ASSURED EQUIPMENT GROUNDING CONDUCTOR PROGRAM
Tech Power Engineering Services
Purpose
This program outlines safe work practices to follow to protect workers on construction sites from
all electrical injuries resulting from possible equipment malfunctions, improper grounding, and
defective electrical tools. It is the policy of Tech Power Engineering Services that our employees
follow safe work practices when performing work operations using extension cord sets and
receptacles that are not part of a building or structure, as well as when using equipment
connected by a cord and plug.
The Safety Manager will have the overall responsibility for implementing this safety and health
program. Employees should review a copy of this program. Copies of this program will be
available at the job site for inspection and copying by the Assistant Secretary and any affected
employee.
General Requirements
Employees will not be permitted to use any equipment which does not meet the requirements of
this program.
Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI’s) will be used at Tech Power Engineering Services in
addition to an Assured Ground Fault Program on construction sites.
Ground Fault Protection
GFCI’s shall be used on all 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20- ampere receptacle outlets which
are not part of the permanent wiring of any building and are used by Tech Power Engineering
Services employees. GFCI’s are not required on receptacles on a two-wire single-phase portable
or vehicle-mounted generator rated not more than 5kW where the circuit conductors are not part
of the generator frame. All other grounded surfaces need not be protected with GFCI’s.
Assured Equipment Grounding
In addition to the use of GFCI’s, Tech Power Engineering Services shall implement and follow
assured equipment grounding, which is a testing and identification procedure to verify that
electrical equipment is safe to operate in regards to the electrical hazards. Each GFCI, cord set,
attachment, cap, plug and receptacle cord sets, and any equipment connected by cord and plug
must be visually inspected daily for external defects.
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Daily Visual Inspection
Employees will be instructed that each cord set, attachment cap, plug and receptacle of the cord
set, and any equipment connected by cords and plugs, must be visually inspected before each
day’s use for external defects, such as deformed or missing pins, insulation damage, and current
test verification code numbers. Any indication of possible internal damage must be checked as
well. Damaged equipment shall be tagged “DO NOT USE” and taken out of service until the
required repairs and tests have been conducted. Equipment that has not been tested within 3
months must not be used.
Test Procedure
GFCI’s, cord sets, receptacles which are not part of the permanent wiring of a structure, and cord
and plug connected equipment required to be grounded shall all be tested. The tests shall be
performed:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Before first use;
Before equipment is returned to service;
Before equipment is used after any incident in which it was reasonable to suspect
it became damaged; and
At intervals not to exceed 3 months, except cord sets and receptacles which are
fixed and not exposed to damage should be tested at intervals not to exceed 6
months
The tests are as follows:
1.
2.
3.
All equipment-grounding conductors shall be tested for continuity and shall be
electrically continuous.
Each plug and attachment plug shall be tested for the correct attachment of the
grounding conductor.
The grounding conductor shall be connected to its proper terminal.
The method to determine the condition of the affected equipment is as follows:
a) Receptacles- use receptacle tested to determine correct connection to terminals
b) Cord Sets – first plug the cord set into a properly wired receptacle, which has been
tested as above. Then, plug receptacle tester into the female cord connector of the
cord set to determine both continuity of grounding conductor and correct connections
to terminals.
c) Cord and Plug Connected Equipment – use continuity tester. Connect or touch one
terminal of continuity tester to the metal frame of the equipment or tool and the other
terminal to the grounding prong of the attachment cap plug at the end of the cord. An
audible or visual signal of the test indicates that there is continuity of the grounding
conductor.
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Any equipment which does not pass the tests will not be available for use by Tech Power
Engineering Services employees. Equipment that fails the tests shall be tagged and marked outof-service by reading “DO NOT USE”. The equipment should be removed from service until it
has been repaired and has successfully passed the re-tests.
It shall be the site Foreman’s responsibility to ensure that the equipment under their control has
been tested. The Foreman does have the ability of performing the respective tests in the field
using appropriate testing equipment. The Safety Manager or his designee will perform random
safety inspections to ensure compliance with this program.
Test Record
Tests performed as required by this program will be recorded as to the identity of each receptacle,
cord set, and cord and plug connected equipment that passed the test and will indicate the last
date tested or interval for which it was tested. The test verification record will be by means of a
number coded marking tape on the male end of the cord or equipment to identify that it has
passed the test. The number coding system shall identify the actual date (month and year) that
this equipment was last tested. The first number will be the year (1=1991) and the second number
will be the month (04=April). Example: 104 = 1991, April.
Tech Power Engineering Services will keep record by using color-coded tape to signify the
successful testing of the cord set, receptacle, plug and cord connected equipment. The color of
the tape will be based upon the seasons of the year:
Green - Spring (April 1 - June 30)
Blue - Fall (October 1 - December 31)
Red - Summer (July 1 - September 31)
White - Winter (January 1 - March 31).
These records will be made available at the job site for inspection by the Assistant Secretary and
any affected employees.
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ASSURED EQUIPMENT GROUNDING CONDUCTOR PROGRAM
Tech Power Engineering Services
TEST RECORD LOG
COMPANY PROJECT:
PREPARED BY:
I. D. NUMBER
FIRST QUARTER GREEN
DESCRIPTION
SECOND QUARTER RED
Safety & Health Program
Tech Power Engineering Services
TEST INTERVAL
OR DATE
THIRD QUARTER BLUE
4
RESULTS
(PASS/FAIL)
FOURTH QUARTER WHITE
2/16/2016