Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 24, June 14, 2024
Section 56-3-37 - Electricity37.1. Performance of electrical work. 37.1.1. No electrical work shall be performed on low-, medium-, or high-voltage distribution circuits or equipment, except by a qualified person or by a person trained to perform electrical work and to maintain electrical equipment under the direct supervision of a qualified person.37.1.2. Disconnecting devices shall be locked out and suitably tagged by each person who performs such work, except that in cases where locking out is not possible, such devices shall be opened and suitably tagged by each person.37.1.3. Locks or tags shall be removed only by the persons who installed them or if such persons are unavailable, by qualified persons authorized by the operator or the operator's agent.37.1.4. Suitably tagged, as used in these subsections, means that a sign such as, "Danger, Hands Off, Do Not Close, Men Working On Line", shall be attached to the locked switches. The signs or tags shall bear the name, date, and certification of the workman who installed the tag.37.1.5. Keys used to lock out switches shall be kept only on the persons who are performing the work, or if such persons are unavailable, by qualified persons authorized by the operator or his/her agent.37.1.6. Locks shall be provided by the operator.37.1.7. All power circuits and electrical equipment shall be de-energized and locked or suitably tagged where locking out is not possible before work is done on such circuits and equipment, except when necessary for troubleshooting or testing. When performing electrical troubleshooting or testing on an energized electrical circuit, gloves rated for the maximum voltage of the circuit shall be worn when handling electrical testing equipment or once the plane of the electrical enclosure is broken. 37.1.7.a. No electrical troubleshooting or testing shall be performed on low-, medium-, or high-voltage distribution circuits or equipment except by a qualified person or by a person trained to perform electrical work and to maintain electrical equipment under the immediate supervision of a qualified person.37.1.7.b. Before electrical trouble shooting or testing a low- or medium-voltage circuit contained in a compartment with a high voltage circuit, the high-voltage circuit must be deenergized, disconnected, grounded, locked out and tagged.37.1.7.c. While electrical troubleshooting or testing is being done on equipment with energized circuits exposed, other repairs or maintenance shall not be performed on the equipment with the exposed circuit. 37.1.7.d. All test instruments and their accessories shall be rated and designed for the environment to which they will be exposed and for the manner in which they will be utilized.37.1.7.e. Insulated gloves and other insulated personal protective equipment must: 37.1.7.e.1. Have a voltage rating that meets or exceeds ASTM F496-97 "Standard Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating Gloves and Sleeves" (1997).37.1.7.e.2. Be examined before each use for visible signs of damage.37.1.7.e.3. Leather protectors must always be worn with insulated rubber gloves.37.1.7.e.4. Be removed from service or destroyed when damaged or defective.37.1.7.e.5. Class 0 gloves used at 1000 volts or less must be electrically tested every six (6) months when in use and every year when not in use and properly stored. A record of these tests must be kept in a book prescribed by the Director and made available for authorized representatives of the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training upon request.37.1.7.e.6. Gloves used in conjunction with a hot stick and with high-voltage fault finders must be electrically tested six (6) months after initial use and every year when properly stored and not in use. A record of these tests must be kept in a book prescribed by the Director and made available for authorized representatives of the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training upon request.37.1.7.e.7. Hot sticks are required to be electrically tested every twelve (12) months. A record of the tests must be kept in a book prescribed by the Director and made available for authorized representatives of the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training upon request.37.1.7.e.8. Be provided by the employer.37.2. Transformers. 37.2.1. All surface transformers, unless of the construction which will eliminate shock hazard, or unless installed at least eight (8) feet above ground, shall be: 37.2.1.a. Enclosed in a house; or37.2.1.b. Surrounded by a fence at least six (6) feet high.37.2.2. If the enclosure is of metal, it shall be grounded effectively, the gate or door to the enclosure shall be kept locked at all times, unless authorized persons are present.37.2.3. Transformers shall be provided with adequate overload protection. Overload protection shall be in accordance with the requirements set forth in the National Electric Code which is in effect at the time of installation.37.2.4. "Danger - High Voltage" signs with voltage indicated shall be posted conspicuously at all:37.2.4.a. Transformer enclosures;37.2.4.b. High potential switch boards; and37.2.4.c. Other high potential installations.37.3. Electrical equipment generally. 