Electrical Work Safety Program Thousands of workers are unnecessarily injured each year by electrical shock or burned by electrical arcs. The frequency and severity of these types of injuries can be significantly reduced by developing and implementing an electrical work safety program that complies with the guidelines established in NFPA 70E®. These programs should include the following topics. Program Elements An overall electrical safety program directs the activity appropriate for the voltage, energy level and circuit conditions. It should provide an awareness of the potential electrical hazards to employees who work in an environment influenced by the presence of electrical energy. An electrical safety program should identify: • Principles and controls upon which it is based • Hazard/risk evaluation to determine if electrical hazards exist for live parts operating at 50 volts or more method, and trained to recognize and avoid electrical hazards that may be present. They should be familiar with special precautionary techniques and personal protective equipment such as arc-flash insulation, shielding materials, insulated tools and test equipment. • Persons permitted to work within the Limited Approach Boundary of exposed live parts operating at 50 volts or more should be trained to: • Procedures to be outlined before work is started on or near live parts of 50 volts or higher f Distinguish exposed energized parts from other electrical equipment • Job briefing procedure which should cover such subjects as hazards associated with the job, work procedures involved, special precautions, energy source controls and personal protective equipment requirements f Determine the nominal voltage of the exposed live parts f Determine the appropriate approach distance and the corresponding voltage exposure to a qualified person f Understand the decision-making process necessary to determine the degree and extent of the hazard and the necessary personal protective equipment and job planning to perform the task safely Training Workers should be trained, both in the classroom and on the job, in safety-related work practices and procedures necessary to provide protection from electrical hazards associated with their jobs. Training should also include dealing with emergency procedures, such as release of victims from electrical contact, first aid and resuscitation. The scope of training should be consistent with the job the worker performs. For instance: • Qualified personnel should be trained in the operation of equipment or a specific work • Unqualified personnel should be trained and familiar with electrical safety-related work practices for their jobs and exposures. Continued www.emcins.com Electrical Work Safety Program Safe Work Practices for Electrical Conductors or Circuit Parts Safety-related work practices should protect workers from hazards while they are working near exposed electrical conductors or circuit parts that could become energized. The following safe work practices should be followed by all organizations: • An employee could be exposed to live parts which should be placed into an electrically safe work condition before an employee works on or near these parts, according to NFPA 70E® Article 120, unless the work on the energized components can be justified according to NFPA 70E® Article 130. • Only qualified persons should be permitted to work on electrical conductors or circuits that have not been placed into a safe work condition. • When working on electrical conductors and circuits of 50 volts or higher that are not in an electrically safe condition, an electrical hazard analysis should be completed to develop procedures that will protect the worker from arc flash and contact with live parts. • Appropriate safety-related work practices should be determined, using both shock hazard analysis and flash hazard analysis, before any person approaches exposed live parts within the Limited Approach Boundary. • Unqualified persons should not be permitted to enter spaces that are accessible to qualified employees, according to NFPA 70E® Article 400.16. • Only qualified persons with sole control should be permitted to bypass an electrical safety interlock, and then only temporarily while that qualified person is working on the equipment. For Additional Information Occupational Safety & Health Administration: www.osha.gov – Safety/Health Topics EMC Insurance Companies: www.emcins.com • Loss Prevention Information Manual f Electrical Safety f Lockout/Tagout • Tech Sheets f Electrical Hazards f Lockout/ Tagout Program • An Energized Electrical Work Permit should be completed prior to entering the Limited Approach Boundary. Home Office: 717 Mulberry • Des Moines, IA 50309 • 800-447-2295 • www.emcins.com Disclaimer: This material is designed and intended for general information purposes only, and is not intended, nor shall be construed or relied upon, as specific legal advice. ©Copyright Employers Mutual Casualty Company 2011. All rights reserved. Image ©2011 JupiterImages Corporation. 6167 (12-11)