Electrical Work Safety Equipment – Electrical workers appear to be well able to identify and measure the hazards associated with tasks, but risk appears to be a vague concept for most people. Electrical personnel continually assess the risk. Every time we start our car to drive somewhere, cross the street, travel on an airplane, play a round of golf, or ski down a black diamond slope, we assess the risk associated with that action. , without realizing it.
The 2018 edition of NFPA 70E places greater emphasis on risk assessment, as qualified individuals must be able to assess risk to perform the work safely. Even though OSHA has a single-point of responsibility policy (always the employer), your supervisor or foreman won’t be lying in a hospital bed wondering what the rest of their life will be like.
Electrical Work Safety Equipment
Large projects require each crew leader to assess and document the risk involved in the work. If work conditions change and may create additional or different risks, a new risk assessment should be completed and documented.
Electrician Technician At Work With Safety Equipment On A Residential Electrical System Stock Image
A 480 V motor control circuit is defective, and troubleshooting is required to determine the cause. Because the circuit provides power to an emergency system, repairs may have to be made while energized. Depending on specific circumstances and requirements, there may not be an option.
One of the exemptions used by OSHA in 29CFR1910.333(a)(1) is “impracticability.” It needs to be emphasized that inconvenience and impracticality are two different things. The best way to look at impractical is to look at it from OSHA’s perspective. If there is a way to disable an electrical circuit or device, this is what is expected. OSHA has an interpretation letter dated 4/11/2012 regarding “continuous industrial processes” and impracticality that explains their reasoning. To summarize that LOI, close it.
Typically, companies will have a job hazard analysis or job safety analysis form that must be completed. This is helpful for most common tasks, but many do not adequately address electrical hazards. NFPA 70E, 2018 Edition provides guidance in Article 130. New in the 2018 70E is section 110.1(i)(1), Job Safety Planning and Briefing. In previous editions the job safety plan was included in the job briefing. The 70E Committee believes that the job safety plan is as important as the actual briefing. In 110.1(I)(1) the job plan is made by “a qualified person” and must be documented. Shock and arc flash risk assessment is required, LOTO, any special precautions required and equipment, tools, or other requirements must be fully documented. Half planning is worse than no planning.
Once the job protection plan is complete, it should be communicated to all affected workers. Section 110.1(I)(2) covers job briefing requirements. The requirements are essentially the same as the 2015 edition of NFPA 70E and require job safety planning and energetic electrical work permit elements to be included during job briefings. An example job briefing checklist is included in Informational Annex I, Figure I.1.
Work Safety Protection Image & Photo (free Trial)
The 2018 edition of NFPA 70E added new requirements to the risk assessment process. Section 110.1(h)(2) requires that the risk assessment process “address the possibility of human error and its negative consequences…” A Committee member asked how human error could be addressed, because There are a thousand ways to make a mistake. The answer is to do the best you can. No one can foresee all the possibilities, but we can account for some of the more obvious and even less obvious human errors if we try.
For example, what would happen if an employee dropped an uninsulated wrench on an energized bus? What can be done to prevent this from happening? Are new or different tools and equipment required to prevent this, such as insulated hand tools, tying down tools so they cannot fall onto the bus, even if they are insulated. Looking at the need from this perspective makes more sense than trying to account for every possible error a person could make.
Performing infrared thermography and other non-contact inspections outside the restricted approach range. This activity does not involve opening doors or lids.
Working on control circuits with exposed energized electrical conductors and circuit parts, nominal 125 volts AC or DC, involves opening hinged covers to gain access.
Electrical Safety Labels (lelc118xve)
For DC systems, maintenance on single cells of battery systems or multi-cell units in open racks.
Section 110.1(h)(3) now requires the use of a hierarchy of exposure control methods when “additional protective measures” are required. If the use of PPE appears to be necessary to accomplish the task, the hierarchy of hazard control methods in 110.1(h)(3) should be applied. The first method of risk control is elimination of the hazard. Placing the equipment in an electrically safe working condition is one such elimination method. If elimination is not possible, remaining risk control methods should be considered and implemented if possible.
110.1(h)(3) Informational Note No. 1 explains how the first three risk control methods are the most effective, while the last three are the least effective. Elimination, replacement and engineering controls apply at the source, while awareness, administrative controls and PPE do not.
Determine the work that may be needed to accomplish the primary goal. If troubleshooting, as in the example being used, the device may have to be de-energized or powered down to open the door to gain access. Since it is no longer “operating normally”, arc-rated clothing and PPE is required. Refer to arc flash risk assessment for proper protection.
Safety Precautions When Working With High Voltage Electricity
Once the door is opened, the appliance must be reactivated. This will also be operating equipment and will no longer be considered “normal operations” and will require arc-rated clothing and PPE.
Troubleshooting requires arc-rated clothing and PPE, as the worker will be exposed to electrical hazards.
Once the cause is found, the equipment may require repair. Repairs will include any replacement or manipulation of conductors or circuit parts, such as removing and installing components, tightening or replacing conductors, etc.
At this point, the work should stop. Repair activities can only be carried out using EEWP, subject to management approval.
High Altitude Work Safety Belt Full Body Harness Rope Outdoor Climbing Electrician Construction Anti Fall Protection Equipment
Reevaluate working conditions. The risk will be higher because energized conductors or circuit parts are being handled or changed. Consider whether the work methods employed are adequate for the new work. Note that Section 130.2(b) requires an EEWP whenever active work is conducted within the restricted approach range.
Table 130.5(C) indicates work “Working on energized electrical conductors and circuit parts, including voltage testing, for AC systems” always requires the use of arc-rated clothing and PPE to perform that work, including Troubleshooting will be included.
There is no such thing as risk-free work as far as energized electrical conductors and circuit parts are concerned. If it is energetic, danger exists and therefore risk also exists. We can reduce the risk by operating equipment remotely or covering adjacent circuits with rubber insulating shields, but the risk can never be zero. The remaining risk is the residual risk. Once all steps have been taken to reduce risk, the remaining risk must be evaluated. If the residual risk is still too great, the device cannot be operated when activated.
If the technician evaluates the risk and he or she and the technician’s supervisor are confident that the work can be performed safely, it can be performed proactively. In our example scenario it may be that troubleshooting is too risky, due to appearance, smell, and sound, as well as the experience of the technician. Plan B should be prepared, which will probably include de-energizing the equipment and testing individual components to determine which are most likely to fail. Sometimes this approach does not determine the cause of the problem. If this is the case, the device can be activated using a low-power source for troubleshooting. Even if the technician is confident that the work can be performed safely, all of the requirements of Article 130 are still in effect.
Don’t Be Shocked—electrical Safety
Of course, training is a big part of the equation. If employees are not following policies or procedures, it is often a lack of training that is at fault. “Check-the-box” training may complete the paper trail but does little or nothing to promote safety. Employees must be trained to understand the value of what they do, not just how to do it. People need to understand why it needs to be done one way rather than another, more convenient way.
Assessing risk is an important part of safety, not just electrical safety. The employer can only do so much, as it is the employee who is on scene and observing equipment and conditions. A good truism is “Always be responsible for your personal safety.” Relying on others may result in less than satisfactory results. Listen to your inner feelings. Often, accidents could have been avoided if employees had stopped when a small voice in their ear said, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Step back and reevaluate the situation. Maybe something was missed, or maybe not, but taking a second look is never a bad thing.
Jim White, CESCP, is vice president of training services for Shermco Industries and a key member of the NFPA