Implementing NFPA 70E at your Facility

Over 600 workers are electrocuted annually – it is the 4^th leading cause of workplace fatalities in the United States.  If you have employees working on or near exposed energized electrical parts, electrical safe work practices are essential.  Historically, unsafe equipment and unsafe conditions are responsible for approximately one-third of all electrical incidents and injuries.  The remaining two-thirds of electrical injuries and incidents are caused by unsafe acts – how workers interact with equipment.  Therefore, this article will primarily address Safety-Related Work Practices outlined in Chapter 1 of NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace – 2004 Edition.  However, requirements contained within Chapter 2 – 4 are also included.

A written procedure is necessary to document electrical safe work practices applicable by qualified persons at your facility.  Listed below are major requirements of NFPA 70E that should be included in this procedure.

Chapter 1 specifies electrical safe work practices for the following employees:

Qualified Person: One who has skills and knowledge related to the construction and operation of the electrical equipment and installations and has received safety training on the hazards involved.  This is typically an electrician or maintenance employee who has responsibility of working with or around energized electrical conductors.  It is important to understand that a worker who has been trained to perform an electrical task might be qualified to perform that task and still be unqualified to perform any other task.  The characteristics of being qualified and unqualified are task specific.

Unqualified Person: One who is not a qualified person.  This includes: machine operators, process operators, and maintenance employees who do not perform work on or around exposed energized electrical conductors.

Article 110 covers electrical safety-related work practices and procedures for employees who work on or near exposed energized electrical conductors or circuit parts.  Major provisions of this article are summarized below.

Article 120 requires employers implement lockout/tagout procedures to safeguard employees from exposure to electrical hazards while they are working on or near energized electrical conductors or circuit parts.

Article 130 states that electrical conductors shall be deenergized before an employee works on or near them unless the employer can demonstrate that deenergizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitations.  Typical examples include, but are not limited to, interruption of life support equipment, deactivation of emergency alarm systems, and shutdown of hazardous location ventilation equipment.  If work must be performed on energized conductors, a shock hazard analysis and flash hazard analysis must be performed.  For more information on performing a flash hazard analysis please refer to my article: Performing the Flash Hazard Analysis.

Electrical equipment is, in most cases, very reliable.  Sometimes this reliability is taken for granted.  A comprehensive electrical equipment maintenance program improves electrical system reliability and thereby reduces exposure of electrical hazards to workers.

Chapter 2 addresses safety-related maintenance requirements for electrical equipment and installations, or parts of either, for the safety of employees who work on, near, or with such equipment:

Article 200: Introduction

Article 205: General Maintenance Requirements

Article 210: Substations, Switchgear Assemblies, Switchboards, Panelboards, Motor Control Centers, and Disconnect Switches

Article 215: Premises Wiring

Article 220: Controller Equipment

Article 225: Fuses and Circuit Breakers

Article 230: Rotating Equipment

Article 235: Hazardous (Classified) Locations

Article 240: Batteries and Battery Rooms

Article 245: Portable Electric Tools and Equipment

Article 250: Personal Safety and Protective Equipment

Some companies have unique electrical applications that differ from general industry.  These unique applications may expose employees to specific electrical hazards.  Chapter 3 covers electrical safety installation requirements and safety-related work practices and procedures for employees who work on or near special electrical equipment in the workplace:

Article 300: Introduction

Article 310: Safety-Related Work Practices for Electrolytic Cells

Article 320: Safety Requirements Related to Batteries and Battery Rooms

Article 330: Safety-Related Work Practices for Use of Lasers

Article 340: Safety-Related Work Practices: Power Electronic Equipment

NFPA 70 (the National Electrical Code®) contains electrical installation requirements to protect people from electrical hazards during normal conditions.  The requirements in chapter 4 contain sections of the National Electrical Code® that contain installation requirements regarding issues that affect employee safety:

Article 400: General Requirements for Electrical Installations

Article 410: Wiring Design and Protection

Article 420: Wiring Methods, Components, and Equipment for General Use

Article 430: Specific Purpose Equipment and Installations

Article 440: Hazardous (Classified) Locations

Article 450: Special Systems 

For more information on electric arc flash hazards or assistance on performing a flash hazard analysis, please contact W. Jon Wallace, CSP, MBA at 919-933-5548, or .