High Voltage Safety Certification for Duke Energy Crews

Customer

Duke Energy

Location

North & South Carolina

Highlights

  • OSHA 1910.269-Aligned Training
  • Client-Specific Compliance for Duke Energy
  • Scalable, Annual Certification Framework

High Voltage Rubber Glove Certification Program for Duke Energy Field Operations

The Challenge

An internal safety investigation—triggered by a CESR (Cardinal Electric Safety Rule) violation—revealed that our employees operating within Duke Energy’s territory were not formally certified under OSHA 1910.269 standards for handling energized conductors with high voltage rubber gloves. This OSHA standard requires that insulating rubber gloves and leather protectors be worn by 269-qualified employees operating within Minimum Approach Distance (MAD) to exposed energized conductors. The gap posed both regulatory and operational risks, especially as more of our employees were being deployed to high-voltage field environments.

The Solution

We developed and launched a new High Voltage Rubber Glove Certification Program, specifically aligned to Duke Energy’s OSHA compliance standards. Co-developed by our instructors, the program includes:
  • Phase 1 – Virtual Training: 4 hours on TalentLMS covering:
    • Electrical transmission & distribution systems
    • Transformer core functions
  • Phase 2 – Field Practical: A step-by-step hands-on field assessment including:
    • Pre-job STAR protocol (Stop, Think, Act, Review)
    • Safe vehicle positioning and cone placement
    • Air testing of rubber gloves for integrity
    • Walk-around inspection of padmount transformers
    • Safe opening of energized transformer lids and component identification
  • Phase 3 – Certification Exam: A 25-question exam covering technical knowledge and OSHA protocol compliance
  • Annual Recertification Requirement to maintain compliance and field readiness

Key Benefits

  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensures we meet OSHA 1910.269 and Duke Energy safety expectations.
  • Risk Mitigation: Reduces the likelihood of CESR violations, arc flash incidents, or other high-voltage accidents.
  • Client Confidence: Positions us as a reliable, safety-first partner for utilities with strict operational standards.
  • Scalable Framework: Program can be administered by any qualified TPS instructor, making it repeatable across regions and contracts.
  • Field Preparedness: Certifies employees not just on theory, but on in-field situational awareness and technical accuracy.

The Results

  • The program has already certified Think Power Solutions personnel working under Duke Energy system requirements.
  • It has been formally recognized as a groundbreaking safety credentialing initiative within our organization.
  • Now serves as a template for similar compliance-driven training programs across other utility territories.
  • Will be used to ensure annual compliance recertification, improving safety culture and audit readiness year-over-year.

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