PROCEDURE PR.678.HR
TITLE:
HEALTH AND SAFETY – ELECTRICAL AND ARC FLASH SAFETY
Date issued:
30 June 2010
Last revised:
Authorization: Senior Staff: 29 June 2010
Next review:
June 2013
1.0
OBJECTIVE
To outline a safe work procedure for the protection of Facilities Department staff and contract
staff when working with or on live electrical equipment.
2.0
RESPONSIBILITY
2.1
3.0
The Facilities Department and the Occupational Health and Safety Division are primarily
responsible for the implementation of this procedure.
DEFINITIONS
3.1
Arc flash means an explosive release of energy when an electrical current jumps the
distance from one conductor to another, or when it jumps from a conductor to the
ground.
3.2
Competent person (as defined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act)) means
a person who,
a)
is qualified because of knowledge, training and experience to organize the work
and its performance,
b)
is familiar with this Act and the regulations that apply to the work, and
c)
has knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the
workplace.
3.3
Testing (troubleshooting) means taking readings or measurements of electrical
equipment with approved test equipment that does not require making a physical
change to the equipment.
3.4
Repair (work) means the physical alteration of electrical equipment, e.g., making
connections or removing or replacing components.
3.5
CSA means the Canadian Standards Association.
3.6
ASTM means the American Society for Testing and Materials.
-1-
PR.678.HR
4.0
PROCEDURES
4.1
The Facilities Department has identified the following categories of work that a
competent person is permitted to undertake. Only the specific Ottawa-Carleton District
School Board (the “District”) staff identified in the column “District staff permitted to
undertake”, provided they are competent, may undertake the “Category of work”
identified in table 1 below.
Table 1: Categories of electrical work and staff permitted to undertake the task:
Category of work
District staff permitted to
undertake
A
Work on live electrical equipment
Not permitted
B
Work on locked-out electrical
equipment
Facilities Maintenance only
C
Testing and troubleshooting of live
electrical equipment
Facilities Maintenance only
D
Resetting of tripped breakers
Operations and Facilities
Maintenance
E
Replacement of wall receptacles and
switches
Facilities Maintenance only
F
Replacement of tubes and bulbs
Operations and Facilities
Maintenance, depending on the
light
G
Replacement of 2 and 3 prong plugs
Facilities Maintenance only
4.2
There will be no work on live electrical equipment by District staff.
4.3
Testing and troubleshooting of live electrical equipment by competent District staff will
occur only once all required safety precautions are put in place.
4.4
Competent District staff will only test and troubleshoot electrical equipment that
operates at 600 volts or lower, which is considered risk category 2, found in CSA
Standard Z462-08 in Table 4 “Hazard/risk category classifications…”
4.5
a)
Competent District staff required to test electrical equipment that operates at 600
volts or lower, will wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with
Table 3 and all PPE must meet risk category 2 or greater.
b)
For the purposes of this procedure, Facilities Maintenance will be required to
wear arc flash-suits and flash-hoods.
Table 3: Personal Protective Equipment requirements (modified from Table 5 and
Table 6 of CSA Standard Z462.08)
-2-
PR.678.HR
Risk
catego
ry
0
Protective clothing
required
Examples
Non-melting,
 long sleeve
flammable materials
100% cotton
(i.e. untreated cotton,
shirt
wool, rayon, or silk,
 Denim full
or blends of these
length jeans or
materials) with a
 100% cotton
fabric weight of at
2
long pants
least 4.5 oz/yd
Additional PPE
requirements



4.6
 Nomex clothing
 FR pants
 Denim jeans >
12 oz/yd2
Flash suits and
flash hoods must
be rated above the
flash energy levels
standard, and
must meet the
appropriate ASTM
standard
CSA (Z94-3) approved
impact protective safety
glasses with nonmetallic/non-conductive
frames
CSA (Z195) approved class
1 safety footwear with
electrical protection
(Omega symbol)
CSA (Z94.1) approved
Class E, type 2 head
protection
1
Fire Retardant (FR)
shirt and FR pants or
FR coverall
Same as above
2
Cotton underwear –
conventional short
sleeve and
brief/shorts, plus FR
shirt and FR pants or
FR coveralls
Face shield with side
protection, chin cups
3
Cotton underwear
plus FR shirt and FR
pants plus FR
coverall and flash
hood,
or cotton underwear
plus two FR coveralls
and flash hood
or flash suit and flash
hood
Same as above
4
Cotton underwear
plus FR shirt and FR
pants plus multilayer
flash suit
Or flash suit meeting
ASTM F1506 and
ASTM F2178
Same as above
Same as above
All equipment such as step ladders will be rated for use around electrical equipment.
