Subpart G
No. Under 1918.68, the frames of portable electrical equipment and tools do not have to be grounded if the tools are double insulated or are battery operated. This means double-insulated tools are expressly excluded from the grounding requirement in that section.
No. 1918.68 specifically excludes battery operated tools from the grounding requirement, so battery-powered portable tools do not need their frames grounded under that provision.
Frames of portable electrical equipment and tools (except double-insulated and battery-operated tools) must be grounded. The rule states that "the frames of portable electrical equipment and tools, other than double insulated tools and battery operated tools, shall be grounded" by an equipment grounding conductor as described in 1918.68.
The grounding conductor must be a separate equipment conductor that is either run along with the circuit conductors or that encloses the circuit conductors. 1918.68 requires grounding "through a separate equipment conductor run with or enclosing the circuit conductors."
No. The phrase "separate equipment conductor" in 1918.68 means the equipment grounding conductor must be a distinct conductor dedicated to grounding; it is not intended to be combined with the neutral or other circuit conductors.
Yes. 1918.68 allows the separate equipment grounding conductor to be run "with or enclosing the circuit conductors," which means the grounding conductor can be included inside the same multi-conductor cable or conduit assembly as the circuit conductors.
No. 1918.68 requires a separate equipment grounding conductor but does not specify the conductor size. For conductor sizing and other electrical details you must consult the applicable electrical codes or standards referenced for conductor sizing and safe installations.
Yes—the requirement applies to the frames of portable electrical equipment and tools supplied by a cord or cable. 1918.68 requires grounding through a separate equipment conductor run with or enclosing the circuit conductors, which would include the grounding conductor in extension cords or supply cables used with portable equipment.
No. For portable tools that are not double insulated or battery operated, 1918.68 requires grounding of the frames through a separate equipment conductor. Using a two-prong plug that does not provide an equipment grounding conductor would not meet that grounding requirement.
No. Because 1918.68 requires the frames of portable electrical equipment to be grounded through a separate equipment conductor, an adapter that defeats or removes the equipment grounding conductor would not satisfy that requirement for tools that are not double insulated or battery operated.
The text of 1918.68 sets the grounding requirement but does not assign roles in the provision itself; OSHA standards generally impose duties on employers to comply with the rules in their workplaces. Employers should ensure that grounding conductors required by 1918.68 are installed and maintained for portable equipment and tools.
No. 1918.68 allows the separate equipment conductor to be "run with or enclosing the circuit conductors," which contemplates that the equipment grounding conductor can be an enclosed conductor (for example, incorporated in a cable or conduit assembly) but it must still be a distinct equipment grounding conductor.
Yes. 1918.68 covers the frames of portable electrical equipment and tools, which includes cord-connected hand-held tools that are not double insulated or battery operated; those tool frames must be grounded through a separate equipment conductor run with or enclosing the circuit conductors.
No. 1918.68 specifies that the frames of portable equipment and tools must be grounded through a separate equipment conductor, but it does not specify testing or inspection procedures. Employers should follow applicable electrical codes and industry best practices for testing and maintaining grounding systems in addition to complying with 1918.68.