Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 36-47-9 - Electrical work; troubleshooting and testinga. Electrical work on all circuits and equipment associated with high-voltage longwalls must be performed only by persons certified. No electrical work shall be performed on low-, medium-, or high-voltage distribution circuits or equipment, except by a certified person or by a person trained to perform electrical work and to maintain electrical equipment under the direct supervision of a certified person.b. Prior to performing electrical work, except for troubleshooting and testing of energized circuits and equipment as provided for in paragraph 9.4. of this section, a certified person must do the following: 1. Deenergize the circuit or equipment with a circuit-interrupting device.2. Open the circuit disconnecting device. On high-voltage circuits, ground the power conductors until work on the circuit is completed.3. Lock out the disconnecting device with a padlock. When more than one certified person is performing work, each person must install an individual padlock.4. Tag the disconnecting device to identify each person working and the circuit or equipment on which work is being performed.c. Each padlock and tag must be removed only by the person who installed them, except that, if that person is unavailable at the mine, the lock and tag may be removed by a person authorized by the operator, provided -- a. The authorized person is qualified under paragraph 9.1. of this section; andb. The operator ensures that the person who installed the lock and tag is aware of the removal before that person resumes work on the affected circuit or equipment.d. Troubleshooting and testing of energized circuits must be performed only --a. On low- and medium-voltage circuits;b. When the purpose of troubleshooting and testing is to determine voltages and currents; andc. By persons certified to perform electrical work and who wear protective gloves on circuits that exceed 40 volts but is less than 1000 volts. Gloves must be tested in accordance with the following: 1. Class 0 gloves (used at less than 1000 volts) must be electrically tested every 6 months when in use and every year when not in use and properly stored. A record of these gloves must be kept in a book prescribed by the Director and made available for authorized representatives of the West Virginia Office of Miner's Health, Safety and Training upon request.d. Rubber insulating gloves must be rated at least for the nominal voltage of the circuit when the voltage of the circuit exceeds 40 volts.e. Before troubleshooting and 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 in accordance with paragraph 9.2. of this section.f. Prior to the installation or removal of conveyor belt structure, high-voltage cables extending from the section power center to longwall equipment and located in the belt entries must be: b. Guarded in accordance with of this part, at the location where the belt structure is being installed or removed; or c. Located at least 6.5 feet above the mine floor.