Personal Protective Equipment

Question 1

A method of personal protective grounding in
which a low resistance short circuited connection from line to ground
is provided on one or both sides of the work site.

Answer 1

Bracket Grounding

Question 2

A ground connection consisting of a temporary ground

rod and grounding cable that is attached to the base of a steel tower.

Answer 2

Butt Ground

Question 3

A terminal point for the grounding jumpers used for
equipotential zone grounding. The cluster bracket provides contact
with the pole to establish the equipotential zone.
Only used when equipotential zone grounding.

Answer 3

Cluster Bracket

Question 4

A specially designed clamp that
attaches to disconnect cutout switches and provides a stud for the
attachment of personal protective grounds.

Answer 4

Disconnect Grounding Clamp

Question 5

A method of personal protective
grounding which a low resistance short circuited connection from line
to ground is provided and connected to a cluster bracket attached to
the pole. In turn this provides a shunt that diverts the flow of current
around the lineworker.

Answer 5

Equipotential Zone Grounding

Question 6

Is the amount of current that a given
system can deliver to a fault or short circuit. A line that is grounded and
becomes accidentally energized is subject to fault current because the
circuit sees the grounds as a fault.

Answer 6

Fault Current

Question 7

Grounded conductors that
are within the equipotential zone. Grounded down guys and phone
messenger are commonly encountered foreign grounds. Foreign
grounds must be bonded to the equipotential grounding scheme.

Answer 7

Foreign Grounds

Question 8

OSHA requires they never be smaller
than #2 AWG (American Wire Gauge) copper. Made of
fine strands for flexibility.

Answer 8

Ground Cable

Question 9

Used for grounding
applications in underground systems and provide a temporary ground
for elbows. The elbow plugs directly into them, which
is connected to the system neutral.

Answer 9

Grounding Bushing

Question 10

Used to prove
underground cables are de-energized at the work location and are not
used as a personal protective ground.

Answer 10

Grounding Spike Clamp

Question 11

Used for grounding
applications in underground systems and provide a temporary ground.
Usually used in conjunction with a feedthru
bushing where they and the cable are both plugged into
the feedthru.

Answer 11

Grounding Elbow

Question 12

Used to
cover vacated bushings on transformers and other underground
apparatus. They insulate, shield, and seal the
vacated bushings.

Answer 12

Insulating Protective Cap

Question 13

Used for isolating, testing,

and grounding underground circuits.

Answer 13

Portable Feedthru

Question 14

Used to effectively ground
conductors that are being installed. They are made of a roller system
that is attached to the conductors that are in motion and are mounted
to a housing that allows for the attachment of a grounding cable.

Answer 14

Rolling Grounds

Question 15

refers to a voltage drop between
a worker’s feet when the ground is energized by fault current. The
difference in potential can cause a current flow though the lower body
and is of a greater threat the closer the individual is to the point that
the fault current enters the ground.

Answer 15

Step Potential

Question 16

similar to
running grounds except they are installed at various locations along
the pull section. Running grounds are typically installed at each end of
the pull section.

Answer 16

Stringing Block Ground

Question 17

devices that are inserted into
underground bushings to provide a contact point for a voltage
detector.

Answer 17

Test Probe

Question 18

refers to a voltage drop between an
energized metallic object and the point on the earth’s surface where the
employee is standing. The difference in potential can cause a current
flow thought the body between the two points of contact.

Answer 18

Touch Potential

Question 19

refers to a condition
where the heart is unable to function in its normal rhythm. An
electrical current of 300 milliamperes (one-third of 1 amp) can cause
this condition. Personal protective grounds, when installed properly,
are designed to ensure that current flow through the body would be
less than the amount that causes this

Answer 19

Ventricular fibrillation of the heart

Question 20

necessary
in substations when a breaker is cleared and grounded. Adjacent
energized breakers are barricaded and marked clearly so employees do
not mistakenly begin work on an energized breaker.

Answer 20

Barricading and Marking

Question 21

Explain Ground Installation

Answer 21

When installing grounds, always connect to the
ground source first and then connect to the conductor or equipment
with a live-line tool. When removing grounds, always remove the
conductor end first and the ground source end last.

Question 22

Explain best practices with Ground Sources

Answer 22

Selecting the best possible ground source is critical
in limiting current flow through the lineworker’s body and ensuring
that protective devices clear the fault as soon as possible. Ground
sources include: substation ground grid, system neutral, static/shield
wire, driven ground rods, and anchor rods.

Question 23

Explain why Grounding Aerial Lifts is important

Answer 23

When working on a grounded line from an
aerial lift, it is important to ground the chassis of the vehicle to the
phase being worked if the aerial lift is not rated for the voltage of the
line being worked.

Question 24

Explain Grounding Objectives

Answer 24

The objectives of personal protective
grounding provide the best opportunity to avoid injury to the
lineworker. Limit the amount of current flow and voltage drop across
the lineworker’s body, and minimize the time that the current could
flow through the lineworker’s body.

Question 25

Explain Identify, Isolate, Test, and Ground

Answer 25

This four-step grounding process
is the same for overhead and underground circuits. The section of
circuit to be cleared must be identified. The section of circuit identified
must be isolated by removing/disconnecting all sources of electrical
energy. Once isolated, the section of circuit must be tested for the
presence of voltage. Once tested and proven to be void of voltage, the
circuit must be grounded before employee contact is made.

Question 26

Explain best practices with Inspecting and Testing Grounds

Answer 26

Personal protective grounds
should be tested and inspected regularly. All connections points
should be tight and free of corrosion and all contact surfaces should
be cleaned with a wire brush or emery cloth. Grounds can easily fail to
perform their designed function when they are neglected. Inspecting
and testing is very important and should be performed regularly.

Question 27

Explain Sources of Electric Energy

Answer 27

Personal protective grounds are
installed to protect lineworkers from the line becoming accidentally
or inadvertently energized by sources of electric energy. These
sources should always be taken into consideration when applying
personal protective grounds. Sources include induction, step and
touch potential, lightning, capacitance, static charges, and inadvertent
(accidental) energizing.

Question 28

Explain best practices with Splicing Severed Conductors

Answer 28

Splicing severed conductors poses
the greatest difficulty in providing adequate worker protection.
Wearing rubber protective equipment and jumpering out the
conductors before they are spliced prevents the lineworker from being
placed in series with the circuit. It is always important to keep the
public away from downed power lines.

Question 29

Explain the controversy around Vehicle Grounding

Answer 29

The grounding of aerial lift trucks and derrick
type trucks has been an industry wide controversial issue for many
years. Some companies require vehicles to be grounded while others
barricade the vehicle when the derrick or lift is in the proximity of
energized lines. Some companies require the use of rubber gloves
and insulated footwear for employees working on the ground near
ungrounded vehicles. No single method or approach is widely
accepted in the industry.