(a) No person, firm, corporation, or association shall, individually or through an agent or employee, and no person as an agent or employee of any person, firm, corporation, or association, shall perform, require, or permit any agent or employee to perform any function or activity upon any land, building, structure, highway, or other premises when it could be reasonably expected, during the performance of the activity, for any person or employee engaged in performing work connected with or related to the function or activity to move or to be placed in a position within ten feet (10') of any energized overhead electrical line or conductor, or when it could be reasonably expected for any part of any tool, equipment, machinery, or material to be used by any such person or employee to be brought within ten feet (10') of any such overhead line or conductor through any lateral, vertical, or swinging motion during the performance of that function or activity, unless and until danger from accidental contact with said overhead lines has been effectively guarded against in the manner hereinafter prescribed.

(b) No person, firm, corporation, or association shall, individually or through an agent or employee, and no person as an agent or employee of any person, firm, corporation, or association, shall store, operate, erect, maintain, move or transport any tools, machinery, equipment, supplies, materials, or other apparatus, house, other building, or any part thereof, within ten feet (10') of any energized overhead electrical line unless and until danger from accidental contact with the overhead line has been effectively guarded against in the manner hereinafter prescribed.

(c) (1) The commission of any act enumerated in subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be prohibited except where energized overhead electrical lines have been effectively guarded against danger from accidental contact, by either:

(A) The erection of mechanical or insulating barriers to prevent physical contact with energized overhead electrical lines; or

(B) De-energizing the overhead electrical lines and grounding.

(2) Only in the case of either of such exceptions may the ten foot (10') clearance required be reduced. The required ten foot (10') clearance shall not be provided by movement of the lines through strains impressed by attachments or otherwise, upon the structures supporting the overhead lines, nor upon any equipment, fixtures, or attachments thereon.

(3) If subdivisions (c)(1)(A) and (B) of this section are not practicable in the opinion of the owner or operator of the electrical lines and it is necessary to temporarily relocate the overhead electrical lines, mutually agreeable arrangements shall be made with the owner or operator of the overhead electrical lines for the temporary relocation.

(4) In addition to the requirements of subdivisions (c)(1)(A) and (B) of this section, there shall be installed an insulated cage-type guard or protective device, approved by the Director of the Department of Labor, about the boom or arm of all equipment, except backhoes or dippers. Where the equipment includes a lifting hook device also approved by the director, all lifting lines shall be equipped with insulator links on the lift hook connection.

(5) All mechanical barriers and all insulated protective devices and links referred to in this section shall be of such character and construction as are suited to the work operations and adequate for the electrical conditions to be encountered.

(6) All mechanical barriers and all insulated protective devices and links shall be maintained in such functioning condition as to meet periodic inspection.