1. Implementing NFPA 70E Electrical Safety Standards
St Louis, MO
May 26, 2010

2. Topics Electrical hazards/injuries OSHA 1910 Subpart S
NFPA 70E requirements
“Qualified” Worker”?
Electrical Safe Work Practices
Understanding arc flash hazard categories & PPE
Understanding approach boundaries
Implementing 70E and qualifying employees

3. Why it’s important……
1,213 electrical related workplace fatalities from 2003 to 2007*
13,150 severe injuries*
*Electrical Safety Foundation International 2008 Survey

4. Injuries from Electric Shock
Electrical Injuries
Electrocution
Electrical burns
Nerve, muscle, tissue damage
Internal bleeding
Secondary injuries
Falls
Secondary injuries
Burns
Thermal burns
Muscle, nerve, and tissue destruction
Cardiac arrest and respiratory failure
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0912

5. Electric Shock LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT MEAN LOW HAZARD Exit Entrance
Received when current passes through the body
Severity of the shock depends on:
Path of current through the body
Amount of current flowing through the body
Length of time the body is in the circuit
LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT MEAN LOW HAZARD
Ground
Exit

6. Electrical Safety Standards

7. OSHA Standards 29 CFR 1910

8. OSHA Standards 1910 Subpart S – Electrical
– .308 = Safe installation
– .330 = Reserved
– .335 = Work practices
– .398 = Reserved
– Definitions
Appendix A – Reference Documents

9. Scope
Applies to qualifed and unqualified employees performing work on:
Premises wiring
Connecting to supply
Other wiring
Optical fiber cable
Does NOT apply to generation, distribution, or communication (specific standards for these)
Refers to for definition of qualified persons.

10. “Qualified Person” – OSHA 1910.399
One who has received training in and has demonstrated skills and knowledge in the construction and operation of electrical equipment and installation and the hazards involved.

11. Training
Employees who face a risk of electric shock that is not reduced to a safe level installation requirements must be trained.
Occupations in Table S-4 must be trained.
Other employees if they face a risk of shock.

12. Table S-4 Blue collar supervisors Electrical and electronic engineers
Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers
Electrical and electronic technicians
Electricians
Industrial machine operators
Material handling equipment operators
Mechanics and repairers
Painters
Riggers and roustabouts
Stationary engineers
Welders
Footnote(1) Workers in these groups do not need to be trained if their work or the work of those they supervise does not bring them or the employees they supervise close enough to exposed parts of electric circuits operating at 50 volts or more to ground for a hazard to exist.

13. 1910.332 Training Training focused on: Recognizing live parts
Determining voltage of live parts
Clearance distances specified in

14. 1910.333 Selection and Use of Work Practices
Focused on work near exposed energized or potentially energized parts.
Locking and tagging
Deenergization
Verifying deenergized condition
Reenergizing
Overhead power lines (clearance distances)
Illumination
Several other tasks

15. 1910.333 Selection and Use of Work Practices
"Deenergized parts." Live parts to which an employee may be exposed shall be deenergized before the 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. Live parts that operate at less than 50 volts to ground need not be deenergized if there will be no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electric arcs.

16. 1910.334 Use of Equipment Covers things like: Portable equipment
Plugs and cords
Reclosing circuits
Inspection of equipment

17. 1910.335 Safeguard for Personnel Protection
Personal Protective Equipment
Must use when exposed
Maintenance
Inspection
Insulated hand tools
Guarding of exposed parts during work

18. NFPA 70E

19. Electrical Hazards
NFPA 70E – A dangerous condition such that contact or equipment failure can result in:
Electric Shock
Arc flash burn
Thermal burn
Arc blast

20. Arc Flash & Arc Blast
Arc Flash – electrical short circuit that occurs when air flashes from an exposed live conductor, to either another conductor or to ground.
Arc Blast – pressure wave caused by the arc flash.

21. Arc Flash/Blast Concentrated energy explodes outward
High intensity flash
Temperatures can reach 35,000
Pressure wave can reach 200lbs/sq. inch
Vaporize conductors and copper and explode particles like buckshot.

22. Arc Flash Effects Severe burns Broken bones Vision damage Hearing loss
Brain/internal injuries
Punctures and lacerations
Death

23. Causes of Arc Flash Improper training Improper work procedures
Dropped tools
Accidental contact with electrical systems
Installation failure
Inadequate SCCR
Voltage testing with inappropriate equipment

24. Causes of Arc Flash (cont.)
Buildup of dust, corrosion on insulating surfaces
Improper maintenance
Sparks produced during racking of breakers, replacement of fuses and closing into faulty lines.
Inattentiveness/Overconfidence

25. We’re in Missouri, so show me!
Racking a Breaker
Breaker Box Demonstration

26. “Qualified Person” – NFPA 70
One who has the skill and knowledge related to the construction and operation of the electrical equipment and installations and has received safety training to recognize and avoid the hazards involved.
May be considered qualified with respect to certain equipment & method but still unqualified for others.

27. Qualified Persons Training Requirements
Understand specific electrical hazards
Knowledgeable of the construction and operation of the equipment
Identify & understand the relationship between electrical hazards and possibly injury
Distinguish exposed live parts
Able to determine voltage of live parts
Understands and complies with arc flash and shock hazard boundaries.

