Electrical Safety

Electrical HazardsArc Blast Arc Flash

WITC April 2011

NRTL

Or what does OSHA accept

Does OSHA accept the "CE" mark or accept equipment certified by foreign testing organizations?

• The CE mark is unrelated to the requirements for product safety in the US. It is a generic mark used in the European Union (EU) to indicate that a manufacturer has declared that the product meets requirements in the EU for product safety. In the US, under OSHA's NRTL requirements, the product must have the specific mark of one of the NRTLs recognized to test and certify these types of products

What is the CE

• Many products seeking entry into the European Union must comply with the European Directives and bear the CE Marking. The CE Marking is the manufacturers self-declaration, showing compliance with all applicable directives.

How does OSHA enforce the requirements for NRTL approval?

• OSHA primarily enforces the requirements for NRTL approval by:

• 1) recognizing NRTLs to assure itself that qualified organizations test and certify the safety of products used in the workplace,

• 2) auditing each NRTL annually to verify that it sustains the quality of its operation and continues to meet requirements for recognition, and

• 3) performing workplace inspections during which OSHA compliance officers (CSHOs) review specific products to check whether they contain the certification mark of an NRTL.

OSHA may cite an employer and impose penalties if the officer finds improperly certified products for which OSHA requires certification

So what do we cite

1910.302(b) Extent of application --1910.302(b)(1) Requirements applicable to all installations.

• The following requirements apply to all electrical installations and utilization equipment, regardless of when they were designed or installed:§ 1910.303(b) -- Examination, installation, and use of equipment

1910.303(a) Approval.

• The conductors and equipment required or permitted by this subpart shall be acceptable only if approved, as defined in Sec. 1910.399.

1910.399 DefinitionsAcceptable.

An installation or equipment is acceptable to the Assistant Secretary

of Labor, and approved within the meaning of this Subpart S:

if it meets 1, 2, or 3

Acceptable and approved if 1

• (1) If it is accepted, or certified, or listed, or labeled, or otherwise determined to be safe by a nationally recognized testing laboratory recognized pursuant to § 1910.7; or

Acceptable and approved if 2

• (2) With respect to an installation or equipment of a kind that no nationally recognized testing laboratory accepts, certifies, lists, labels, or determines to be safe, if it is inspected or tested by another Federal agency, or by a State, municipal, or other local authority responsible for enforcing occupational safety provisions of the National Electrical Code, and found in compliance with the provisions of the National Electrical Code as applied in this subpart; or

Acceptable and approved if 3

• (3) With respect to custom-made equipment or related installations that are designed, fabricated for, and intended for use by a particular customer, if it is determined to be safe for its intended use by its manufacturer on the basis of test data which the employer keeps and makes available for inspection to the Assistant Secretary and his authorized representatives.

So it must have an approval

• Accepted. An installation is "accepted" if it has been inspected and found by a nationally recognized testing laboratory to conform to specified plans or to procedures of applicable codes.

So what does OSHA do

• 1910.303(b) Examination, installation, and use of equipment --1910.303(b)(1) Examination. Electric equipment shall be free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. Safety of equipment shall be determined using the following considerations:1910.303(b)(1)(i) Suitability for installation and use in conformity with the provisions of this subpart;

Note to paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section: Suitability of equipment for an identified purpose may be evidenced by listing or labeling for that identified purpose.

A potential avd 1910.303(b)(1)(i) • The XXXX equipment was in use without

being accepted, or certified, or listed, or labeled, or otherwise determined to be safe by a nationally recognized testing laboratory recognized pursuant to § 1910.7

This is what I use to train OSHA employees in how to issue

citations

What’s new

• New PPE directive

• What is PPE?– Personal protective equipment

• LINK

• http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_02-01-050.pdf

Are tools PPE

• NOTE: Insulated protected tools and testing equipment are not considered to be personal protective equipment when working in proximity to exposed electrical parts. These tools are designed to make contact with exposed energized conductors or circuit parts.

Question

• When an employer decides to use flame-resistant clothing (FRC) to protect employees from any type of fire exposure hazard (e.g., flash fire or arc flash) is the employer required to pay for the FRC?

