Power Plant Safety Rules

The three most frequently cited safety problems in the electric power generation industry between October 2008 and September 2009, were the generation of electric power, accidents due to holes in floors or walls, and accidents in confined spaces, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Power Generation

• Power plant employers are required to ensure employees don't perform maintenance on machinery or equipment that can start up unexpectedly or unexpectedly release stored energy, until the equipment has been made inoperative. At least two employees must be present when equipment such as transformers are installed, removed or repaired, if there's a possibility an employee will come into contact with anything energized at more than 600 volts.

Openings

• All openings in power plant floors must be guarded so people can't accidentally walk into them. The guard can either be a railing or a cover. Floor openings include stairways, hatchways, manholes, chutes and trapdoors. A rail, fence, half-door or other equivalent barrier must guard wall openings with a drop of four feet or more.

Confined Spaces

• Power plants must post a Danger sign near any confined space employees might have to enter or work in, if entering or working in the space poses a risk of serious physical harm. Power plants must also have a procedure for rescuing people from confined spaces and providing them with emergency services.