Engineering Blog - Be Careful! I might be an Engineer: Live-line Barehand Technique

Have you ever heard of an electrician energizing his own body to 100kV? Sounds like a daredevil act without the crowd. According to NFPA 70E and OSHA, it can be done and is practiced by electricians to work on live conductors.

I want to share what I've found, but I can't say I have done this or have any professional knowledge to do this. Supposedly this type of work is allowed because there are not any gloves that will insulation you from that high of a voltage, so workers have to do their work bare-handed. According to OSHA 1926.955(e) you need to follow the rules:

1) You have to be trained on the technique and safety prior to working
2a) Check the voltage rating of the circuit where work will be performed.
2b) Check clearances of potential grounding or other energized lines.
2c) Check voltage limitation of your lift equipment
3) Use equipment intended for live-line barehand use & tested for for live-line barehand use.
...
7) Setup a conductive bucket liner for your lift equipment
7a) Connect yourself to the bucket liner
7b) Wear conductive clothing or wear electrostatic shielding.
...
9) Ground your lift equipment, or set up a barrier around your "energized" equipment
10) Perform an Arm Current Test - placing a bucket in contact with the live line for 3 minutes. If the leakage current exceeds 1 microampere per kilo-volt, work should be suspended. Seriously.
...
14) Conductive bucket liner shall be in contact with the live conductor until work is complete.
15) Use Minimum Clearance Table V-2 for the clearance distance from live-line and ground and other lines at different potentials. This apply only if there are no insulated guards.
...
20) Minimum Clearance Table V-2 shall be shown printed on a plate of durable nonconductive material, and posted in the bucket and by the operation controls.

Basically, you want to keep all conductive surfaces around you to be at the same voltage potential. You want to prevent electricity from flowing through your body. Avoid other lines, especially if you don't know it's voltage potential, and keep others around you save. Also, don't do anything stupid, like work in the rain or use fault equipment.

I don't think OSHA or ANSI requires workers on the lifts to wear a harness but if you do get a small jolt and your muscles lock up, what do you think would happen? The chances are slim that you would survive the a jolt, but wouldn't you feel better if you were given a harness and trained on how to secure yourself? I would.

UPDATE 6/2/2009: I found this great video demonstrating a Live-Line Barehand Technique. Enjoy.

Worlds Most Craziest and Dangerous Job - The most popular videos are here