Yes• The employer is required to provide, ensure use, and

maintain protective clothing in a sanitary and reliable condition whenever it is necessary by reason of hazards, capable of causing injury in any part of the body, as addressed in 29 CFR 1910.132(a). Where employees are exposed to electrical hazards (e.g., substations or electrical panels that present the potential for arc flash) refer to Safeguards for personnel protection. - 29 CFR 1910.335 and 29 CFR 1910.132(a) for PPE. Where there are flash fire hazards in General Industry occupations e.g., in the oil and gas industry and in petroleum-chemical plants, the employer is required to pay for FRC as indicated in 29 CFR 1910.132(h)(1). …

• Electrically conductive shoes provide protection against the buildup of static electricity. Employees working in actual or potentially explosive and hazardous locations must wear conductive shoes to reduce the risk of static electricity buildup on the body that could produce a spark and cause an explosion or fire. Foot powder should not be used with protective conductive footwear because foot powder provides insulation and reduces the conductive ability of the shoes. Silk, wool, and nylon socks can produce static electricity and should not be worn with conductive footwear. Conductive shoes must be removed when the task requiring their use is completed.

• NOTE: Employees exposed to electrical hazards must never wear conductive shoes

Wisconsin

• Comm 16.004 Authority. (1) DEPARTMENT AUTHORITY.

• The department shall have the authority and responsibility for interpreting this chapter and the National Electrical Code, and granting special permission as specified in this chapter. A formal interpretation of this chapter shall remain in effect until rescinded or changed or until the edition of the National Electrical Code is changed in s. Comm 16.014.

Comm 16.010 Inspection and maintenance.

• All electrical installations and equipment shall be cleaned and inspected at intervals as experience has shown to be necessary.

• Any equipment or electrical installation known to be defective so as to endanger life or property shall be promptly repaired, permanently disconnected, or isolated until repairs can be made.

• Construction, repairs, additions and changes to electrical equipment and conductors shall be made by qualified persons only.

• History: Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11−1−90; CR

WI largely adopts the NEC

• The National Electrical Code, NEC−2008, subject to the changes, additions or omissions specified in subch. III, is hereby incorporated by reference into this chapter

• Comm 16.015 Changes, additions or omissions to NEC. Changes, additions or omissions to the National Electrical Code (NEC) are specified in this subchapter and are rules of the department and not requirements of the NEC.

Qualified

• One who has skills 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.

• So where do you put your desk?

So all of you are “Qualified”???

• Answer the questions to the following scenarios

• 2 pieces of switch gear have failed a few years ago and are not in the mix, the third will not reset using the remote reset device.

• What do you do?

Pick One

A Kill the main and reset while de-energized

B Do it live and reset with Arc flash clothing including a 40 call hood and suit with gloves

C Get out there and do it with two others to watch. I don’t need that hot clothing.

D The preferred ?

Result

• 1 Dead

• 2 Injured

• OSHA citations

The codes are there to protect.

• We have• Comm 16• NEC• OSHA• NFPA 70 E• The first 2 tend to deal with installations. OSHA

also has installation requirements but OSHA along with NFPA 70 E also looks at Safe Work Practices for the Electricians

Interrupting rating

• NEC 110.9 Equipment intended to interrupt current at Fault levels shall have an interrupting rating sufficient for the nominal circuit voltage and the current that is available at the line terminals of the equipment.

• Adopted by WI without change

OSHA

• 1910.303(b)(4) Interrupting rating. Equipment intended to interrupt current at fault levels shall have an interrupting rating sufficient for the nominal circuit voltage and the current that is available at the line terminals of the equipment. Equipment intended to interrupt current at other than fault levels shall have an interrupting rating at nominal circuit voltage sufficient for the current that must be interrupted.

OSHA 1910.303(b)(5)

• Circuit impedance and other characteristics. The overcurrent protective devices, the total impedance, the component short-circuit current ratings, and other characteristics of the circuit to be protected shall be selected and coordinated to permit the circuit protective devices used to clear a fault to do so without the occurrence of extensive damage to the electrical components of the circuit. This fault shall be assumed to be either between two or more of the circuit conductors, or between any circuit conductor and the grounding conductor or enclosing metal raceway.

You need to Co-ordinate your system

• Amperage

• Interrupting time

Selective Co-ordination

• The term “selective coordination” refers to the selection and setting of protective devices in an electric power system in such a manner as to cause the smallest possible portion of the system to be de-energized due to an abnormal condition. The most commonly encountered abnormal condition is an overcurrent condition, defined by the NEC as “any current in excess of the rated current of equipment, or the ampacity of a conductor”

Drawback• The fact that time is used to coordinate the

operation of protective devices in series has an important, and unfortunate, drawback: – The closer to the source of power, the slower the

protective device must be to coordinate with downstream devices.

