No employer or supervising agent of an employer shall require or permit an employee to participate in the operation, erection, transportation, handling, or storage of any tools, machinery, equipment, supplies, materials, or apparatus or the moving of any building, if in the course of such operation, erection, transportation, handling, storage or moving it is possible for such tools, machinery, equipment, supplies, materials, apparatus or building, to come within 6 feet of a high-voltage line; or to participate in any activity which would cause the employee to come within 6 feet of a high-voltage line; unless precautionary action has been taken to protect against the danger from contact with such high-voltage line, either by de-energizing such high-voltage line and grounding it where necessary, or other effective methods or devices which have been approved in advance by the commissioner for the particular case and for the particular location.

No person shall operate, erect, transport, handle or store any tools, machinery, equipment, supplies, materials or apparatus, or move any building, if in the course of such operation, erection, transportation, handling, storage or moving, it is possible for such tools, machinery, equipment, supplies, materials, apparatus or building, to come within 6 feet of a high-voltage line unless precautionary action has been taken to protect against the danger from contact with such high-voltage line either by de-energizing such high-voltage line and grounding it where necessary, or by using other effective methods or devices which have been approved in advance by the commissioner for the particular case and for the particular location.

In no case shall the required 6 foot clearance be provided by moving or displacing any conductor, except where the same is temporarily relocated pursuant to arrangements made with the owner or person in charge of the high-voltage line.

L.1948, c. 249, p. 1100, s. 2. Amended by L.1966, c. 261, s. 3.