37.3.1. Capacitors used for power factor correction shall have suitable drain off resistors or other means to protect workers against electrical shock following removal of power.37.3.2. Dry insulated platforms of rubber or other suitable nonconductive material shall be kept in place at each switchboard and at stationary machinery where shock hazards exists.37.3.3. Reverse current protection shall be provided at storage battery charging stations to prevent the storage batteries from energizing the power circuit in the event of power failure.37.3.4. All electric conductors shall be sufficient in size and have adequate current carrying capacity and be of such construction that a rise in temperature resulting from normal operation will not damage the insulating materials. In no case will the requirements be less than those set forth in the National Electric Code which is in effect at the time of installation.37.3.5. All electrical connections or splices in conductors shall be mechanically and electrically efficient and suitable connectors shall be used. 37.3.5.a. All electric connections or splices on insulated wires shall be reinsulated at least to the same degree of protection as the remainder of the wire.37.3.5.b. Splices made shall provide continuity of all components.37.3.6. All power wires, except trailing cables on mobile equipment, specially designed cables conducting high voltage power shall be supported on well installed insulators and shall not contact different potential passes within eighteen (18) inches of each other. 37.3.6.a. All trailing and power cables shall be rated for no less than the highest voltage for which they are used.37.3.7. All electrical equipment shall be provided with switches or controls that are safely designed, constructed, and installed. 37.3.7.a. Power cable, trailing cable or conductor couplings or connections cannot be connected or disconnected while under load.37.3.8. Single phase loads such as transformer primaries shall be connected phase to phase when utilized on resistance grounded or ungrounded power systems.37.4. Testing maintenance and repair of electrical equipment. 37.4.1. All electrical equipment, except circuit breakers, shall be examined daily, by a competent person to assure safe operating condition.37.4.2. All electrical equipment shall be examined monthly, tested and properly maintained by a certified electrician.37.4.3. When a potentially dangerous condition is found on electrical equipment, such equipment shall be removed from service until such condition is corrected by a certified electrician.37.4.4. A record of such examination and the action taken when the potentially dangerous condition is found shall be kept and made available to an authorized representative of the director and to the miners at such mine.37.4.5. Circuit breakers and their auxiliary devices serving three-phase alternating current portable or mobile equipment shall be tested and examined at least once each month by a qualified person and a record of such examination shall be kept and made available to an authorized representative of the director and to the miners at such mine. Circuit breaker tests shall include:37.4.5.a. Breaking continuity of the ground check conductor where ground check monitoring is used.37.4.5.b. Actuating all of the auxiliary protective relays, and;37.4.5.c. Visual observation of all components of the circuit breaker and its auxiliary devices.37.4.6. Repairs or adjustments as are indicated by the tests and examinations provided for in this subsection shall be carried out immediately.37.5. Circuit breakers. 37.5.1. Automatic circuit breaking devices or fuses of the correct type and capacity shall be installed so as to protect all electrical equipment and circuits against short circuit and overload. In no case will the requirements be less than those set forth in the National Electric Code which is in effect at the time of installation.37.5.2. Three (3) phase motors on electrical equipment shall be provided with overload protection that will de-energize all three (3) phases in the event that any phase is overloaded.37.5.3. As used in this subsection, adequate current interrupting capacity requires that the fuse or circuit breaker is capable of interrupting the maximum short circuit current that the circuit may conduct without destruction to the device.37.5.4. Portable or mobile electric equipment shall be provided with devices that will permit the equipment to be de-energized quickly in the event of an emergency.37.5.5. One (1) circuit breaker may be used to protect two (2) or more branch circuits if the circuit breaker is adjusted to afford over current protection for the smallest conductor.37.5.6. Power circuits serving three (3) phase alternating current portable or mobile equipment shall be protected by suitable circuit breakers of adequate interrupting capacities which are properly tested and maintained as prescribed by the director. 