Implementing NFPA

70E Electrical Safety

Standards
St Louis, MO
May 26, 2010

Topics
Electrical hazards/injuries
OSHA 1910 Subpart S
NFPA ?OE requirements
"Qualified" Worker"?
Electrical Safe Work Practices
Understanding arc flash hazard categories & PPE
Understanding approach boundaries
Implementing ?OE and qualifying employees

Why it's important ..... .

1,213 electrical related
workplace fatalities from 2003
to 2007*
13,150 severe injuries*

Elec trical Safety Foundation International 2008 Survey

Cardiac arrest and

respiratory failure

Electric Shock

Received when current passes

through the body
Severity of the shock depends
on:
o Path of current through the
body
o Amount of current flowing
through the body
o Length of time the body is
in the circuit

LOW VOLTAGE
DOES NOT MEAN
LOW HAZARD

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Ground

Electrical Safety Standards

i9foOSHA

OSHA Standards 29 CFR 1910

OSHA Standards
1910 Subpart S - Electrical
0 1910.301- .308 =Safe installation
0 1910.309- .330 =Reserved

0 1910.331 - .335 =Work practices

0 1910.336- .398 =Reserved
o 1910.399 - Definitions
OAppendix A- Reference Documents

1910.331 - Scope
Applies to qualifed and unqualified employees
performing work on:

o
o

Premises wiring
Connecting to supply

D Other wiring

Optical fiber cable

Does NOT apply to generation , distribution , or

communication (specific standards for these)
Refers to 1910.399 for definition of qualified
persons.

"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.

1910.332 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.

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.

1910.332 Training
Training focused on:
D Recognizing live parts
D Determining voltage of live parts

o Clearance distances specified in 1910.333

1910.333 Selection and Use of

Work Practices
Focused on work near exposed energized
or potentially energized parts.
D Locking and tagging
D Deenergization
D Verifying deenergized condition
D Reenergizing
D Overhead power Iin es (clearance distances)
D Illumination
D Several other tasks

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.

1910.334 Use of Equipment

Covers things like:

o Portable equipment
o Plugs and cords
D Reclosing circuits

o Inspection of equipment

1910.335 Safeguard for Personnel

Protection
Personal Protective Equipment

o Must use when exposed

o Maintenance
o Inspection
Insulated hand tools
Guarding of exposed parts during work

NFPA ?OE

Electrical Hazards
NFPA 70E - A dangerous condition such
that contact or equipment failure can result

In:
D Electric Shock
D Arc flash burn
D Thermal burn
D Arc blast

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 .

Arc Flash/Blast
Concentrated energy
explodes outward
High intensity flash
Temperatures can reach
35 ,000
Pressure wave can reach
2001bs/sq . inch
Vaporize conductors and
copper and explode
particles like buckshot.

Arc Flash Effects

Severe burns
Broken bones
Vision damage
Hearing loss
Brain/internal injuries
Punctures and
lacerations
Death

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

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.
lnattentiveness/Overconfi
dence

We're in Missouri, so show me!

Racking a Breaker
Breaker Box Demonstration

"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.
D May be considered qualified with respect to certain

equipment & method but still unqualified for others.

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.

Qualified Persons
Training (cont.)
o Proper use of precautionary
techniques

o
o

PPE, including arc-flash &

shock protection
Insulated tools

D Demonstrate how to select

and use a voltage meter

o Decision-making

process used
to determine the degree and
extent of the hazard

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 deenergizing introduces additional hazards or is infeasible.
o Interruption of life support systems
o Deactivation of emergency alarm systems
o Shutdown of hazardous location ventilation systems
o Circuits and conductors that operate at less than 50 volts

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:
D Testing
D Troubleshooting
D Voltage measuring

Safe Work Practices

o De-energize-Lockout Policy
D Don't wear conductive apparel
D Work area must be illuminated

o
o

Never reach into blind spots

Don't allow conductive liquids near electrical work or
equipment
D Buddy system (over 1,000 volts, work in pairs)
o Do not defeat electrical interlocks
D Use nonconductive ladders

Steps to NFPA ?OE Compliance

1.

Have an arc hazard survey completed.

2.

Implement any recommendations to

reduce the hazards.

3.

Develop and implement a labeling system.

4.

Determine what tasks will be performed

and at what hazard category.

s. Train (qualify) employees and provide

PPE.

