Safety in the workplace is critically important, today more than ever. To protect front-line maintenance technicians from electrical hazards that include shock, arc blasts and explosions, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) developed Standard 70E to address electrical system operation, maintenance and repair.
NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, is a national consensus safety standard to assist the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in preparing electrical safety standards. While the American National Standard Institute has approved NFPA 70E, OSHA has not incorporated it into the Code of Federal Regulations. For more on the document’s background, see the accompanying article on this page.
By understanding the requirements of NFPA 70E and taking actions it calls for, maintenance and engineering managers can go a long way in protecting workers and preventing injuries.
In recent years, NFPA 70E has received greater attention from facilities due to the increased code attention on arc fault hazards, as well as the fact that it is cited in workplace electrical accident incidents.
NFPA 70E is not a substitute for the NEC, which is an electrical installation standard only. Instead, 70E is an instruction manual for ways to comply with OSHA regulations pertaining to assessing electrical hazards and selecting appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for electrical hazards.
Since some OSHA regulations are stated in general terms, maintenance and engineering managers must determine compliance strategies. Complying with NFPA 70E is not mandatory, but OSHA can use this standard to identify negligence if organizations do not meet certain electrical safety standards. As a result, NFPA 70E is raising awareness of workplace safety and prompting more facilities to take notice.
Arc flash and shock are two common workplace hazards that are referenced in Chapter 1, Safety-Related Work Practices, of NFPA 70E. Arc flash is a dangerous condition associated with the release of energy caused by an electric arc. Due to the significant number of electricians that have been seriously burned or killed by accidental electrical arc flash while working on energized equipment, the National Electrical Code (NEC) now addresses arc flash.
NFPA 70-NEC Section 110.16 on flash protection requires the field labeling of switchboards, panel boards, control panels, and motor control centers that are likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized to warn the qualified person of the potential for arc flash.
A fine print note that follows the section refers users to NFPA 70E for assistance in:
Managers must keep in mind that NEC fine print notes do not contain statements of intent or recommendation. Rather, they present additional supplementary material intended to aid managers in applying the requirements.
The NEC also does not include language requiring specific information on the field labels, such as flash boundaries and PPE requirements, which NFPA 70E addresses. This section was added in the 2002 code to alert electricians and facilities to the hazards of working on energized electrical equipment, as well as to emphasize the importance of turning off the power before working on the equipment.
It is general consensus that facilities eventually will have to complete flash-hazard analyses for all new equipment, although the NEC does not now require it. Alternatively, they will need to default to generic tables provided in NFPA 70E to determine boundaries and PPE requirements. This type of safety analysis or program will be uncharted territory for many facilities.
In the event of an electrical accident, OSHA, court precedent, and the review commission have established Section 5(a)(1) as a general-duty clause if unsafe conditions are identified for which a regulation does not exist. Such a clause citation may be issued if:
Adhering to these items will help managers provide a safer working environment.
Ensuring the highest level of protection from workplace hazards requires the cooperative efforts of organizations, managers and front-line technicians.
Under NFPA 70E, employers must furnish each employee with employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
Chapter 1 of NFPA 70E covers training requirements for qualified and unqualified persons to help managers determine those employees who are permitted to work on or near exposed energized equipment. It requires an electrical safety program and covers program components.
NFPA 70E details the importance of maintaining electrical components, wiring and equipment in safe condition. It also outlines safety requirements for special equipment, which includes batteries, lasers, and power electronic equipment — electric arc welding equipment, motor drives, uninterruptible power supplies, and lighting controllers that contain rectifiers and inverters.
Employers have to determine all exposures to hazards in their workplaces and determine if technicians must wear PPE. In general, OSHA requires employers to be responsible for:
In general, employees should:
If technicians are required to wear PPE to reduce exposure to hazards, managers need to implement and maintain a PPE program. As defined in NFPA 70E, this program should:
OSHA requires employers to mandate the use of PPE to reduce employee exposure to hazards when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or effective. OSHA Publication 3151 discusses the types of PPE that employers use most commonly to protect the head, torso, arms, hands and feet.
The Rise of NFPA 70E
In January 1976, NFPA’s standards council appointed a new electrical standards development committee. At the direction of the U.S. Congress, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created the committee to develop new regulations for occupational safety using existing national consensus standards and established federal standards. |
