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Insulating workers near energized power lines

Summary A state labor office asked whether a power-line rule required the specific gloves and sleeves named in its example. OSHA said the aim was to insulate or guard workers from energized parts and that other protective equipment could be appropriate for other exposures. OSHA archives the letter.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1977-12-12
Date issued
December 12, 1977
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Electrical Safety Personal Protective Equipment
Source
View the official document

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OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

December 12, 1977

Mr. L. A. Weaver, III
Acting Director
Office of Occupational Safety
and Health
State of North Carolina
Department of Labor
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Weaver:

This is in response to your letter of November 16, 1977, regarding an interpretation of 29 CFR 1926.950(c)(1)(i), which states:

The employee is insulated or guarded from the energized part (gloves or gloves with sleeves rated for the voltage involved shall be considered insulation of the employee from the energized part), or

In addition, it confirms a telephone conversation between members of our staffs.

The intent of the subject standard is to insulate or guard the employee for the energized part. The example in parenthesis is one way of complying with the standard on certain limited exposures. There may be other personal protective equipment used and other exposures to the employee.

If I may be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,
John K. Barto, Chief
Division of Occupational
Safety Programming

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