Establishing an Electrically Safe Work Condition May is Electrical Safety Month Training A product of the EFCOG Electrical Safety Task Group

NFPA 70E Article 100 Definition Electrically Safe Work Condition (ESWC) – A state in which an electrical conductor or circuit part has been disconnected from energized parts, locked/tagged in accordance with established standards, tested to ensure the absence of voltage, and grounded if determined necessary. - ESWC - NFPA 70E required, except when justified, for work on exposed electrical conductors and circuit parts at 50 volts or more

Electrically Safe Work Condition It’s a Process! Utilizing the site’s Hazardous Energy Control process verify by the following (NFPA 70E – 2009 Article 120.1): – Identify all possible energy sources – checking up-to-date prints and documentation – Open the disconnecting device(s) for each source – Whenever possible, visually verify switch blades are fully open or draw-out type circuit breakers are withdrawn to fully disconnected position – Apply lockout/tagout devices per established site policy – Use an adequately rated voltage detector to verify circuit or conductor is de- energized – check phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground – verifying detector operation before/after each check – Possibility of induced voltage or electrical stored energy – ground conductors before touching

Electrically Safe Working Condition Requires adherence to the Hazardous Energy Control process AND the verification process NOT established by solely de-energizing circuits or conductors Lockout/tagout requirements shall apply to the following (NFPA 70E – 2009 Article 120.2A) : – Fixed/permanently installed equipment – Temporarily installed equipment – Portable Equipment

Lessons Learned April 2010 – A local electrical repair company was tasked to repair an electric arc welder at a DOE site. After troubleshooting, the vendor determined that the welder needed to return to the vendor's shop for comprehensive electronic repairs. The vendor verified the disconnect switch in the OFF position before disconnecting the power cable and used a "tic tracer" to verify no voltage was present before beginning work. The vendor disconnected electrical service from the welder in preparation for movement to his truck. The vendor was NOT trained to the Site’s lockout/tagout process. A Site Safety Supervisor later discovered the improper electrical disconnection had occurred without using the lock out/tag out process and stopped the work. Cause description: 1. Vendor escorted by Site employees that did not adequately define the work scope or provide adequate oversight. 2. Site’s Hazardous Energy Control process was not followed. (Reference ORPS report EM-PPPO-SST-PGDPENVRES )

References - NFPA 70E – 2009 Edition “Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace” - ORPS report EM-PPPO-SST-PGDPENVRES