Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Post-Tensioning Cable Handling and Testing

This document outlines the mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the safe handling and testing of post-tensioning cables. It considers potential hazards, regulatory compliance, and industry best practices to ensure worker safety. Post-tensioning operations involve significant risks, and adherence to these PPE guidelines is crucial for minimizing potential injuries.

General Requirements

The employer is responsible for providing and ensuring the use of appropriate PPE. Before each day's use, a competent person must inspect all PPE to ensure it is in good condition. Defective equipment must be repaired or replaced before use.

Head Protection

Hard hats meeting ANSI standards must be worn at all times in areas where there is a risk of head injury from falling objects, impact, or electrical hazards.

Eye and Face Protection

Safety glasses with side shields or goggles are required to protect against dust, debris, and potential splashes during cable handling and testing. Face shields should be used when there is a risk of arc flash or exposure to high-velocity projectiles.

Hand Protection

Appropriate gloves must be worn to protect against cuts, abrasions, and potential electrical hazards. The type of glove depends on the specific task:

For general handling of cables, heavy-duty work gloves are required.
When handling 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. [1, 1910.268(n)(1)(i)]
For electrical testing, rubber insulating gloves meeting the appropriate voltage rating are mandatory. These gloves must be tested periodically [12, 1910.268(f)(2)] and inspected before each use.

Body Protection

Appropriate work clothing must be worn. This may include:

Long-sleeved shirts and pants to protect against abrasions and cuts.
Flame-resistant clothing (FRC) may be required when working near electrical hazards or potential arc flash zones. Note 1: 437-002-0134 (4) and 437-003-0134 (4) set employer payment obligations for the personal protective equipment required by this rule, including, but not limited to, the fall protection equipment required by paragraph (2) of this rule, the electrical protective equipment required by 437-002-2311(3) of Division 2/RR, and the flame-resistant and arc-rated clothing and other protective equipment required by 437-002-2311(8) of Division 2/RR. [7, RR]
High-visibility clothing is required when working in areas with vehicular traffic or heavy equipment.

Foot Protection

Safety shoes or boots with steel toes are required to protect against impact and compression hazards. Electrical hazard-rated footwear is necessary when working near electrical sources.

Fall Protection

When working at heights above 6 feet, a personal fall arrest system (PFAS) is mandatory. This includes a safety harness, lanyard, and a secure anchorage point. Personal fall arrest systems shall meet the requirements of subpart M of this part. [15, 1926.954(b)(1)(i)]

Hearing Protection

Earplugs or earmuffs are required when noise levels exceed permissible exposure limits. This is particularly important when using heavy machinery or power tools during testing operations.

Respiratory Protection

A respirator may be required if there is a potential for exposure to dust, fumes, or other airborne contaminants. The type of respirator should be selected based on a hazard assessment and in accordance with respiratory protection standards.

Specific Safety Procedures and PPE Use

Overhead Lines:

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 [1, 1910.268(n)(1)(i)].

Antenna Work:

All radio frequency line wires shall be tested for pickup with an insulated probe before they are handled either with bare hands or with metal tools [1, 1910.268(m)(7)(iv)].

Grounding:

Insulating gloves shall be worn during these operations of attaching and removing temporary bonds [8, 1910.268(m)(5)].

Testing and Inspection

Personal protective equipment, protective devices and special tools needed for the work of employees shall be provided and the employer shall ensure that they are used by employees. 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 [12, 1910.268(e)].

Electrical Protective Equipment:

The employer is responsible for the periodic retesting of all insulating gloves, blankets, and other rubber insulating equipment. This retesting shall be electrical, visual and mechanical [12, 1910.268(f)(2)].

Safety Belts and Straps:

The employer shall ensure that all safety belts and straps are inspected by a competent person prior to each day's use to determine that they are in safe working condition [12, 1910.268(g)(1)].

Pole Climbers:

The employer shall ensure that pole climbers are inspected by a competent person for the following conditions: Fractured or cracked gaffs or leg irons, loose or dull gaffs, broken straps or buckles. If any of these conditions exist, the defect shall be corrected before the climbers are used [12, 1910.268(g)(3)(ii)].

Training

Employers shall provide training in the various precautions and safe practices described in this section and shall ensure 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 [18, 1910.268(c)].

Competent Person

The employer shall ensure that visual inspections are made of the equipment by a competent person each day the equipment is to be used to ascertain that it is in good condition [19, 1910.268(j)(1)(i)].