Does anyone here know any OSHA regulations regarding construction and power tools?

-
Kern Dog

Kern Dog

Build your car to handle.
FABO Gold Member
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
13,631
Reaction score
40,004
Location
Granite Bay CA
Any Carpenter/Framers here?
I am having trouble finding any information on this. In every new circular saw that I get, I wire in a 100 foot TwistLock power cord. I don't like the thin and short cord they come with and I need the Twistlock pattern anyway. I've heard a few times over the years that the 100 foot cord is an OSHA violation but I can't find any evidence that it actually is. It my be buried in their regulations somewhere but I can't find it. I've heard just as many people say that it is NOT a violation so I don't know what to believe. Anyone know the truth or know where I can find it? I have searched the CAL OSHA web site and cannot find anything through the searches I've made.
 
Are you working on jobsites? Your own home "stuff" is exempt from Oshit. I don't see how it could be a violation. Changing the connector, so long as it's an appropriate code connector should not be a violation. You have to be able to reach the outlet LOL, so I don't know why length would be an issue.
 
This is for job site compliance.
I am not one that needs a government agency to tell me what is safe or dangerous BUT it seems that many companies go overboard on the safety regulations to keep their insurance rates low.
 
I would think that is safer than plugging it into one of those 14ga 100ft Home Depot extension cords.
 
I know that this does not directly answer your question, and I'm not sure about OSHA, but in this big industrial plant I work in one of the safety rules is that any power tool must have a GFCI installed between the tool and the power cord.
11X432_AS02?$mdmain$.jpg
 
I know MSHA (Mining Safety Health Administration) has regs about inspecting the cords for nicks,burns, cuts and must be inspected annually and the phase of the connectors is part of that inspection. If the cords are new they need not be inspected for 1 year. If they have replacement connectors they are inspected immediately. To avoid the headaches our company just junked a power tool with a bad cord. Explains why my shop is loaded with power tools :rolleyes:
 
Just go to osha.gov site for the real info.

What you are doing seems wrong but not sure. You cannot modify the original manufacture plug on a UL listed device without UL approval. If I understand what you are saying and replacing a listed 3 prong with twist lock 3 prong. 100 ft cord should not be an issue in itself. Maybe you should talk with the manufacturer of the tool used.
 
Dfr360cuda said:
I can see a 100 foot cord being illegal. If you need to kill the power in a hurry its 100 feet away.
Click to expand...

You can buy 100ft extension cords, why would they be illegal? You can kill the power wherever the tool connects, as the tool itself is not going to have a 100ft cable.

After reading that mess of an "explanation" it sounds like you can replace the tool connector as long as "by code" it matches equivalent of what was there and that you do not have to open the tool. There is no law about connecting a 2 conductor cord to a 2 conductor, certainly it is done all the time. You must have a polarized connector, and a twist lock certainly is IF PROPERLY WIRED.
 
Perhaps you can special order for your desires. Otherwise I would say any mod to the tool not approved by the manufacturer would somehow violate OSHA as they are directly connected through our deep dark government! Like said a 100ft cord is no issue with the approved connections.
 
Personally if I was a contractor I would not worry about it as long as I am using a approved GFI cord or GFI interrupt device. The only issue to me would be tool warranty.
 
Last edited:
69_340_GTS said:
I know that this does not directly answer your question, and I'm not sure about OSHA, but in this big industrial plant I work in one of the safety rules is that any power tool must have a GFCI installed between the tool and the power cord.
View attachment 1715440296
Click to expand...

OMG,
I work in the oil patch and my employer is extremely safety conscious being the oldest OSHA VPP site in the region. I also chair the Tiered Inspection Committee on the EHSE (Employee,Health, Safety and Environment) for going on 15 yrs now and honestly they do care because Personal Safety is no joke but some of the things they do regarding safety are a bit over the top IMO and I always try to use logic when bringing something new to the table. The GFCI is interesting and I will actually bring it under consideration with a select few, but I can assure you that I will unleash the wrath of a million pit vipers if everybody in maintenance and facilities could attribute any mandated usage of these to me ...Ha Ha ha!
 
The 100 foot cord allows me to route through all sorts of areas without snagging on anything. A standard 8 foot cord plugged into an extension cord either comes unplugged or gets caught on obstructions all too often.
I build houses, apartments, schools and commercial buildings. I'm often well over 100 feet from a power source so I'm plugged into another 100 foot cord as well. So many times, these OSHA rules are written by people with no common sense or actual real world experience in Construction.
 