• This means that for faults close to the source of power, fault clearing will be slower than it could be if coordination were not a consideration.

• This has important implications for equipment damage and arc-flash hazards, both of which must be taken in to consideration in an over-all system design.

Remember Maintenance is an Issue

OSHA 1910.304(f)(2)(ii)

• Each protective device shall be capable of detecting and interrupting all values of current that can occur at its location in excess of its trip setting or melting point;

Testing and Maintenance

• Variable settings

• Get it running (bolts copper pipe etc)

• Replacements, do you always consult the One line or do you replace with what is there?

• Bean Counter or value non-engineering.

You have to have the capablity to interrupt the power. (65 KA or 25KA)

CB Testing & Maintenance – General Considerations

• Circuit breakers require– Testing and maintenance

• Verify proper calibration and operation• Testing performed with the circuit breaker removed from

the enclosure• Required for all circuit breakers and may require special

equipment– Operation at least once per year

• Testing and maintenance are required to ensure proper protection by circuit breaker systems.

• Molded case and insulated case circuit breakers cannot be repaired – must replace

Electrical Safety

Electrical Hazards

Arc Blast

Arc Flash

Initiating ESWPElectrical Safe Work Practices

(aka Arc Flash/Blast NFPA 70 E)

Patrick Ostrenga

Compliance Assistance Specialist

Milwaukee Area Office / Region V

Official Disclaimer• This information has been developed by an OSHA Compliance

Assistance Specialist and is intended to assist employers, workers, and others as they strive to improve workplace health and safety. While we attempt to thoroughly address specific topics for electrical issues it is not possible to include discussion of everything necessary to ensure a healthy and safe working environment in a presentation of this nature. Thus, this information must be understood as a tool for addressing workplace hazards, rather than an exhaustive statement of an employer’s legal obligations, which are defined by statute, regulations, and standards. Likewise, to the extent that this information references practices or procedures that may enhance health or safety, but which are not required by a statute, regulation, or standard, it cannot, and does not, create additional legal obligations. Finally, over time, OSHA may modify rules and interpretations in light of new technology, information, or circumstances; to keep apprised of such developments, or to review information on a wide range of occupational safety and health topics, you can visit OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.

Nature of Electrical Accidents

• Electrical accidents, when initially studied, often appear to be caused by circumstances that are varied and peculiar to the particular incidents involved.

• However, further consideration usually reveals the underlying cause to be a combination of three possible factors:

• work involving unsafe equipment & installations;• workplaces made unsafe by the environment;& • unsafe work performance (unsafe acts).

– The first two factors are sometimes considered together and simply referred to as unsafe conditions.

ELECTRICAL HAZARD 1

• Shock• Electricity has poor warning properties

• Do you see that something is energized?

• Can you smell that it’s energized?

• Can you hear that it’s energized?

• BUT You can FEEL it’s energized!

The sad numbers• The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data

indicates 2,726 nonfatal electrical shocks involved days away from work a year, between 1992 and 2001, in private industry.

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), estimates there are approximately 350 electrical-related fatalities a year, which roughly equals one fatality per day.

• In addition, statistics from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) show electrocution is the third- leading cause of death at work among 16 and 17-year-old workers, accounting for 12 percent of all workplace deaths.

What do we focus on?Rank the following.

•Task

•Safety Hazard

•Distractions

There are other hazards in addition to shock

• You can be injured or killed by electricity without touching it.

ARC FLASH

• According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Arc-flash is an electric current that passes through air when insulation or isolation between electrified conductors is no longer sufficient to withstand the applied voltage. The flash is immediate, but the result of these incidents can cause severe injury including burns. Each year more than 2,000 people are treated in burn centers with severe arc flash injuries.

These also take a toll

• A study by Capelli-Schellpfeffer, Inc. reports that between 5 and 10 arc-flash incidents causing serious injuries that require treatment in a burn center occur each day. Of these, 1 or 2 result in death.

• A CDC/NIOSH study puts the total number of arc-flash injuries from 1992 through 2001 at 17,101.

An event

• Install a new 30 amp 3 phase 480 volt circuit breaker and hardware, to feed a newly installed sub-panel.

• Decision: work energized, since turning it off would to take too much time.

The site after

The arc occurred

• High Amperage Current arcing through air. This is initiated by contact between two energized points (generating intense heat, light, sound and pressure!).

