Before any work is allowed to begin in areas where there is a possibility that underground electric lines may be encountered, the senior company employee on the site must ensure that the necessary authorities are contacted, and the lines are located and marked.
Every electric line or cable of unknown origin that is discovered or exposed during a digging, drilling, probing, or similar operation is to be considered as energized and life threatening. The senior company employee on the site will ensure that all necessary safety precautions are taken in order to isolate the line from all workers and the public. Such precautions may include halting the operation if appropriate. The senior company employee on the site is to then contact the proper authorities to have the line identified and either confirmed to be abandoned and/or made safe for continuing the work.
In work areas where exact locations of suspected underground lines cannot be confirmed, employees using jack-hammers, probes, shovels, and similar hand tools must use tools made to insulate the user against electrical shock or must use insulated protective gloves designed for such use.
Any and all underground lines that are discovered or become severed must be considered energized on both sides of the sever, and be treated accordingly.
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