§ 50-3-1003 — Clearance or safeguard required

(a) The operation, erection or transportation of any tools, machinery, or equipment, or any part of any tools, machinery, or equipment, capable of vertical, lateral or swinging motion, the handling, transportation or storage of any supplies, materials or apparatus, or the moving of any house or other building, or any part of any house or building, under, over, by or near high-voltage overhead lines, is expressly prohibited, if at any time during such operation, transportation or other manipulation it is possible to bring the equipment, tools, materials, building, or any part of the equipment, tools, materials or building, within ten feet (10') of the high-voltage overhead lines, or the distance required by an applicable standard of the Tennessee occupational health administration, except where the high-voltage overhead lines have been effectively guarded against danger from accidental contact, by either: (1) The erection of mechanical barriers to prevent physical contact with high-voltage conductors; (2) De-energizing the high-voltage conductors and grounding where necessary; or (3) By insulating the lines. (b) Only in the case of an exception referenced in subdivision (a)(1), (a)(2) or (a)(3) may the clearance required by subsection (a) be reduced. The clearance required by subsection (a) shall not be provided by movement of the conductors through strains impressed, by attachments or otherwise, upon the structures supporting the high-voltage overhead line nor upon any equipment, fixtures or attachments on the structures. (c) If temporary relocation of the high-voltage conductors is necessary, appropriate arrangements shall be made with the owner or operator of the overhead line for such temporary relocation.

Legislative History

Acts 1955, ch. 289, § 3; T.C.A., §§ 53-2803, 68-21-103; Acts 2011, ch. 157, §§ 3, 4; Acts 2012, ch. 681, § 4; T.C.A. §68-103-103.