OSHA Inspection: ALLIANT ENERGY

Issued

2021-05-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-06-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $13653.00 · Current $13653.00

General-duty citation text

1910.269(c)(1)(i)  In assigning an employee or a group of employees to perform a job, the employer shall provide the employee in charge of the job with all available information that relates to the determination of existing characteristics and conditions required by paragraph (a)(4) of this section. 29 CFR  1910.269(n)(2):  For any employee to work transmission and distribution lines or equipment as deenergized, the employer shall ensure that the lines or equipment are deenergized under the provisions of paragraph (m) of this section and shall ensure proper grounding of the lines or equipment as specified in paragraphs (n)(3) through (n)(8) of this section. However, if the employer can demonstrate that installation of a ground is impracticable or that the conditions resulting from the installation of a ground would present greater hazards to employees than working without grounds, the lines and equipment may be treated as deenergized provided that the employer establishes that all of the following conditions apply:  (A)  On or about January 21, 2021, the employer had employees working on underground transmission lines operating at approximately 7,200 VAC each and did not have the necessary protective grounds installed.  The employees were working on the primary lines between two transformers, and neither transformer box had ground straps installed in the primary compartments, and only one of the transformers (located Southeast of the work location) had the grounding straps installed in the secondary compartments.  The facility to the Northwest of the work location closed a switch for their generator, which allowed electrical energy to flow back through the transformer and ungrounded transmission lines and electrocute one of the employees working on the lines.