Effects of the Incident

• Both men were seriously burned and were transported by Helicopter and Ambulance to the Burn Center.

OSHA’s Enforcement

• Electrical Contractor Received:– 5 Serious Citations

• Assessment, PPE & Training

– 2 Willful Citations • Live Parts, PPE

• General Contractor Received:– 3 Serious Citations

• Live Parts, PPE & Training

ELECTRICAL HAZARD 3

• ARC BLAST• Can NOT be easily calculated before• EXPLOSIVE with

– Shock Wave– Shrapnel

• molten • solid

• Protection is IFFY• ES Work Practices can reduce probabilityBut not a guarantee

Scenario

• Troubleshoot a transfer switch.

• 13.2 KV in panel

• Working on the 120 volt switch

Result

• 3 seriously injured

• 9 OSHA citations

1910.399 Definitions

• The definition of a “qualified Person” has changed from: One familiar with the construction and operation of the equipment and the hazards involved.

• To: One who has received training in and has demonstrated skills and knowledge in the construction and operation of electric equipment and installations and the hazards involved.

• How

• Accurate is it?

• When was it updated?

This is a snapshot of a one line

Do your “qualified”people know how to read it?

ARC Warning Label ?

Hazard level or PPE

It is a 4160 Lighting arrestor

The victim thought the arrestor was on the load side not the

line sideDoes this meet the definition

of qualified?

Effects of Electrical Current

• 0.5 - 3 mA - Tingling sensations• 3 - 10 mA - Muscle contractions and pain• 10 - 40 mA - “Let-go” threshold• 30 - 75 mA - Respiratory paralysis• 100 - 200 mA - Ventricular fibrillation• 200 - 500 mA - Heart clamps tight• 1500 + mA - Tissue and Organs start to burn

• You are twice as likely to be shocked rather than arced• Wear your gloves and test them.

OSHA and NFPA 70EOSHA and NFPA 70E

OSHA and 70E

OSHA tells us the “WHAT” Uses broad, regulatory, non-prescriptive

language Performance standard you decide how

70E tells us the “HOW” SpecificWork practicesPPE selectionHazard/Risk Analysis Methodology Recommended forms

The Electrical Safe Work Practice Standards have not changed.

• OSHA IS THE SHALL &• NFPA 70E IS THE HOW

Industry consensus standards, such as NFPA 70E, can be used by employers as guides to making the assessments and equipment selections required by the standard. Similarly, in OSHA enforcement actions, they can be used as evidence of whether the employer acted reasonably

Interpretation of 07/25/2003

§1910.333 Selection and use of work practices

-- electrical “(a) General. Safety-related work practices shall be employed to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts, when work is performed near or on equipment or circuits which are or may be energized. The specific safety-related work practices shall be consistent with the nature and extent of the associated electrical hazards.”

1910.333(a)(1) 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.”

1910.333 (a)(1)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: The NFPA 70E code has removed the illumination exemption from its reasons

1910.333 (a)(1) Note 2: Infeasibility“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.”

You can work energized when;

1. Deenergizing introduces additional or increased hazards

2. It is infeasible1. This means the testing of electric circuits

that can only be performed with the circuit energized

2. and work on circuits that form an integral part of a continuous industrial process

What is a Continuous Process?

• The term "continuous industrial process" was derived from its use in the National Electrical Code (NEC). In the NEC "continuous industrial process" is used in the context of situations where the orderly shut down of integrated processes and equipment would introduce additional or increased hazards.

Source 12/19/2006 interpretation click on link below

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=25559

To qualify an exception to de-energization one must…

• Therefore, to qualify for the exception found in Note 2 of §1910.333(a)(1), the employer must, on a case-by-case basis, determine if the orderly shutdown of the related equipment (including the panel) and processes would introduce additional or increased hazards. If so, then the employer may perform the work using the electrical safe work practices found in §§1910.331-1910.335, including, but not limited to, insulated tools, shields, barrier, and personal protective equipment.

Most working while energized is done out of compliance with OSHA ESWP

• If the orderly shutdown of the related

equipment and processes would not introduce additional or increased hazards, but merely alter or interrupt production, then the de-energization of the equipment would be considered feasible, and the exception found in Note 2 of §1910.333(a)(1) would not apply.