37.5.6.a. Breakers shall be equipped with devices to provide protection against under voltage, grounded phase, short circuit and over current.37.5.7. Disconnecting devices shall be installed at the beginning of branch lines in high voltage circuits and equipped or designed in such a manner that it can be determined by visual observation that the circuit is de-energized when the switches are open.37.5.8. Circuit breakers and disconnecting switches shall be marked for identification.37.6. Cables. 37.6.1. Cables shall enter metal frames of motors, splice boxes and electrical compartments only through proper fittings.37.6.2. When insulated wire, other than cables pass through metal frames, the hole shall be substantially bushed with insulated bushings.37.6.3. Trailing cables shall be clamped to machines in a manner to protect the cables from damage and to prevent strain on the electrical connections.37.6.4. No cable will be hung or moved in a manner which will damage the insulation or conductors.37.6.5. Trailing cables shall be adequately protected to prevent damage by mobile equipment.37.6.6. Short circuit protection for trailing cables shall be provided by an automatic circuit breaker or other no less effective device, approved by the director, of adequate current interrupting capacity in each ungrounded conductor.37.6.7. Disconnecting devices used to disconnect power from trailing cables shall be plainly marked and identified and such devices shall be equipped or designed in such a manner that it can be determined by visual observation that the power is disconnected and shall be labeled to show which unit they control.37.6.8. Cable couplers shall be constructed so that the ground check continuity conductor shall be broken first and the ground conductor shall be broken last when the coupler is being uncoupled.37.6.9. When two (2) or more trailing cables junction to the same distribution center, means shall be provided to assure against connecting the trailing cable to the wrong size circuit breaker.37.6.10. Temporary splices in trailing cables shall be made in a workmanlike manner and shall be mechanically strong and shall insulated.37.6.11. Trailing cables or hand cables which have exposed wires or which have splices that heat or spark under load shall not be used.37.6.12. As used in this subsection, the term splice means a mechanical joining of one (1) or more conductors that have been severed.37.6.13. When permanent splices in trailing cables are made, they shall be:37.6.13.a. Mechanically strong with adequate electrical conductivity and flexibility;37.6.13.b. Effectively insulated and sealed so as to exclude moisture;37.6.13.c. Vulcanized or otherwise treated with suitable materials to provide good bonding to the outer jacket, and37.6.13.d. Made in accordance with the manufacturers specifications.37.6.14. Trailing cables for medium voltage circuits shall include: 37.6.14.a. Grounding conductors;37.6.14.b. A ground check conductor; and37.6.14.c. Grounded metallic shields around each power conductor or a grounded metallic shield over the assembly.37.6.15. On equipment employing cable reels, cables without shields may be used if insulation is rated two thousand (2,000) volts or more.37.7. Grounding.37.7.1. All metallic shields, armors and conduits enclosing power conductors will be electrically continuous throughout and shall be grounded by method approved by an authorized electrical representative of the director.37.7.2. Where grounding wires are used to ground metallic shields, armors, conduits, frames, casings and other metallic enclosures, such grounding wire will be approved if: 37.7.2.a. Where the power conductor used is #6 AWG or larger, the cross sectional area of the grounding wire is at least one-half (1/2) the cross sectional area of the power conductor.37.7.2.b. Where the power conductor used is less than #6 AWG, the cross sectional area of the grounding wire is equal to the cross sectional area of the power conductor.37.7.3. The attachment of grounding wires to other grounded power conductors will be approved if separate connections, suitable for such purpose, are used and installed to provide a solid connection.37.7.4. Metallic frame, casing, and other enclosures of electrical equipment that can become alive through failure of insulation or by contact with energized parts shall be grounded, and shall have a ground monitoring system, to monitor