Arc Hazard Survey

Conducted by an engineering firm
Survey includes:

o
o

Single line diagram of electrical system

Incident energy levels
D Current limiting device coordination
o Calculates a hazard risk category and approach
boundaries
o Develops recommendations to reduce high hazard
risk categories

Reduce the hazards!

Some examples:

o Change fuses
D Develop a maintenance program
D Adjust circuit breakers

o Install additional disconnects

Arc Flash Label

WARNING
Arc Flash and Shock Hazard
A
riate PPE Re uired
91nch

Flash Hazard Boundary

0.40

c.al/cm"2 Flash Hazard at 18 Inches

Category 0

Untreated Cotton

480VAC
42 inch
12 inch

Shock Hazard when cover Is removed

Glove Class
Limited Approach (Fixed Circuit)
Restricted Approach

1 inch

Prohibited A

00

roach

llusa IDDY CUltRINT PANIL Prob PD-BDDY

NO SAFE PPE EXISTS

ENERGIZED WORK PROHIBITED
156 inch

Flash Hazard Boundary

41

cal/cm"2 Flash Hazard at 18 inches

Dangerous! NO SAFE PPE EXISTS

480 VAC
00
42 inc h
12 inc h

Shock Hazard when cover is removed

Glove Class
Limited Approach (Fixed Circuit)
Restricted Approa ch

1 inc h

Prohibited A c:.c..:..;

mm

Arc Ratings
Hazard/Risk
Category

Incident Energy
(cal/cm 2 )

0 - 1.2

1.2 - 4

4-8

8-25

25 -40

Dangerous

Over40

* NFPA 70E Table 130.7(C)(11)

NFPA ?OE Approach Boundaries

, - - - - - - Flash protection boundary

/."if::=:;:;:::::~~S~----- L1m1ted approach boundary

-'~,-.;

-.. - - - - - - - - - L1m1ted space

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Restricted approach boundary

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e --i-

+-- tt --

Restncted space

++--+--Any point on an exposed.

energized electrical conductor
or circuit part
Prohibited space
- - Proh1b1ted approach boundary

flash proltctloo boundary:

Source: NFPA 70E, Fig. A 12.4

An approach limit at a distance from

exposed live parts w1th1n which a person
could receive a second degree burn 1f
an electric arc flash were to occur
(NFPA 70E).

NFPA ?OE Approach Boundaries

(cont.)

The qualified
worker is
responsible
for ensuring
physical
barriers are
in place and
all approach
boundaries
are enforced
during work.

.-...

'

Limited

Restricted

Warning label

provides
boundary
information

Prohibited

Specific Tasks
Troubleshooting only! NO "WORK!"

o Checking I replacing fuses

o Checking motor starters
o Checking amp draw
o Checking relays

Train .... Train .... Train .... Train

3-step process ....

o Controls 101
DArc Flash Hazard Training
o Equipment Specific Training
Hands on!

Arc Flash Hazard Training

Labeling system
Glove selection and testing

o Shock protection
Arc flash rated clothing
DArc flash protection

Glove Labeling Chart

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Voltage-rated Gloves
-

ALWAYS
WEAR
, YOUR
61.0YES

First line of defense

Choose the right size
Leather protectors must be worn over the rubber gloves
Gloves must be tested

o
o

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

o
o

Roll-up test
Inflater test

Salisbury
video

Arc-Rated FR Clothing & PPE

Layering

o Outer layers must be flame resistant

o 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

o Inspect before use

o Launder according to mfg's instructions

PPE - Hazard Risk Category 0

0-1.2 cal/cm 2
100/o cotton long

sleeve shirt
Long pants
Safety glasses
Hearing protection
Leather and insulated
gloves (as required)
Leather work boots

PPE - Hazard Risk Category 1

1.2 - 4 cal/cm 2
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

PPE - Hazard Risk Cateqorv 2

4 - 8 cal/cm 2
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

PPE - Hazard Risk Category 3

8 - 25 cal/cm 2
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

PPE - Hazard Risk Category 4

25 - 40 cal/cm 2
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

Hands-On Training
How to use a multi-meter
Set up a safe scenario

o Lockout upstream before class!

Trainee performs
Unacceptable performance = NOT qualified!

Qualification
All steps completed
D Survey
o Calculations
o PPE determination
DTraining

Employees qualified