So what is required if one is to work energized?IT is a last resort to be used only if

it is a greater hazard to de-energize or infeasible. You must have:

Qualified worker(s)PPE as required (Based on NFPA 70E tables or a study)

Shock protection (gloves, tools, restricted conductive aspects e.g. metal conductive articles)Arc Flash protection (clothing, face shield hearing protection and more)

A Work PracticeProper Tools i.e. Rated for the voltage

But testing is allowed (with protection)

• NFPA 70E's Table 130.7(C)(9)(a), Hazard/Risk Category Classifications, referenced above, lists the task, "Work on energized parts, including voltage testing" and assigns it a "Hazard/Risk Category" of "1" or higher. Under Table 130.7(C)(10), that categorization triggers various PPE provisions, including non-melting clothing, flame-resistant clothing, and other protective equipment.Thus, NFPA 70E is evidence that the industry recognizes the hazard of arc flash, that this hazard is present when testing voltage, and that, when present, it is necessary for PPE to be used to protect the employee from it

To verify de-energization

• When one is to verify de-energization you must garb up in the appropriate PPE, because a de-energized system need to be verified. De-energized means all sources of potential hazards in the panel.

• “… NFPA 70E is evidence that the industry recognizes the hazard of arc flash, that this hazard is present when testing voltage, and that, when present, it is necessary for PPE to be used to protect the employee from it.”

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=25973

1910.333(b)(2)(iv)(B)

• A qualified person shall use test equipment to test the circuit elements and electrical parts of equipment to which employees will be exposed and shall verify that the circuit elements and equipment parts are deenergized. The test shall also determine if any energized condition exists as a result of inadvertently induced voltage or unrelated voltage backfeed even though specific parts of the circuit have been deenergized and presumed to be safe.

The job meets the exemption and I can work energized

• If the exposed live parts are not deenergized

• Then …safety-related work practices (which are usually poorly documented in the real world) shall be used to protect employees who may be exposed to the electrical hazards involved.

You must have a work practice.

• Such work practices shall protect employees against contact with energized circuit parts directly with any part of their body or indirectly through some other conductive object. The work practices that are used shall be suitable for the conditions under which the work is to be performed and for the voltage level of the exposed electric conductors or circuit parts. Specific work practice requirements are detailed in paragraph (c) of this section

A Work Practice Requires

• Only qualified persons may work on electric circuit parts or equipment that have not been deenergized under the procedures of paragraph (b) of this section. Such persons shall be capable of working safely on energized circuits and shall be familiar with the proper use of special precautionary techniques, personal protective equipment, insulating and shielding materials, and insulated tools.

1910.333(c)(8)

• "Conductive apparel." Conductive articles of jewelry and clothing (such a watch bands, bracelets, rings, key chains, necklaces, metalized aprons, cloth with conductive thread, or metal headgear) may not be worn if they might contact exposed energized parts. However, such articles may be worn if they are rendered nonconductive by covering, wrapping, or other insulating means.

Remember in Definitions

• The definition of a “qualified Person” has changed from: One familiar with the construction and operation of the equipment and the hazards involved.

• To: One who has received training in and has demonstrated skills and knowledge in the construction and operation of electric equipment and installations and the hazards involved.

• An Arc is an unplanned EVENT

Construction PPE

1926.95(a) "Application." Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.

1926.416(a)Protection of employees -

1926.416(a)(1) No employer shall permit an employee to work in such proximity to any part of an electric power circuit that the employee could contact the electric power circuit in the course of work, unless the employee is protected against electric shock by deenergizing the circuit and grounding it or by guarding it effectively by insulation or other means.

To Clarify

• A recent letter asks in effect the following:

• Whether employees who are verifying that an electrical system is de-energized or are turning off circuit breakers are required to use personal protective equipment.

Link to interpretation

The question

• Question (1): Scenario: Employees will be using an insulated device to verify that an electrical circuit that has been "turned off, locked, and tagged" is de-energized. Are these employees required to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) under OSHA's construction standard 1926.416(a)(1) and/or NFPA 70E?

The response

…the employees are exposed to the hazard of electric shock since, at the time they are doing the work, a determination that the circuit has been de-energized has not yet occurred. Therefore, under this provision, these employees must be protected against electric shock "by guarding [the part] by insulation or other means." When so guarded, under this provision, PPE would not be required to protect against the electric shock hazard.

HOWEVER

• An additional hazard that may be associated with the work described in your scenario is that of arc flash. While Subpart K requirements have the effect of reducing the likelihood of an arc flash, Subpart K does not address the hazard that an arc flash poses to employees if it were to occur.