continuously the grounding circuit, to assure continuity, such ground check circuit shall cause the circuit breaker to open when either the ground or pilot check wire is broken, or other not less effective device approved by the director or the director's authorized electrical representative, to assure such continuity, except a waiver may be permitted by the director on a mine to mine basis.37.7.5. In instances where single phase one hundred ten (110)-two hundred twenty (220) volt circuits are used to feed electrical equipment, the only method of grounding that will be approved is the connection of all metallic frames, casings or other enclosures of such equipment to a separate grounding conductor which established a continuous connection to a grounded center tap of the transformer.37.7.6. Where greater than 48 volt batteries are being charged without removing them from battery powered mobile equipment, or are sitting on wooden blockers, the frames of the machine or battery case shall be grounded to the grounded frame of the charger to prevent the machine from becoming alive through failure of insulation in the charger. All ground conductor connections shall be clamped or bolted connections.37.7.7. All buildings and structures shall be earth grounded if they are constructed of metal. Also, any building or structures which could become alive with electrical energy shall be effectively grounded.37.7.8. Guy wires from poles supporting high voltage power lines shall be securely connected to the system grounding medium or shall be provided with insulators rated at the highest voltage installed near the pole end.37.7.9. All 120 volt AC 15-20 amp circuits used to power portable hand tools shall be protected with ground fault circuit interrupting devices.37.8. Energized lines generally. 37.8.1. All guy wires shall be marked or flagged when equipment is working in the area.37.8.2. Energized power lines crossing an access road or work area shall be identified by warning signs visible from each direction.37.8.2.a. Warning signs shall include height of lines for clearance and made of reflective material.37.8.2.b. In no event shall any high voltage power line be installed less than fifteen (15) feet above ground, walkways, or working areas.37.8.3. Equipment or machinery operated on the surface of any coal mine shall not be operated within ten (10) feet of an overhead power line unless the line is deenergized and visibly grounded at the point of work, or unless insulating barriers not part of or an attachment to the equipment have been erected to prevent physical contact with the lines. Where the voltage of overhead power lines is sixty-nine thousand (69,000) volts or more, the minimum clearance between the lines and part of the equipment or load shall be as follows: Nominal Power line Voltage (in 1,000 volts) | Minimum Distance (in feet) |
69 to 114 | 12 |
115 to 229 | 15 |
230 to 344 | 20 |
345 to 499 | 25 |
500 or more | 35 |
37.8.4. All personnel, except those directly involved in the operation, shall stay clear of the equipment working near energized lines.37.8.5. If equipment comes in contact with an energized line, the operator shall stay in the equipment until notified by a certified electrician or foreman that the line is de-energized.37.8.6. All electrical wiringand equipment installed shall not be less than the requirements set forth in the National Electric Code which is in effect at the time of installation.37.9. High voltage. 37.9.1. High voltage lines on the surface shall be de-energized and grounded before work is performed on them, except that repairs may be permitted, in the case of energized surface high voltage lines, if such repairs are made by a qualified person in accordance with the procedures and safeguards, including, but not limited to, a requirement that the operator of such mine provide tests, and maintain protective devices in making such repairs.37.9.2. No work shall be performed on any high voltage line on the surface which is supported by any pole or structure which also supports other high voltage lines until all lines supported on that pole are de-energized and grounded.37.9.3. No high voltage lines shall be regarded as de-energized for the purpose of performing work on it until it has been determined by a qualified person that such high voltage line has been de-energized and grounded.37.9.4. Such qualified person shall, by visual observation, determine that the disconnecting devices on the high voltage circuit are in the open position and insure that each ungrounded conductor of the high voltage circuit upon which work is to be done is properly connected to the system grounding medium.37.9.5. An energized high voltage line may be repaired only when the operator has determined that such repairs cannot be scheduled during a period when the power circuit could be properly de-energized and grounded.37.9.5.a. Such