Testing Before Installing Grounds

DOE-HDBK-1092-2004

together with grounding cables prior to installing phase grounds. The rods should be placed 6 to

8 feet apart; however, the 10-foot clearance from the rods should be maintained. OGWs may be

used at any time to bond the conductors provided that these wires are electrically bonded to the

structure ground, either permanently or by personal grounds.

Groundsmen should stay clear (at least 10 feet where feasible) of items such as down guys,

ground rods, maintenance vehicles, and structure legs or ground wires while they are bonded to

protective grounds which are in place. When it is absolutely necessary to work on or near these

features, employees should use bonded conductive or insulated platforms, or approved

insulated shoes to minimize the hazard from step and touch potentials.

7.5.4

TESTING BEFORE INSTALLING GROUNDS

Before grounds are installed, the deenergized line or equipment shall be tested for voltage.

Appropriate testers for the nominal voltage involved (audio or visual) should be used. They shall

be tested immediately before and after use to verify that they are in good working condition.

7.5.5

ATTACHING AND REMOVING GROUNDS

Employees attaching and removing grounds shall comply with the following:

1. Grounding equipment should be visually inspected and all mechanical connections checked

for tightness before each use.

2. The surface to which the ground is to be attached should be clean before the grounding

clamp is installed or a self-cleaning clamp shall be used.

3. No ground shall be removed until all personnel are clear of the temporary grounded lines or

equipment. When the grounding set is removed, it shall be disconnected from the line or

equipment end first with an approved hot-line tool and moved to a point clear of energized

conductors before the ground end is disconnected.

7.5.6 GROUNDING METHODS AND LOCATION OF GROUNDS IN ORDER OF

PREFERENCE

Employees installing grounds shall install them using the information given in the following

sections.

7.5.6.1 WORK LOCATION

Grounds should be installed at the work location with all grounded parts of different potential

bonded together (on wood poles, all down guys, overhead ground wire, neutral conductor, and

pole ground). The cluster bar assembly should be installed below the working area and jumper

to the ground point or the neutral conductor and the phase conductor, a method of grounding

termed "equipotential" grounding. It provides the greatest margin of safety for the lineworker by

placing everything at equal potential, eliminating the possibility of the lineworker getting in series

to ground.

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