In June, 2014, OSHA issued a memorandum to its ten regional administrators that established a temporary enforcement policy for: 29 CFR 1910.137(b) and 1910.269; and 29 CFR 1926.97(b) and Subpart V. On April 11, 2014, OSHA promulgated a final rule revising the general industry and construction standards for work on electric power generation, transmission and distribution installations and for electrical protective equipment.

The new standards became effective on July 10, 2014, although some provisions have compliance deadlines in 2015. For enforcement purposes, OSHA determined that it will accept compliance with the prior version of 29 CFR 1910.269 (i.e., the version of that standard that was in effect on April 11, 2014) as compliance with revised 29 CFR 1910.269 and 29 CFR 1926, Subpart V until October 31, 2014. OSHA will also delay enforcement of paragraph (b) of revised 29 CFR 1910.137 and paragraph (b) of 29 CFR 1926.97 until October 31, 2014. OSHA’s new final rule revises the agency’s 40-year-old construction standard for electrical power line work to make it more consistent with the corresponding general industry standard. In addition, new general industry and construction standards for electrical protective equipment will replace the existing construction standard, which OSHA says was based on out-of-date information, with a set of performance-oriented requirements consistent with the latest revisions of relevant consensus standards.