For assistance with occupational safety and health problems, help is available at no cost Oregon’s by calling: Overhead Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division Consultative Services Line Safety

Salem Central Medford Act 350 Winter St. NE, Room 430 1840 Barnett Rd., Suite D Salem, OR 97301 Medford, OR 97504-8250 Phone: (503) 378-3272 Phone: (541) 776-6030 Toll-free: 1-800-922-2689 Consultation: (541) 776-6016 Facts you Fax: (503) 947-7461 Pendleton should know Portland 200 SE Hailey Ave. when working 1750 NW Naito Pkwy., Suite 112 Pendleton, OR 97801-3056 Portland, OR 97209-2533 Phone: (541) 276-9175 near overhead Phone: (503) 229-5910 Fax: (541) 276-6869 power lines Consultation: (503) 229-6193 Consultation: (541) 276-2353 Fax consultation: (971) 673-2930 Fax enforcement: (971) 673-2901 Fax management: (971) 673-2922

Salem 1340 Tandem Ave NE, Suite 160 Salem, OR 97303 Phone: (503) 378-3274 To order free Pacific Power safety Fax: (503) 378-4921 materials or schedule a free safety Consultation: (503) 373-7819 presentation, call us at 1-800-375-7085. For all other information and for safety Eugene assistance around power lines, 1140 Willagillespie, Suite 42 call toll free at 1-888-221-7070. Eugene, OR 97401-2101 Phone: (541) 686-7562 More safety information is available at Consultation: (541) 686-7913 This brochure provided by the efforts of Oregon pacificpower.net/safety. Bend OSHA, Oregon PUC, Associated General Red Oaks Square Contractors of America (AGC), Pacific Power 1230 NE Third St., Suite A-115 and other electric utilities. Bend, OR 97701-4374 Phone: (541) 388-6066 Consultation: (541) 388-6068

5/11 To protect those working near overhead power lines from accidental contact, the Oregon Legislature passed into law the High Voltage Overhead Line High Voltage Power Line Regulation (3) “Overhead line” means all bare or involving any high voltage overhead line, the Safety Act. insulated electric conductors installed above person or business entity violating subsection The law provides that no work activities take place 757.800 Definitions for ORS 757.800 and ground. (1) of this section or rules adopted pursuant within 10 feet of a high voltage overhead power line 757.805. As used in this section and 757.805, (4) “Person” or “business entity” means to ORS chapter 654 is liable to the utility until the following two requirements are met: unless the context requires otherwise: those parties who contract to perform any operating the high voltage overhead lines for 1. The responsible party must notify the utility (1) “Authorized person” means: function or activity upon any land, building, all damages to its facilities and all costs and operating the line of the intended work activity. (a) An employee of a utility which produces, highway or other premises. expenses, including damages to any third 2. The responsible party and the utility must complete transmits or delivers electricity. (5) “Utility” means any electric or persons, incurred by the utility as a result of mutually satisfactory precautions for the activity. (b) An employee of a utility which provides communication utility described by ORS the accident. However, any person or business Working together and whose work relates to communication 757.005, any plant owned or operated by a entity that has given advance notice of the As soon as you inform your local utility of your services or state, county or municipal municipality, any person furnishing community function, activity or work to the utility operating intended work activity, you’re taking the first step to agencies which have authorized circuit antenna television service to the public and the high voltage overhead line, and has ensure your safety and the safety of your crew. When construction on or near the poles or any cooperative corporation or people’s utility otherwise substantially complied with rules and where necessary, the following can then occur: structures of a utility. district engaged in furnishing electric or adopted pursuant to ORS chapter 654, shall 1. Coordination of work schedules. (c) An employee or agent of an industrial communication service to customers. only be liable for such damages in proportion 2. Identification of temporary mechanical barriers plant whose work relates to the electric (6) “Proximity” means within 10 feet or such to that person or business entity’s comparative to prevent contact with the lines. system of the industrial plant. greater distance as may be prescribed by rule fault in causing or contributing to the accident. 3. Temporary de-energizing and grounding of lines. 4. Temporary raising or moving of lines. (d) An employee of a cable television or adopted pursuant to ORS chapter 654. [1989 (3) This section and ORS 757.800 do not communication services company or an c.672 §2; 2001 c.913 §5] apply to: Failure to comply employee of a contractor of a cable (a) Construction, reconstruction, operation Any party working within 10 feet of an overhead line television or communication services 757.805 Accident prevention required for or maintenance by an authorized person without notifying the proper utility and establishing company if specifically authorized by work near high voltage lines; effect of failure of overhead electric or communication required safety precautions, will be held directly the owners of the poles to make cable to comply; applicability; other remedies circuits or conductors and their supporting responsible for all financial consequences of an electrical television or communication services unaffected. structures or electric generation, transmission accident. Failure to comply with this rule can carry a attachments. (1) Any person or business entity or distribution systems or communication penalty of up to $70,000 for each offense in addition (e) An employee or agent of state, county responsible for performing any function, systems. to the cost of injuries and repairs. or municipal agencies which have or activity, work or operation in proximity to (b) Fire, police or other emergency service For your reference, the law is printed in full at whose work relates to overhead electric a high voltage overhead line shall guard workers acting under authority of a state right. lines or circuit construction or conductors effectively against accidents involving such agency or other public body while on poles or structures of any type. high voltage overhead line, as required by engaged in emergency operations. Contact your utility immediately (f) An employee of a transmission rules adopted pursuant to ORS chapter 654. (4) The provisions of this section and If you or your contractor are going to be working company as defined in ORS 758.015. (2) If any violation of subsection (1) of this ORS 757.800 are not intended to displace near overhead lines, immediately contact the local electric utility nearest your intended job site. If you (2) “High voltage” means voltage in excess section or rules adopted pursuant to ORS any other remedies which may be available don’t know who operates the power lines in question, of 600 volts measured between conductors or chapter 654 results in, or is a contributing to the utility by statute or common law. any utility will be able to help. between a conductor and the ground. cause of, a physical or electrical accident [1989 c.672 §§3, 4, 5, 6] Make your work activities as safe as possible by meeting all requirements of this law.