• However, 29 CFR 1926.95(a) provides that: Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and the extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards…

• Industry consensus standards can be evidence that there is a hazard for which that PPE is "necessary." While the NFPA 70E consensus standard has not been adopted as an OSHA standard, it is relevant as evidence that arc flash is a recognized hazard and that PPE is necessary to protect against that hazard.

SO if it is

being verified that it is off, wear the

PPE when

testing

Of the arc flash incidents on the OSHA Database

• ABOUT half occurred when testing.

Example• After servicing a water pump, employee #1 was unable

to restart the pump and contacted his supervisor. • The supervisor met employee #1 at the pump's

electrical control panel. • Employee #1 had thrown the electrical disconnect and

opened the panel cover. • He checked inside the panel and saw no obvious faults

such as blown fuses and decided to check the voltage with a voltmeter.

• With the panel cover still open, employee #1 re-energized the circuitry. With the supervisor holding the voltmeter, employee #1 took the leads and attempted to check the voltage when the arc flash occurred.

• Employee #1 was not wearing gloves and received 2nd and 3rd degree burns to his hands.

How do we start to comply?

• Wear the right PPE

• TURN IT OFF

• TEST TO MAKE SURE IT IS OFF

• But we have to work energized

• Is it a greater hazard or infeasible or inconvenient? If not truly a greater hazard infeasible then you are in violation.

What is a recognized hazard?

• NFPA 70E ( Is this a nationally recognized Consensus Standard which recognizes Arc Blast and Arc Flash?)

• Does and Arc Blast or flash have the potential to cause serious harm?

• Are there the basic requirements for a general duty clause violation?

We have come a long way“158. Electricians often test circuits for the presence of

voltage by touching the conductors with the fingers. This method is safe where the voltage does not exceed 250 and is often very convenient for locating a blown-out fuse or for ascertaining whether or not a circuit is alive. Some men can endure the electric shock that results without discomfort whereas others cannot…”159. The presence of low voltage can be determined by testing. The method is feasible only where the pressure is but a few volts and hence is used only in bell and signal work. Where the voltage is very low, the bared ends of the conductors constituting the two sides of the circuit are held a short distance apart on the tongue. If voltage is present a peculiar mildly burning sensation results, which will never be forgotten after one has experienced it.”

American Electricians Handbook 1942

So there is a hazard

• What do you do?– A. De-energize and Lockout

– Don’t forget to test to make sure it’s not live.

But we can’t turn it off.

But we can’t turn it off.

But we can’t turn it off.

If you can’t feasibly (????????) de-energize

• 1. Evaluate what the hazards are and get an energized electrical work permit

• 2. Select the right person to do the job– a.Trained in the process, and this means any helper

assigned to assist must be qualified*. – b. Give that person the PPE required based upon

calculations or the table in 70E but read the footnotes.

• 3. Use tools that are appropriate also– DO NOT INTRODUCE A HAZARD INTO A

HAZARDOUS AREA!

What policy is the best What policy is the best policy ???policy ???

OSHA IS THE SHALL

&

NFPA 70E IS THE HOW

Energized Work Permit 1

• Description and location of the work to be performed.

• Justification why it is to be done live.– Greater Hazard– Infeasible

• Not wanting to pay weekend or shift differential is not a valid reason.

Energized Work Permit 2

• A description of the safe work practices to be used

• Results of the shock hazard analysis

• Shock Protection Boundary

• Flash Hazard Analysis

• Flash Protection Boundary

Energized Work Permit 3

• The personnel protective Equipment needed• Means used to restrict the Access of unqualified

people to the area• Evidence of a job briefing• Energized work approval by

– Authorizing management or– Safety Officer or– Owner

•WITH THEIR SIGNATURE

Recent events

• Miller Coors

Next Steps for Compliance are ???

•Glove Up

•Tool Up

•Dress Up

•Work Safe

Gloves… Gloves… are your first line of defenseare your first line of defense

• Insulated Rubber Gloves, ASTM Spec.

• Leather Protectors, ASTM Spec.

• Tested / Certified, OSHA 1910.137“Electrical Protective Devices”

Gloves… most commonGloves… most commonClass 0

Class 2

1910.137(b)(2)(x)(D)

• Rubber insulating gloves and sleeves with minor physical defects, such as small cuts, tears, or punctures, may be repaired by the application of a compatible patch. Also, rubber insulating gloves and sleeves with minor surface blemishes may be repaired with a compatible liquid compound. The patched area shall have electrical and physical properties equal to those of the surrounding material. Repairs to gloves are permitted only in the area between the wrist and the reinforced edge of the opening.

