The bad thing about this rule is it still doesn't have any teeth.
If you were to be in a arch flash accident you would be covered by the employers workmen’s comp (L&I) to get you somewhat healed.
Even though they don't follow the rules, they will pay there fine to OSHA (which may be less than the cost of the proper cal. flash suit, but you will be stuck with the scares if you survive.
Ideally, a worker refuses to work with out the proper safety equipment, training and a through knowledge of the parameters of the job.
Really what happens is that if you were to do this most states (and union agreements) allow the contractors the right to fire you. If you turn out to be right they have to hire you back. They do not have to pay you the lost time though. So after you finally get a hearing the job is done and you get laid off the day after you return.
To get the attention of the bad contractors (because most are safety minded), we as workers should have the right to sue them. Weather we know the job is dangerous or not, they bid the jobs, they send us out to do the work and they use ruthless insurance companies to discredit us and our injuries in order to keep there loses down.
Risk management: This is part of the NFPA 70E safety program. Why? If they used the same rules for safety that they uses for properly sizing electrical equipment we would be covered.
When I look at a job for safety, I look at the worst case possible and prepare for it. The same way I look at short circuit capability of my equipment. I don’t try to guess what part of the cycle it will fault.
All of us have known someone that has been in this kind of situation or maybe even you have.
Look at any of the states compensation charts and see how that matches up with the loss of a lifetime of wages, or God forbid the loss of a parent or spouse.
Personally; I had always taken the layoff, then (once) by my own thought of invincibility, stupidly attempted something I should not have. Justifying it with “it had to be done” Without the proper safety equipment, procedures and personnel to help, as the safety rules would have stated. Now again I will take the layoff.
Loren
| 
Send to a Friend