Are Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) required on temporary lighting circuits on vessels?
Temporary lighting circuits are covered by 29 CFR Part 1915 and some aspects of the 29 CFR Part 1910, General Industry Standard, including 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart S, Electrical. Neither of these standards requires the employer to use a ground-fault circuit interrupter. However, proper adherence to the grounding requirements in this standard would prevent employee exposure to electrocution hazards. Question 24: 29 CFR 1915.94, Work in confined or isolated spaces, states, “When any work is performed in a confined space.or when an employee is working alone in a isolated location, frequent checks shall be made to ensure the safety of the employees.” Can an electronic device that monitors the employee in a confined space or an isolated location by sending a periodic “check-in” tone that the employee must respond to, along with satellite tracking of the employee’s location, qualify as a frequent check? Answer: Yes. Such a system would meet the intent of the standard. (NOTE: The preferred m