1910.137(b)(2)(xii)

• The employer shall certify that equipment has been tested in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs (b)(2)(viii), (b)(2)(ix), and (b)(2)(xi) of this section. The certification shall identify the equipment that passed the test and the date it was tested.

Rubber Insulating Equipment Test Intervals • Type of equipment • Rubber insulating line

hose| • Rubber insulating covers

• Rubber insulating blankets

• Rubber insulating gloves

• Rubber insulating sleeves

• When to test • Upon indication that

insulating value is suspect.• Same as above

• Before first issue and every…

• 12 months thereafter(1)

• 6 months thereafter(1)• 12 months thereafter(1)

Footnote(1) If the insulating equipment has been electrically tested but not issued for service, it may not be placed into service unless it has been electrically tested within the previous 12 months

Insulated Insulated Hand Hand Tools Tools

Testing in accordance with ASTM F1505-01

10,000 VAC Dielectric Test (steel shot bath)

If you don’t see this symbol . . .It’s NOT truly insulated

• Voltage rated tools– shall be rated for the voltage on which they are

used– shall be double insulated

• built to ATSM F1505 standards(double triangle marking)

• many tool are available in composite construction

• rated at 1000 volts, tested to 10,000 volts» 3M 33+ wrapped tool is not an insulated tool

• tool must be inspected before each use

Flash Hazard Analysis

• 2-1.3.3. Flash Hazard Analysis: Flash hazard analysis shall be done before a person approaches any exposed electrical conductor or circuit part that has not been placed in an electrically safe work condition

• Whether based on industry tables or using analytical engineering techniques, a flash hazard analysis is a safety related (and required by the NFPA 70 E) must do for commercial, industrial, and utility electrical power systems.

How do we select the process

• Get a copy of 70 E and look at the standard• Create a Decent one-line diagram of the

electrical.• Find out who is exposed and use the tables as a

start.• Train, get the PPE and Tools• Re-evaluate• Plan to re-engineer and add arc reducing fusing

or breakers to reduce the arc potential• Enforce the rules

Identify the nearest disconnect

• Most one lines do not identify the nearest disconnect unless it is an OCPD (over current protective device) So a simple switch will not be identified in the analysis.

• Put the identity of the nearest upsteam disconnect on the label

You will go back to your jobsite

• Safety director to maintenance electrician– “ I just learned about arc flash and blast, it

scared the *&^^ out of me.”– “Do you work energized?”

• Electrician to Safety director– “I always turn it off”

– Thank You is the SD response

Now we have an OSHA inspection

• CSHO to safety director

• What do you have for an ESWP program?

• SD to CSHO we never work energized we lock it out all the time.

• CSHO to SD That’s good, well let’s get started and go out to do the walk around inspection of your facility.

CSHO to Maint Electrician

• What kind of testing devices do you have?• Sparky to CSHO , I have an ammeter, phase

tester, a VOM from *****, a solenoid tester, an electrical field tester, and a few others.

• What do you have to for PPE?• Sparky to CSHO, Safety glasses and a hard hat

with muffs• CSHO HMMMMMMMMMM

CSHO to Maint Electrician

• CSHO How old is this place• CSHO What kind of a system do you have to

maintain?• Sparky to CSHO This place is 40 years old and

we have added a lot of new equipment. The only new stuff is the buss bar on the new line.

• CSHO, do you have any of those old 70s breakers?

• Sparky yes, We replace them when they fail.

CSHO to Maint Electrician

• Do you have a one line diagram?• Sparky, somewhere I think• So when you have to trouble shoot a

problem in this old plant what do you use.• Sparky, I’ve been in this plant for 29 years.• Any new guys like you?• Sparky, yea Curly and Mo retired so they

hired Larry We are training him.

CSHO to Maint Electrician• What is your up time goal• Sparky, 90%• So when you troubleshoot and find the

problem, you always turn the power off?• Sparky, Welllllllllll. Sometimes we can’t• When can’t you?• Sparky, The new line has one main disconnect,

that kills the program if you turn it off. We did it once and the production supt had a fit.

Any other times that you can’t turn it off?

• Sparky, No

• You mean you know where every thing is fed from?

• Sparky, Welllllllllll, most of the time

• What about your new guy Larry

• Sparky, Oh he is just learning

• So he guesses

CSHO to Maint Electrician

• Could I look in your tool box?

