OSHA regulations were developed to mandate that employers provide a safe workplace for their employees. The following sections of standard CFR Part 1910 promote the safety of employees working on or near electrical equipment, and clearly define employers' responsibilities: Equipment must be deenergized before work is performed! In addressing work on electrical equipment, 1910.333(a)(1) states: Note 1: Examples of increased or additional hazards include interruption of life support equipment, deactivation of emergency alarm systems, shutdown of hazardous location ventilation equipment, or removal of illumination for an area. Note 2: Examples of work that may be performed on or near energized circuit parts because of infeasibility due to equipment design or operational limitations include testing of electric circuits that can only be performed with the circuit energized and work on circuits that form an integral part of a continuous industrial process in a chemical plant that would otherwise need to be completely shut down in order to permit work on one circuit or piece of equipment. Note 3: Work on or near deenergized parts is covered by paragraph (b) of this section. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.333 Lockout/tagout procedures must be used In Note 2 of 1910.333(b)(2), it states: If equipment cannot be deenergized prior to work: Employees must be properly protected When employees are required to work where there is a potential electrical hazard, 29 CFR Part 1910.335 calls for the employer to provide: ...electrical protective equipment that is appropriate for the specific parts of the body to be protected and for the work to be performed. The appendix to Part 1910 Subpart S references NFPA 70E as providing information that "can be helpful in understanding and complying with the requirements contained in Subpart S." Employers are responsible for performing a hazard assessment. 29 CFR Part 1910.132(d)(1), hazard assessment and equipment selection, states: The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:
This is the section referred to in the OSHA standard interpretation that discusses NFPA 70E. The remainder of 1910.132 outlines the requirements for the design, application, proper selection, training and documentation required for the use of personal protective equipment. Other OSHA Regulations Relating to Arc Flash Hazards OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910 contains many other sections that pertain to electrical safety and arc flash hazards:
In addition, 29 CFR Part 1926, Safety and Health Regulations for Construction, Subpart K, contains requirements for electrical safety in paragraphs 1926.400 through 1926.449. NFPA 70E and OSHA OSHA standards don't provide details on how to conduct an electrical hazard assessment or how to select PPE. For guidance on compliance, you need to look to national consensus standards. NFPA 70E is one of the foremost consensus standards for electrical safety. It covers employee protection from the electrical hazards of shock, arc flash, and arc blasts. Although it is only referenced in OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910 Subpart S, Appendix A, NFPA 70E is considered by OSHA to be the recognized industry practice for electrical safety. In its standard interpretation of the relevance of NFPA 70E, OSHA states: … industry consensus standards, such as NFPA 70E, can be used by OSHA and employers as guides in making hazard analyses and selecting control measures. From the Overview on electrical in OSHA: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/electrical/hazards.html
And while the current edition of NFPA 70E emphasizes that energized electrical conductors and circuit parts be placed in an electrically safe work condition, it contains extensive requirements for workers who “are exposed to electrical hazards from electrical conductors or circuit parts that are or can become energized." When such work is to be performed, the required electrical hazard analysis has specific requirements for analysis of shock and flash hazards. Other sections provide guidance on selecting the proper PPE. In recent additions, 70E has provided additional guidance on managing the risk associated with the arc flash hazard. Click here for more details on Managing The Risk Associated Arc Flash [NEED LINK TO MAIN PAGE OF 6_MANAGING THE RISK] Show less OSHA regulations were developed to mandate that employers provide a safe workplace for their employees. The following sections of standard CFR Part 1910 promote the safety of employees working on or near electrical equipment, and clearly define employers' responsibilities: Equipment must be deenergized before work is performed! In addressing work on electrical equipment, 1910.333(a)(1) states: Note 1: Examples of increased or additional hazards include interruption of life support equipment, deactivation of emergency alarm systems, shutdown of hazardous location ventilation equipment, or removal of illumination for an area. MOSTRAR MÁS |