Insulating fluid in hydraulic tools near energized lines

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

April 3, 1978

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

This is in response to your letter of March 8, 1978, concerning my recent interpretations of several construction Standards, and confirms a telephone conversation with a member of my staff on March 24, 1978.

As indicated in my letter of February 6, 1978, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Section 1926.302(d)(1) does require fire resistant fluid in power-operated hand tools such as hydraulic foot pump. However, Section 1926.950(1), for power transmission and distribution lines, required that all hydraulic fluids used for the insulated sections of derrick trucks, aerial lifts, and hydraulic tools, which are used on or around energized lines and equipment shall be of the insulating type. The requirement for fire resistant fluids of Section 1926.302(d)(1) does not apply to hydraulic tools covered by this paragraph.

As indicated above, section 1926.950 of the Construction Standards applies only when employees are engaged in the construction of electric transmission and distribution lines and equipment, and use such hydraulic tools on or around energized lines or equipment. Thus, employers engaged in such activity are required to provide hydraulic fluids in hydraulic tools which are of the insulating type. This requirement is the primary one in this situation and supersedes those requirements requiring the use of fire resistant hydraulic fluids in 1926.302(d)(i).

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

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