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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Are Your Electrical Safety Practices as Effective as They Could Be?

KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • When it comes to worker safety, the electrical industry is moving in a positive direction.
  • Electrical Safety Programs prioritize prevention of hazard exposure over protection from hazards.
  • When feasible, work must only be performed on equipment in an electrically safe work condition.
  • Risk assessment enables teams to identify hazards and then create mitigation plans.
  • Before electrical work begins, a job safety plan and job briefing must be completed.
  • Eliminating electrical hazards is the top priority of NFPA 70E.
In recent years, the electrical industry has seen a steady improvement in electrical safe work practices.
Electrical workers are becoming more familiar with and using proper PPE and hazard mitigation techniques. However, many electrical professionals and companies have the wrong perspective about electrical safety. The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) 70E standard is driving workers toward a perspective of prevention over protection. Risk mitigation strategies are a proven way to improve an organization's safety culture. 

Are Your Electrical Safety Practices As Effective As They Could Be?

In this webinar, viewers will learn some basics about some of the requirements of NFPA 70E that have been put in place for the safety of electrical workers. This discussion will address the difference between a perspective of protection versus prevention, what steps are required to perform electrical tasks safely, and how the requirements of the NFPA 70E help to push workers toward hazard prevention.
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Tommy Northcott
PE, CRL, CMRP, Senior Power Engineer and Branch Manager – Jacobs Technology Inc.
Tommy Northcott serves as a senior power engineer and branch manager for Jacobs Technology Inc. With more than 20 years in the electrical industry as an electrical engineer, project manager, arc flash program manager, electrical safety trainer, and utility manager, he brings a broad range of experience into his passion toward electrical safety. As a Certified Reliability Leader and Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional, he also has a clear vision on how maintenance of electrical equipment has a direct impact on personnel safety. Tommy has a B.S. in electrical engineering and is a licensed professional engineer in two states. He is also a principal committee member on the NFPA 70B Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance committee. 
Context
Tommy Northcott discussed the requirements in NFPA 70E, the distinction between prevention and protection, and mitigation strategies that can help workers perform electrical tasks safely. 

Key Takeaways

When it comes to worker safety, the electrical industry is moving in a positive direction.

The culture of electrical workers is shifting toward safer work practices. Most at-risk behaviors today are due to individuals not knowing better. Continuous learning is the key to a positive electrical safety culture. 
The technology associated with electrical safety is also trending in a positive direction. More advancements have emerged that mitigate exposure to electrical hazards. Companies like ABB are continually designing new equipment with built-in safety features, such as improved smart relays, arc-resistant gear, smart equipment that can be remotely monitored and operated, improved fault detection, and more. 
In addition, the standards governing electrical safety have been evolving in positive ways. The NFPA has created the electrical standard "three-legged stool" which covers electrical workers throughout the entire equipment life cycle, from conceptual design through decommissioning.
Solutions

NFPA 70 – National Electric Code

This addresses how to design and install electrical equipment so it poses no hazard to the general public.

NFPA 70B – Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance

This outlines the requirements to keep electrical equipment properly maintained to minimize potential equipment failure.

NFPA 70E – Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace

This covers how electrical workers can work on or around electrical equipment in a safe manner. It defines requirements for employers and workers.
"Most workers recognize that their personal life is not worth the risk of a workplace injury. The trend is that more workers are willing to use PPE to shield themselves as they work carefully around known hazards." 

– Tommy Northcott, Jacobs Technology

Electrical Safety Programs prioritize prevention of hazard exposure over protection from hazards. 

NFPA 70E articulates the requirements for an Electrical Safety Program. The major elements include: 
Proper Maintenance
Proper Maintenance
It's important to perform proper maintenance on electrical equipment to minimize equipment failures and unplanned outages which can result in at-risk behavior.
Inspection Requirements
Inspection Requirements

Inspection requirements ensure that new and modified systems are installed in conformance with NFPA 70 to minimize hazards.

 

Awareness & Self-discipline
Awareness & Self-discipline

Documenting safe work practices in procedures, policies, and recurring training sets expectations for how electrical workers perform their tasks.

 

Risk Assessment 
Risk Assessment 
The risk assessment procedure identifies how employees can identify potential hazards and employ mitigation techniques.
Job Safety
Job Safety

Job safety planning and briefings are completed and communicated to workers before projects begin.

 

Incident investigations
Incident investigations
The objective of an incident investigation is to identify the root cause, so the electrical safety program can be updated appropriately.
Work Conditions Policy
Work Conditions Policy
To minimize exposure to electrical hazards, workers should only engage with circuits and circuit parts that are in an electrically safe work condition, unless it's infeasible to do so. 
Lockout/Tagout
Lockout/Tagout
The lockout/tagout program is designed to de-energize and secure machinery or processes, so hazardous energy isn't present during service or repair work.
Auditing
Auditing

Every three years, electrical safety programs must be audited for compliance with the latest version of the NFPA 70E standard.

 

When feasible, work must only be performed on equipment in an electrically safe work condition. 

In Article 110.2 of NFPA 70E, employers are mandated to establish, document, and implement an Electrically Safe Work Condition Policy that requires hazard elimination to be the top priority in the implementation of safety-related work practices. 
NFPA 70E outlines how to establish electrically safe work conditions. Once the following steps are completed, then the equipment or circuit part is in an electrically safe work condition and workers aren't required to wear electrical hazard personal protective equipment (PPE):
Solutions

1. Identify all sources of electrical energy.

When available, workers must refer to up-to-date drawings, diagrams, equipment tags, or anything that identifies sources of electrical energy.

2. Disconnect the sources.

Ideally, workers will interrupt as much of the load as is feasible and then disconnect the sources of electrical energy.

