Did you know
What’s electricity’s traveling speed?
Electricity Safety Facts
What’s electricity’s traveling speed?
Death by Electrocution
Annual Stats of Electrical Accidents
Electrical hazards in offices
Healthy Habits for Better Safety:
NFPA 70e Compliance Checklist
Implementation of NFPA 70e regulations is a major challenge. The arc flash analysis without training and tools to implement the program fails the intent of OSHA, Title 29, Section 1910 (Comm32). What can companies do to begin meeting regulations? Companies might adopt the following strategy:
Short-Term Action
Do Not Work on Hot/Live Equipment! Wear All-Cotton Clothing
Electricians, maintenance mechanics, and facilities repair workers should work as much as possible on de-energized equipment.
Always wear cotton clothing.
Use interim hazard warning labels on electrical equipment.
Long-Term Action
Train electrical workers and affected personnel in Arc-flash Hazard Awareness.
Review existing LOTO procedures to make certain they include all control panels. Assess previous employee LOTO training to determine if employees need to be retrained.
Conduct tool audits to assure employees have safe tools for the job and whether new tools need to be purchased.
Require clothing appropriate for electrical work and provide appropriate PPE with the expectation that the PPE may have to be replaced when better information is obtained.
Conduct an arc-flash hazard analysis to determine flash protection boundary on switchboards, panel boards, industrial control panels, motor control centers, and other similar equipment. A request for funding for this analysis has been submitted by System Capital Planning and Budget.
Determine PPE requirements once the appropriate boundaries have been determined.
Label electrical equipment. By this time, campuses should be capable of understanding the specific labeling requirements, and labeling the equipment on their own.
Qualified Electrical Worker. How do we determine who that is? Whether you’re a builder, a property owner, or the manager of an electrical firm yourself, you’ll need employees who can safely work with electrical systems. How can you be sure you’re only hiring qualified electrical workers for your project?
It’s an important question. Working with electricity can be dangerous, and unqualified workers don’t always have the training they need to stay safe, sometimes with terrible consequences. In 2017, 136 workers lost their lives through exposure to electricity on the job. In fact, workplace electricity exposure has caused more than 130 fatalities every year since 2011 – over 10 deaths per month, for nearly a decade. Many of these accidents could have been prevented with the right training.
Well-defined lockout tagout steps are essential because hazardous energy can cause serious injuries or fatalities if not controlled properly. Lockout tagout steps provide a systematic and standardized approach to isolate and control hazardous energy sources during servicing or maintenance activities, which prevents the unexpected startup or release of stored energy. In addition, the well-defined steps ensure that all energy sources are identified, isolated, and verified and that all authorized employees involved in the LOTO procedure understand their roles and responsibilities.
Following a set of clear and specific lockout tagout steps, the LOTO procedure helps minimize the risk of injury or death from the unexpected release of hazardous energy. It also ensures that all residual energy sources are properly controlled, and that the equipment or machinery is safely de-energized, maintained, and re-energized. In addition, the well-defined LOTO steps provide a consistent and reliable process that can be applied to a wide range of equipment or machinery, regardless of the industry or sector, promoting workplace safety and efficiency.
Lockout Tagout is governed by the occupational safety and health administration (OSHA).
The lockout tagout steps for performing lockout tagout (LOTO) procedures are generally as follows:
Notify affected employees:
Shut down the equipment:
Isolate all energy sources:
Release any stored energy:
Verify that equipment is de-energized:
Apply LOTO devices:
Verify that equipment is safe:
Remove LOTO devices:
The employee must remove all lockout/tagout devices and re-energize the equipment or machinery.
Throughout the lockout tagout steps, the employee must maintain clear communication with all affected employees and follow all safety procedures to prevent accidents or injuries. In addition, proper training and supervision are essential for ensuring that LOTO procedures are performed safely and effectively.
Arc flash and blast explosions produce some of the highest temperatures known to occur on earth – up to 35,000°F at the arc terminals. Arc flash is described as the light and heat created from an arc flash and arc blast explosion.