I have never had an electric tool stick in the ON position, unable to shut off. I have had several that failed to start. Bad triggers, loose wires or damaged terminal ends mostly.
This is with 33 years of construction in my life. A short cord is likely a cost saving decision by the tool manufacturer. Imagine the packaging problems associated with putting a 100 foot power cord in with every saw....
 
Kern Dog said:
The 100 foot cord allows me to route through all sorts of areas without snagging on anything. A standard 8 foot cord plugged into an extension cord either comes unplugged or gets caught on obstructions all too often.
I build houses, apartments, schools and commercial buildings. I'm often well over 100 feet from a power source so I'm plugged into another 100 foot cord as well. So many times, these OSHA rules are written by people with no common sense or actual real world experience in Construction.
Click to expand...

You are not doing anything unusual. If you change the cord ends then consult the tool manufacturer. GFI/GFCI is a mandate. As long as you follow that rule OSHA is not an issue.
 

Kern Dog said:
I have never had an electric tool stick in the ON position, unable to shut off. I have had several that failed to start. Bad triggers, loose wires or damaged terminal ends mostly.
This is with 33 years of construction in my life. A short cord is likely a cost saving decision by the tool manufacturer. Imagine the packaging problems associated with putting a 100 foot power cord in with every saw....
Click to expand...

it’s all about electrical safety and possible electrocution. GFI/GFCI will kill the power on ground sense. 100’ cords of the wrong gauge just lessen the tool effectiveness. Shorter lengths improve efficiency and power!
 
I understand that a shorter cord is better for the tool but I would have to use an extension cord every time I use the saw anyway. I just eliminated the need to carry around a separate cord.
 
Kern Dog said:
I understand that a shorter cord is better for the tool but I would have to use an extension cord every time I use the saw anyway. I just eliminated the need to carry around a separate cord.
Click to expand...


What is the max amp rating of the saw?
 
Kern Dog said:
I have never had an electric tool stick in the ON position, unable to shut off. I have had several that failed to start. Bad triggers, loose wires or damaged terminal ends mostly.
This is with 33 years of construction in my life. A short cord is likely a cost saving decision by the tool manufacturer. Imagine the packaging problems associated with putting a 100 foot power cord in with every saw....
Click to expand...

Actually I HAVE, a couple of times. Many years ago, had an all metal "big ol" B&D heavy duty 1/2" drill motor---you know the kind.......with a pipe handle......that stuck. "Interesting." And I still have a blue Makita double insulated sawzall that sticks. For what I use it for, doesn't matter LOL
 
You should be, If it is 20 amp then you should be using a 12awg cord at minimum, Preferably a 10awg cord.

Sticking is another issue that is a switch issue on the product and the GFI/GFCI will not fix or prevent that!
 
67Dart273 said:
You can buy 100ft extension cords, why would they be illegal? You can kill the power wherever the tool connects, as the tool itself is not going to have a 100ft cable.

After reading that mess of an "explanation" it sounds like you can replace the tool connector as long as "by code" it matches equivalent of what was there and that you do not have to open the tool. There is no law about connecting a 2 conductor cord to a 2 conductor, certainly it is done all the time. You must have a polarized connector, and a twist lock certainly is IF PROPERLY WIRED.
Click to expand...
///////////////////////////////////////////////
I thought OP meant he replaced the original 6 or 8 foot cord with a 100 foot twist lock cord. I was thinking if the switch contacts welded themselves together that you'd be 100 feet away from killing the power.
 
Kern Dog said:
The 100 foot cord allows me to route through all sorts of areas without snagging on anything. A standard 8 foot cord plugged into an extension cord either comes unplugged or gets caught on obstructions all too often.
I build houses, apartments, schools and commercial buildings. I'm often well over 100 feet from a power source so I'm plugged into another 100 foot cord as well. So many times, these OSHA rules are written by people with no common sense or actual real world experience in Construction.
Click to expand...
////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Okay
8 to 100
Twist lock to prevent cords from pulling apart
Twist lock plugged into a generator ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Similar threads

tom999w
Does anyone know if this is a manual or power steering column?
Replies
9
Views
422
Dana67Dart
Dana67Dart
ProjectBazza
Anyone here use an "invisible fence", or a GPS "fence", for their dogs?
2
Replies
28
Views
1K
MDchanic
MDchanic
P
Source for j-bars?
Replies
3
Views
293
75slant6
75slant6
F
Family Project! 1975 Dart
Replies
6
Views
318
barbee6043
barbee6043
J
Need to know what jets and rods to run in edelbrock carburetor.
Replies
4
Views
485
AJ/FormS
AJ/FormS
Back
Top Bottom