-3PR.678.HR
5.0
4.7
No jewelry or watches shall be worn while undertaking any electrical work.
4.8
No other clothing or electrically conductive items are permitted to be worn on the
outside of approved arc flash protective clothing while conducting the tasks identified
above, where arc flash protection is required.
4.9
Where outside work requires protective clothing due to exposure to cold weather,
special protective parkas issued by the Facilities Maintenance Division shall be worn.
4.10
All electrical work activity observers must remain at least 3 metres away from any
activities where there is a potential for arc flash hazards.
4.11
All electrical work activity observers must make themselves known to the area workers
prior to any electrical work activity commencing where there is a potential for arc flash
hazards.
4.12
Failure to comply with the safe work procedures will result in immediate disciplinary
action.
REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Board Policy P.058.HR: Occupational Health and Safety
Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario RSO 1990
Construction Projects regulation 213/90 as amended
Industrial Establishments Regulation 851/90 as amended
Electrical Safety Code, Regulation 627/05 as amended
Workplace Electrical Safety, Z462-08, Canadian Standards Association
Board Procedure PR.594.HR: Employee Safety – Locking Out and Tagging
-4-
PR.678.HR
Appendix 1 – Minimum PPE requirements for Arc flash protection –
modified from CSA Standard Z462-08 “Workplace electrical safety”, Table
3 Standards for personal protective equipment.
Type of PPE
Applicable Standard(s)
Description of additional
requirements
Head protection
CAN/CSA-Z94.1
Must be Class E, Type II, top
and side impact protective.
Must not have metal
components, accessories, chin
straps or stickers on the head
protection.
Face protection
CSA Z94.3
Must be non-conductive face
shield/hardware components to
attach to the head protection.
Face shield must be rated for arc
flash protection and must never
be considered primary eye
protection, i.e., must be worn
with approved safety glasses.
Eye protection
CSA Z94.3
Must be at a minimum impact
approved impact protective
glasses and must be worn at all
times when face protection is
worn or required.
Hearing
protection
CSA Z94.2
Must have a minimum NRR
rating of 25 or greater, with no
metal or conductive components.
Hand protection
ASTM F 496
Must be voltage rated gloves
which offer sufficient protection
to maintain the protective level of
the entire ensemble.
Foot protection
CAN/CSA Z195
Must be Grade 1, Electricalshock-resistant, displaying the
Greek letter omega, with ankle
protection, i.e. 6” or greater
height boot.
Clothing -
ASTM F 2178
Must be CGSB or NFPA
compliant, fire rated, extending
-5-
PR.678.HR
Type of PPE
Applicable Standard(s)
balaclava
Description of additional
requirements
over the mouth and neck with a
minimum of 8 cal/cm2 rating
NOTE: Fabric softener must
never be used when
laundering.
Clothing coveralls
ASTM F 1506
Must be CGSB or NFPA
compliant, fire rated, with no
metal components with a
minimum of 8 cal/cm2 rating
NOTE: Fabric softener must
never be used when
laundering.
Clothing –
outdoor jacket
(winter)
ASTM F 1506
Must be CGSB or NFPA
compliant, fire rated, with no
metal components with a
minimum of 8 cal/cm2 rating
NOTE: Fabric softener must
never be used when
laundering
Fall protection
CSA Z259 series
ASTM F 887
Precautions
All PPE must be kept clean
and in good working order for
maximum protection.
Prior to each use the PPE
must be inspected.
When not in use, all PPE must
be stored properly in the
storage bag provided to
prevent damage or soiling
Follow manufacturers’
instructions in the care and
maintenance of all PPE.
-6-
PR.678.HR