The intense heat from an arc causes the sudden expansion of air. This can result in a blast with very strong air pressure (lightning is a natural arc).
All known materials are vaporized at this temperature. When materials vaporize they expand in volume (copper – 67,000 times, water to steam – 1,670 times.) The air blast can spread molten metal to great distances with force.
Serious burns are common at a distance of 10 feet. Staged tests have demonstrated an arc flash temperature greater than 437°F on the neck area and hands for a person standing close to an arc flash.
Construction Electrical Safety
Common Electrical Hazards
Preventative Measures
Training Opportunities
In the United States., the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the Department of Labor set the aforementioned electrical safety standards, which must be followed. In Canada, construction electrical safety standards are written by organizations like the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). The Electricity Forum provides training opportunities to improve your construction electrical safety awareness that give electrical workers many opportunities to learn how to practice good construction electrical safety workplace practices.
The NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace is essential to workplace safety, especially in industries where workers are exposed to electrical equipment and hazards. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E standard is a vital document that provides safety requirements for electrical workers to protect them from electrical hazards.
Following the NFPA 70E standard is critical for ensuring safety in the workplace. By implementing the safety practices outlined in the standard, employers can protect their workers from hazardous energy levels and therefore reduce the risk of electrical incidents and injuries.
What is the NFPA 70E Arc Flash Standard?
The NFPA 70E is a standard for electrical safety in the workplace that provides safety requirements for electrical workers to reduce exposure to electrical hazards. The standard was first introduced in 1979 and has since been updated to reflect current safety practices and technology. The purpose of the NFPA 70E standard is to protect workers from electrical hazards and reduce the risk of electrical incidents and injuries.
The NFPA 70E standard outlines safety procedures for electrical workers when working on or near electrical equipment. It covers various safety topics, including training, program development, hazard analysis, equipment labelling, personal protective equipment (PPE), and emergency response.
What Does NFPA 70E Require Regarding Safety-Related Work Practices?
The NFPA 70E standard, associated with the National Electrical Code, requires employers to develop and implement safety-related work practices to protect workers from electrical hazards. These practices include:
Training:
The standard requires employers to provide training for workers exposed to electrical hazards. The training should cover arc flash and shock protection principles, hazard recognition, and safe work practices.
Hazard Analysis:
Employers must conduct a hazard analysis to identify electrical hazards and assess the risk of electrical incidents. The hazard analysis should include an evaluation of the electrical system, equipment, and tasks performed by workers.
Equipment Labeling:
Electrical equipment must be labelled to identify its voltage, current, and other electrical characteristics. The labelling should also indicate the appropriate PPE required for safe work practices.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
The NFPA 70E standard requires employers to provide appropriate PPE for workers exposed to electrical hazards. The PPE should be selected based on the hazard analysis and include arc-rated clothing, gloves, and face shields.
Lockout/Tagout:
The standard requires employers to establish a lockout/tagout program to prevent the accidental release of hazardous energy during electrical equipment maintenance and repair.
Emergency Response:
Employers must develop an emergency response plan for electrical incidents and injuries. The plan should include procedures for administering first aid, evacuating the area, and contacting emergency services.
What is the Most Current NFPA 70E Edition?
Elimination:
Eliminating the hazard by de-energizing the equipment or removing the hazard altogether.
Engineering Controls:
Using engineering controls to mitigate the hazard, such as barriers, insulation, and ventilation.
Administrative Controls:
Implementing administrative controls, such as training and work procedures, to reduce the risk of exposure to the hazard.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
Using PPE as a last line of defense to protect workers from hazards that other means cannot eliminate or control.
Significant Changes To The NFPA 70E 2021 Edition. Another significant change in the 2021 edition is modifying the Incident Energy Analysis method. This method is used to calculate the incident energy exposure of a worker in an arc flash hazard. The modification includes using a unified set of calculation equations to provide more accurate results and simplify the calculation process.
The 2021 edition also includes updates to the PPE requirements, including adding a new type of PPE known as an “arc-rated face shield.” This PPE is designed to protect the face and neck of workers from the thermal hazards of an arc flash.