28. Qualified Persons Training (cont.)
Proper use of precautionary techniques
PPE, including arc-flash & shock protection
Insulated tools
Demonstrate how to select and use a voltage meter
Decision-making process used to determine the degree and extent of the hazard

29. Justification for Work NFPA 70E 130.1
Energized electrical conductors and circuit parts to which an employee might be exposed shall be put into an electrically safe work condition before an employee works within the Limited Approach Boundary of those conductors or parts.
Unless – the employer can demonstrate that de-energizing introduces additional hazards or is infeasible.
Interruption of life support systems
Deactivation of emergency alarm systems
Shutdown of hazardous location ventilation systems
Circuits and conductors that operate at less than 50 volts

30. Justification for Work NFPA 70E 130.1 (cont.)
Other work that may be performed within the limited approach boundary of exposed energized electrical conductors or circuits:
Testing
Troubleshooting
Voltage measuring

31. Safe Work Practices De-energize-Lockout Policy
Don’t wear conductive apparel
Work area must be illuminated
Never reach into blind spots
Don’t allow conductive liquids near electrical work or equipment
Buddy system (over 1,000 volts, work in pairs)
Do not defeat electrical interlocks
Use nonconductive ladders

32. Steps to NFPA 70E Compliance
Have an arc hazard survey completed.
Implement any recommendations to reduce the hazards.
Develop and implement a labeling system.
Determine what tasks will be performed and at what hazard category.
Train (qualify) employees and provide PPE.

33. Arc Hazard Survey Conducted by an engineering firm Survey includes:
Single line diagram of electrical system
Incident energy levels
Current limiting device coordination
Calculates a hazard risk category and approach boundaries
Develops recommendations to reduce high hazard risk categories

34. Reduce the hazards! Some examples: Change fuses
Develop a maintenance program
Adjust circuit breakers
Install additional disconnects

35. Arc Flash Label

36. Arc Flash Label

37. Arc Ratings Hazard/Risk Category Incident Energy (cal/cm2) 0 - 1.2 1 1 2
4 - 8 3
8 - 25 4
Dangerous
Over 40
*NFPA 70E Table 130.7(C)(11)

38. NFPA 70E Approach Boundaries

39. NFPA 70E Approach Boundaries (cont.)
The qualified worker is responsible for ensuring physical barriers are in place and all approach boundaries are enforced during work.
Warning label provides boundary information
Flash Boundary – 4 ft. or calculated
Limited
Prohibited
Restricted

40. Specific Tasks Troubleshooting only! NO “WORK!”
Checking / replacing fuses
Checking motor starters
Checking amp draw
Checking relays

41. Train….Train….Train….Train
3-step process….
Controls 101
Arc Flash Hazard Training
Equipment Specific Training
Hands on!

42. Arc Flash Hazard Training
Labeling system
Glove selection and testing
Shock protection
Arc flash rated clothing
Arc flash protection

43. Glove Labeling Chart Choose the right glove by voltage rating

44. Voltage-rated Gloves Salisbury video First line of defense
Choose the right size
Leather protectors must be worn over the rubber gloves
Gloves must be tested
Before first issue and every 6 months
If tested, but not issued for service, glove may not be put into service unless tested within previous 12 months.
Checked before use
Roll-up test
Inflator test
Salisbury video

45. Arc-Rated FR Clothing & PPE
Layering
Outer layers must be flame resistant
Under layers must be non-melting
Fit – Clothing shall fit properly (loose), w/ least interference
Coverage – Clothing must cover potentially exposed areas (wrist, neck)
Care & Maintenance
Inspect before use
Launder according to mfg’s instructions
*Photo courtesy of Salisbury

46. PPE - Hazard Risk Category 0 0-1.2 cal/cm2
100% cotton long sleeve shirt
Long pants
Safety glasses
Hearing protection
Leather and insulated gloves (as required)
Leather work boots

47. PPE - Hazard Risk Category 1 1.2 - 4 cal/cm2
4+ cal long sleeve shirt & long pants (or) coveralls
Hardhat
Safety glasses
Arc rated faceshield
Hearing protection (inserts)
VR gloves
Leather gloves
Leather work boots

48. PPE - Hazard Risk Category 2 4 - 8 cal/cm2
8+ cal long sleeve shirt & long pants (or) coveralls
Hardhat
Safety glasses
Arc rated faceshield
Hearing protection (inserts)
VR gloves
Leather gloves
Leather work boots

49. PPE - Hazard Risk Category 3 8 - 25 cal/cm2
25+ flashsuit w/ hood over long sleeve shirt and long pants
Safety glasses
Arc rated faceshield
Hearing protection (inserts)
VR gloves
Leather gloves
Leather work boots

50. PPE - Hazard Risk Category 4 25 - 40 cal/cm2
40+ flashsuit w/ hood over FR long sleeve shirt and long pants
Safety glasses
Arc rated faceshield
Hearing protection (inserts)
VR gloves
Leather gloves
Leather work boots

51. Hands-On Training How to use a multi-meter Set up a safe scenario
Lockout upstream before class!
Trainee performs
Unacceptable performance = NOT qualified!

52. Qualification All steps completed Employees qualified Survey
Calculations
PPE determination
Training
Employees qualified