Electricians’ Tools

Electrical Tape asInsulation

Gouge – Weld Mark

CSHO to Maint Electrician

• So you do work energized, • Your tools are not rated, • You have no idea of the calorie levels to

which you are exposed, • You have no arc PPE and you work hot

swapping buss plugs from a ladder.• You don’t have any live work procedures.• Sparky Yea, but I am careful.

CSHO to Safety Director

• You were made aware of Arc Flash and Blast at the ________

• You have ignored all of the hazards

• You will be receiving correspondence from us in the future. Now let us discuss some abatement dates.

OR

• You have the example of a VPP company that did their homework, and protected their people.

WOOD RIVER

Tuesday, Wood River experienced a significant electrical arc flash incident in one of the substations.  … there were ___injuries and it looks as though they will have the substation back in service in the next 3 or 4 days.

What does a new hood look like?

• One of the two feeders to their substations had been replaced during a turnaround. 

• Both main feeders had been energized but not yet tied together or double-ended. 

• Prior to connecting the new energized feeder to the substation, phase testing was being performed in order to validate that all three phases on both feeders were aligned in the appropriate position. 

• This is mandated by procedure because closing the tie when the feeders are out of phase would result in a major fault. 

The arc

• They speculate that the initiating event occurred when the metal edge on one of the voltage meter probes touched the edge of the grounded steel shutter. 

• The arc occurred and

The employee was protected

• You can see in next slide how the hood looked after being exposed to the arc flash but what you can’t see is that the inside of the hood looks like new.  A few years ago they upgraded their electrical safe work practices and their electrical PPE to state of the art gear

Both of these were during testing

• What is better?

A Replacing protective clothing or

B. Getting skin grafts?

BNSF Arc Flash Incident

• Background– 480V breaker– On 03/04/2009 at 08:40 hours an electrical flashover

was reported while  the contractor was trying to find information regarding 480 V breakers.  This resulted in injuring three contractor employees; one with first degree burn and two with 2nd degree burns.  All the victims were transported to clinic for first aid treatment and then transported to Care Hospital for further examination and treatment.

NFPA 70E

• 110.4 Multiemployer Relationship.

• (A) Safe Work Practices. On multiemployer worksites (in all industry sectors), more than one employer may be responsible for hazardous conditions that violate safe work practices.

OSHA Multi-employer Worksite Policy

• On multi-employer worksites (in all industry sectors), more than one employer may be citable for a hazardous condition that violates an OSHA standard.

NFPA 2004 70 E 110.4 on Multiemployer Relationship.

• (B) Outside Personnel (Contractors, etc.). Whenever outside servicing personnel are to be engaged in activities covered by the scope and application of this standard, the on-site employer and the outside employer(s) shall inform each other of existing hazards, personal protective equipment/clothing requirements, safe work practice procedures, and emergency/evacuation procedures applicable to the work to be performed. This coordination shall include a meeting and documentation.

NFPA 2009 70 E on Multiemployer Relationship

• 110.5 Relationships With Contractors (Outside service personnel, etc.)

• (A) Host Employer Responsibilities.• (1) The host employer shall inform contract employers of:• (a) Known hazards that are covered by this section, that

are related to the contract employer’s work, and that might not be recognized by the contract employer or its employees; and

• (b) Information about the employer’s installation that the contract employer needs to make the assessments required by Chapter 1.

• (2) The host employer shall report observed contract-employer-related violations of this section to the contract employer.

(B) Contract Employer Responsibilities.

1) The contract employee shall ensure that each of his or her employees is instructed in the hazards communicated to the contract employer by the host employer. This instruction is in addition to the basic training required by this standard.

(2) The contract employer shall ensure that each of his or her employees follows the work practices required by this standard and safety-related work rules required by the host employer.

(3) The contract employer shall advise the host employer of:(a) Any unique hazards presented by the contract employer’s work,(b) Any unanticipated hazards found during the contract employer’s work that the host employer did not mention, and(c) The measures the contractor took to correct any violations reported by the host employer under paragraph (A)(2) of this section and to prevent such violation from recurring in the future.

Who got the system up and running before you went to work on it today

What is the interrupting capability of a grade 8

bolt?

Patrick Ostrenga

Compliance Assistance Specialist

OSHA

Milwaukee, WI

414-297-3315

ostrenga.patrick@dol.gov

•www.osha.gov