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Hydraulic tool fluids and work near energized lines

Summary An attorney asked about fluid and hose requirements for hydraulic tools used in construction near energized power lines. OSHA said the general hand-tool rule required fire-resistant fluid and that employees constructing electric transmission or distribution lines must not use conductive hose when contact with energized lines is possible. A later OSHA letter clarified the insulating-fluid rule for transmission-line work.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1978-02-06
Date issued
February 6, 1978
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. Its April 3, 1978 letter clarifies that the specific insulating-fluid rule controls for hydraulic tools used near energized transmission lines.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Hydraulic Tools Electrical Safety
Source
View the official document

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The current status of this document is unclear
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. Its April 3, 1978 letter clarifies that the specific insulating-fluid rule controls for hydraulic tools used near energized transmission lines. 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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

February 6, 1978

Mr. James Thomas
Demos, LTD.
Attorneys at Law
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Demos:

This is in response to your letter of December 1, 1977, addressed to Mr. Dave Hadden, which was forwarded to this office for a reply. The letter concerned interpretations of several construction standards. Please accept my apology for the delay in response.

The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Section 1926.302(d)(1) does require fire resistant fluid in power-operated handtools such as a hydraulic foot pump.

Section 1926.951 of the construction standards applies only when employees are engaged in the construction of electric transmission and distributions lines and equipment. When employees are engaged in this work, the requirement does mean, if you are going to work close enough where you may accidently come into contact with an energized line, do not use a conductive hose. The word "around" is not restricted to Table V-1 located in Section 1926.950 of the construction standards.

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

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

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