repairs will be performed on power circuits with a phase to phase nominal voltage no greater than fifteen thousand (15,000) volts.37.9.5.b. The weather conditions shall be noted so that it would not interfere with such repairs or expose those persons assigned to such work to an imminent danger.37.9.5.c. The operator shall designate a person qualified to perform such work as the person responsible for carrying out such repairs.37.9.5.d. In order to insure protection for said person and other interested persons assigned to perform such repairs from the hazards of said repairs, said person must prepare and file with the operator: 37.9.5.d.1. A general description of the nature and location of the damage or defect to be repaired;37.9.5.d.2. The general plan to be followed in making of such repairs;37.9.5.d.3. A statement that a briefing of all qualified persons assigned to make such repairs was conducted informing them of the general plan, their individual assignments, and the dangers inherent in such assignments;37.9.5.d.4. A list of proper protective equipment and clothing that will be provided and such other information as the person designated by the operator feels necessary to describe properly the means or methods to be employed in such repairs.37.9.5.e. All statements obtained by the operator shall be recorded and contain a notation of the time, date, location and general nature of the repairs.37.9.6. When two (2) or more persons are working on an energized high voltage surface line simultaneously and anyone of them is within reach of another, such persons shall not be allowed to work on different phases or equipment with different potentials.37.9.7. All persons performing work on energized surface high voltage lines shall wear protective rubber lineman's gloves, sleeves, and climber guards if climbers are worn. 37.9.7.a. Protective rubber gloves shall not be worn wrong side out or without protective leather gloves.37.9.7.b. Protective devices worn by a person assigned to perform work on high voltage surface lines shall be worn continuously from the time the person leaves the ground until he/she returns to the ground.37.9.7.c. If protective devices are employed for extended periods, the person shall visually inspect the equipment assigned to said person for defects before each use and in no case, less than twice each day.37.9.8. All rubber protective equipment used for work on energized high voltage surface lines shall be electrically tested by the operator in accordance with ASTM Standards.37.9.9. Disconnecting or cutout switches on energized high voltage surface lines shall be operated only with insulated sticks, fuse tongs or pullers which are adequately insulated and maintained to protect the operator from the voltage to which the operator is exposed. 37.9.9.a. When such switches are operated from the ground, the person operating such devices shall wear protective rubber gloves.37.9.10. No new additional circuits may be tied to a high voltage surface line when such line is energized.37.9.11. Solely for purposes of grounding ungrounded high voltage power systems, grounded messenger wires used to suspend the cable of such system may be used as a grounding medium.37.9.12. All high voltage circuits supplying portable or mobile equipment shall contain either a direct or derived neutral which shall be grounded through a suitable resistor at the source transformer and a grounding circuit originating at the grounded side of the grounding resistor shall extend along the power conductors and serve as a grounding conductor for the frames which receives power from that circuit. 37.9.12.a. The grounding resistor shall be of the proper oh mic value to limit the voltage drop in the grounding circuit external to the resistor to not more than one hundred (100) volts under fault conditions.37.9.12.b. The grounding resistor shall be rated for maximum fault current continuously and insulated from ground for a voltage equal to the phase to phase voltage of the system.37.9.13. High voltage resistance grounded system serving portable or mobile equipment shall include a fail-safe ground check circuit to monitor continuously the grounding circuit to assure continuity and the fail-safe ground check circuit shall cause the circuit breaker to open when either the ground or pilot check wire is broken or other no less effective device approved by the director or the director's authorized representatives to assure such continuity.37.9.14. High voltage cables used in resistance grounded systems shall be equipped with metallic shields around each power conductor with:37.9.14.a. One (1) or more ground conductors having a total cross sectional area of not less than one-half (1/2) the power conductor, and37.9.14.b. With an insulated internal or external conductor not smaller than #10 AWG for the ground continuity check circuit.37.10. Low-and medium-voltage. 