3. Visually verify the disconnects.

For example, workers will verify that the blades of switches are fully open or that draw-out type circuit breakers are racked out to the test or in fully disconnected position.

4. Block or release stored energy.

Workers must release any stored electrical energy and block or release any stored mechanical energy. This is important, since springs under tension can cause a mechanical operation of a breaker during maintenance, resulting in severe injuries.

5. Apply lockout/tagout devices.

This prevents any operation in accordance with a documented procedure.

6. Verify the absence of voltage.

A best practice is to use the live-dead-live method. While this step is performed, equipment is not yet in an electrically safe condition. As a result, all necessary PPE must be worn during verification.

7. Apply grounds when applicable.

Teams must always ensure that personal protective grounds are rated to handle the available fault current.

Risk assessment enables teams to identify hazards and then create mitigation plans.

Risk assessment procedures are documented processes for identifying hazards, as well as what steps must be taken and in what order to safeguard workers. Hazards can be removed or reduced through engineering controls like remote switching, by incorporating arc-resistant gear, and through other mechanical means. 
Every electrical task needs to be evaluated to identify which hazards might be present. It may be necessary to perform both an electric shock risk assessment and an arc flash risk assessment. Based on the potential hazard exposure, the appropriate safe execution strategy can be applied. 
Risk assessments must be performed prior to starting work, so hazards are identified before workers are exposed to them. If a risk cannot be eliminated, it is essential to analyze the hazard and establish mandatory safe work practices. 
One of the most important elements of a risk assessment is the hierarchy of risk control methods. The NFPA officially adopted this framework in the 2018 revision of NFPA 70E. The intent is to select the highest level of method(s) to minimize the exposure and effects of electrical hazards.

The hierarchy includes six levels of risk control:

1

Elimination
The physical removal of the hazard is the most effective control.

2

Substitution

This involves replacing something that produces a hazard with something that either eliminates or reduces the hazard.

3

Engineering controls

These don't always eliminate the hazard; they may instead isolate electrical workers from the hazard.

4

Awareness
This more passive approach can work in parallel with other methods. Warning and danger signs are a common form of awareness.

5

Administrative controls

These change the way people work. While they don't remove hazards, they reduce worker exposure and proactively drive the culture toward safe work practices.

6

Personal Protective Equipment
PPE doesn't reduce hazards, but protects workers from them. Organizations should consider whether there are safer ways to complete tasks which minimize the need for PPE.
"The hierarchy of risk controls must be applied throughout the life cycle of electrical systems, starting with the conceptual design. Anything that can be done during the design phase that eliminates or minimizes hazards will greatly reduce the risk to workers over the life of that equipment." 

– Tommy Northcott, Jacobs Technology

Before electrical work begins, a job safety plan and job briefing must be completed.

NFPA 70E section 110.3(I)

According to NFPA 70E section 110.3(I), organizations must conduct a job safety plan and job briefing before any work begins that presents potential exposure to electrical hazards. 

Job Safety Planning

Job safety planning needs to be completed by a qualified person and documented. Job safety planning includes a description of the job and individual tasks, identification of the electrical hazards, an electric shock and arc flash risk assessment, lock out/tag out measures, special precautions, and an emergency response plan. 

Electric Shock Assessment

The electric shock assessment determines whether an energized electrical work permit (EEWP) will be required. The arc flash assessment identifies any arc flash PPE or mitigation techniques that are needed for worker protection. Emergency response plans are a new addition to the 2024 revision of NFPA 70E. 

Energized Work

Energized work is only permitted if the employer can demonstrate that (1) de-energizing introduces additional hazards, or (2) it is infeasible to perform the task in a de-energized state due to equipment design or operational limitations. 

Job Briefing

Before work begins, a qualified electrical worker must lead a job briefing with everyone involved. This may be held in the shop, office, or job site. The job briefing covers the safety plan and the EEWP, if a permit is required. If the scope of work changes during a project, the work must pause while the brief and other documentation is reviewed and updated. 

The Elements of an Energized Electrical Work Permit (EEWP)

Elements of an EEWP:

1. Description of circuit/equipment to be worked on
2. Description of the work to be performed
3. Infeasibility justification
4. Safe work practices to be used
5. Shock risk assessment
1. Nominal voltage
2. LAB
3. RAB
4. Necessary PPE

 

6. Arc Flash assessment
1. Incident energy or required PPE category
2. Required PPE
3. Arc Flash boundary distance
7. Means to restrict access by unqualified persons
8. Evidence of completion of Job Briefing
9. Approval signatures

Eliminating electrical hazards is the top priority of NFPA 70E. 

The 2024 version of NFPA 70E requires that employers establish, document, and implement an electrically safe work condition policy that requires hazard elimination as the top priority in implementation of safety-related work practices and complies with section 110.2(B)
To promote an electrical safety culture where taking risks is unacceptable, organizations may want to follow four best practices which include: 
Conducting an honest self-assessment of the current culture related to electrical hazards. 
Creating procedures that require risk assessments before work begins.
Mitigating hazards by using the hierarchy of risk control method. 
Considering equipment with additional safety features when installing or upgrading systems.

Additional Resources

Are Your Electrical Safety Practices As Effective As They Could Be?

In this webinar, viewers will learn some basics about some of the requirements of NFPA 70E that have been put in place for the safety of electrical workers. 

 

Are Your Electrical Safety Practices as Effective as They Could Be?

Tommy Northcott discussed the requirements in NFPA 70E, the distinction between prevention and protection, and mitigation strategies that can help workers perform electrical tasks safely. 

 

Download Summary PDFOpens in a new window.

Arc Flash Hazard Protection

 

Arc flash hazard risk is a function of fault clearing time at an arcing current and a worker’s distance from the event. ABB offers a variety of products and services that help minimize risk in both new and existing facilities.
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