPE are critical to ensure its effectiveness:

Daily Inspection: Before each use, inspect all PPE for damage, wear, and defects. Replace any damaged or defective items immediately.
Glove Testing: Gloves and blankets shall be marked to indicate compliance with the retest schedule, and shall be marked with the date the next test is due. Gloves found to be defective in the field or by the tests set forth in paragraph (f)(2) [Rubber Insulating Equipment] of this section shall be destroyed by cutting them open from the finger to the gauntlet.
Record Keeping: The employer shall certify that equipment has been tested in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs (c)(2)(iv), (c)(2)(vii)(D), (c)(2)(viii), (c)(2)(ix), and (c)(2)(xi) of this section. The certification shall identify the equipment that passed the test and the date it was tested and shall be made available upon request to the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health and to employees or their authorized representatives.

Emergency Preparedness

In addition to PPE, ensure the following emergency measures are in place:

First Aid: 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
Emergency Procedures: Training shall include procedures to be followed in emergency situations.

Competent Person and Training

A competent person must perform regular inspections and training:

Regular Inspections: The employer shall determine, through regular supervision and through inspections conducted on at least an annual basis, that each employee is complying with the safety-related work practices required by this section.
Competent Person Inspections: Before each day's use the employer shall ensure that these personal protective devices, tools, and equipment are carefully inspected by a competent person to ascertain that they are in good condition.
Training Requirements: In addition to the training requirements of Section 1509, the Injury and Illness Prevention Program, employers shall ensure that each employee who performs reinforcing steel and/or post- tensioning activities has been provided training by a qualified person in the following areas for the activities in which they are engaged: The hazards associated with reinforcing steel and post-tensioning activities; and The proper procedures and equipment to perform reinforcing steel and post-tensioning activities.

By adhering to these PPE guidelines and safety measures, employers can significantly reduce the risk of injuries during post-tensioning cable operations, ensuring a safer working environment for all personnel involved.