37.10.1. Low- and medium-voltage three-phase alternating-current circuits used for portable and mobile equipment shall contain either a direct or derived neutral which shall be grounded through a suitable resistor at the power source, and a grounding circuit, originating at the grounded side of the grounding resistor, shall extend along with the power conductors and serve as a grounding conductor for the frames of all the electrical equipment supplied power from the circuit. The grounding resistor, where required, shall be of the proper ohmic value to limit the ground fault current to twenty-five (25) amperes. The grounding resistor shall be rated for maximum fault current continuously and insulated from ground for a voltage equal to the phase-to-phase voltage of the system.37.10.2. Low- and medium-voltage resistance grounded systems serving portable or mobile equipment shall include a fail-safe ground check circuit to monitor continuously the grounding circuit to assure continuity. The fail-safe ground check circuit shall cause the circuit breaker to open when either the ground or pilot check wire is broken, or other no less effective device approved by the director or his/her authorized representative to assure such continuity.37.11. Movement of electrical equipment. 37.11.1. Powercenters, portable transformers, cable couplings and enclosures shall be de-energized before they are moved from one (1) location to another.37.11.2. When equipment powered by source other than such centers or transformers is not available the director may permit such centers or transformers to be moved while energized if the director determines that such equivalent or greater hazard may otherwise be created; and 37.11.2.a. If they are moved under the supervision of a qualified person; and37.11.2.b. If such centers and transformers are examined prior to such movement by such person and found to be grounded by methods approved by an authorized representative of the director and otherwise protected from hazard to the miner.37.11.2.c. A record shall be kept of such examination.37.11.3. High voltage cables other than trailing cables shall not be moved or handled at any time while energized as permitted under this section.37.11.4. Energized high- or medium-voltage trailing cables may be moved only by persons trained in the proper handling of energized high- or medium-voltage trailing cables. The operator of such mines shall require that such persons wear approved and tested insulated gloves with leather protectors.37.11.4.a. Electrical personal protective equipment shall be visually inspected before each use for signs of damage or defects.37.11.4.b. Rubber gloves shall be examined and tested before each use to ensure their effectiveness and electrically tested every thirty (30) days in accordance with ASTM standards. 37.11.4.b.1. The rubber glove portion must be air tested at the beginning of each shift to ensure its effectiveness.37.11.4.b.2. Both the leather protector and rubber insulating gloves must be visually examined before each use for signs of damage or defects.37.11.4.b.3. Damaged rubber gloves must be removed from service or destroyed. Leather protectors must be maintained in good condition or replaced.37.11.4.c. Damaged or defective protective equipment shall not be used, removed from service and destroyed immediately.37.11.4.d. Personal protective equipment shall be electrically tested and stored in accordance with a nationally recognized standard, such as ASTM.37.11.4.e. A record of these tests must be kept in a book prescribed by the director and made available for authorized representatives of the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training upon request.37.12. Other electrical apparatus or areas. 37.12.1. Ladders for electrical work shall be of nonmetal type.37.12.2. No electrical machinery or apparatus shall have unguarded exposed energized parts.37.12.3. Lighting plants shall be located so as not to obstruct or be a safety or health hazard to any part of the mining operation or miners.37.12.4. Employees performing work that requires them to come in contact with electrical equipment involving shock hazards shall be provided with suitable insulating gloves. 37.12.4.a. Suitable insulation shall be of approved type that will protect such person from voltage to which he/she is exposed.37.12.5. All such protective equipment shall be furnished by the operator.37.12.6. Rooms in which circuit breakers or controls are installed shall have two (2) separate and distinct travelable passageways, designated as escape ways.37.12.7. Open flame in or about surface structures shall be restricted to locations where it will not cause fire or an explosion.37.12.8. All lights with less than eight (8) feet overhead clearance shall be guarded.37.12.9. Lamps installed in a hazardous area must be of substantial construction.