ElectricalSafetyPlan

EasternIllinoisUniversitySafetyManualChapter8

Summary
Theelectricalsafetyplanappliestoemployeesworkingwith600voltsorlessinanunprotectedenvironment.Theemployee maybecomeexposedtoliveenergizedpart(s)orthosepartsthathavebeendeenergized. Description Thepurposeofthisplanistopreventinjuriesandaccidentsandtoprotectuniversityemployeesfromelectricalhazards.This planappliestoemployeeswhoworkonornearelectricalequipmentthathasenergizedordeenergizedparts. Scope TheElectricalSafetyPlanappliestoallemployeeworkorotherwiseinvolvingelectricalsystemsof600voltsorlesswherethe employeeisexposedtopartsorequipmentwhichisenergizedordeenergized.Therearesomeuniversityemployeeswhowork withvoltageover120volts,however,mostemployeesworkwith120voltsorless.

Definitions

AdministrativeControlsEffortstolimitworkersexposuretoelectricitybymodifyingworkschedulesorlocation,orby modifyingtheoperatingscheduleofelectricalmachinery. ArchFlashProtectionAcompleteFRclothingandequipmentsystemthatcoverstheentirebody,exceptforthehandsand feet.Thisincludespants,jacket,andbeekeepertypehoodfittedwithafaceshield. ArchFlashHazardAdangerousconditionassociatedwiththereleaseofenergycausedbyanelectricarc. CompetentPersonAnOSHA"competentperson"isdefinedas"onewhoiscapableofidentifyingexistingandpredictable

hazardsinthesurroundingsorworkingconditionswhichareunsanitary,hazardous,ordangeroustoemployees,and whohasauthorizationtotakepromptcorrectivemeasurestoeliminatethem".[29CFR1926.32(f)].Bywayoftraining and/orexperience,acompetentpersonisknowledgeableofapplicablestandards,iscapableofidentifyingworkplace hazardsrelatingtothespecificoperation,andhastheauthoritytocorrectthem.Theemployeessupervisorisa competentPerson.

CurrentTermusedtodescribeelectricflow. DeenergizedElectricaldevicesthataredisconnectedfromallenergysourcesincludingdirectelectricconnections,stored electricenergysuchascapacitors,andstorednonelectricalenergyindevicesthatcouldreenergizeelectriccircuitparts. EnergizedElectricalWorkEmployeeconductingaworkactivitynearanexposedenergizedcircuitgreaterthan50voltsand lessthanorequalto600volts. EnvironmentalHealthandSafety(EHS)DepartmentwhosupporttheUniversityscommitmenttoprovidingasafeand healthfulworkplace. FMFactoryMutualAproductsafetytestingandcertificationprocedure. FlameResistant(FR)Thepropertyofamaterialwherebycombustionisprevented,terminated,orinhibitedfollowingthe applicationofaflamingornonflamingsourceofignition,withorwithoutsubsequentremovaloftheignitionsource.

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EasternIllinoisUniversitySafetyManualChapter8
FPN:Flameresistancecanbeaninherentpropertyofamaterial,oritcanbeimpartedbyaspecifictreatmentapplied tothematerial. GFCIGroundFaultCircuitInterrupter,providesadditionalprotectionfromshocksbyshuttingoffcurrenttotheequipment whenachangeinelectricityissensed. GroundingAsafepathbetweenelectricityandtheearth,preventingleakageofcurrent. HighVoltageisaelectricalsystemorequipmentoperatingwithavoltageover600volts. LowVoltageisaelectricalsystemorequipmentoperatingwithavoltageunder600volts. QualifiedPersonAperson,designatedbyEasternIllinoisUniversitysuchastheemployeesoftheElectricalShop,whoby reasonofexperienceorinstructionhavedemonstratedfamiliaritywiththeoperationtobeperformedandthehazardinvolved withworkingonelectricalequipment. ULUnderwriterLaboratoriesisanindependentproductsafetytestingandcertificationorganization. VoltageElectricpotentialorpotentialdifferenceassignedtoacircuitorsystemexpressedinvolts.

Responsibilities
Thegoaloftheelectricalsafetyprogramistoensurethatallemployeesunderstandthehazardsassociatedwithelectricenergy andarecapableofperformingthenecessarystepstoprotectthemselvesandtheircoworkers. Primaryresponsibilitiesinclude:

Hazardidentification Training Reporting/correctingsafetyhazards

Employees

Worksafeatalltime Areawareofelectricalsafetyissues Complywithsafeoperatingprocedureswhenworkingwithelectricalequipment Attendappropriatesafetytraining. Reportsafetyconcerns

Supervisors,Managers,DeansandDirectors

Provideasafeworkingenvironment,providePersonalProtectiveEquipmentifrequired Ensurestaffaretrained,qualified,andauthorizedtoworkonelectricalequipment ServeasaCompetentPersonintheworkplace Conductperiodichazardanalysisofworkareas Correctidentifiedsafetyhazards NotifyEHSrepresentativesofnewhires,retirements,transfers,terminations,etc.thatmayaffectthelistof employeescoveredunderElectricalSafetyPlan

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EasternIllinoisUniversitySafetyManualChapter8
EH&S

Provideassistanceinidentifyingelectricalsafetyissues Provideelectricalsafetytrainingforcampusstaff Reviewelectricalequipmentsafeoperatingproceduresasnecessary

FacilitiesManagement

Ensurethatallauthorizedorqualifiedpersonshavereceivedappropriatelevelsoftraining EnsureappropriatePersonalProtectiveEquipmentisprovidedtoauthorizedorqualifiedstaffwhoworkwith electricalequipment

PlanComponents
Anyvoltagemaybedangerousifyoubecomeinadvertentlybecomepartoftheelectricalcircuit.Workingonelectricalcircuit shouldbeperformedbytrainedexperiencedemployees.

Precautionforallstaff:
Unplugordeenergizedallelectricalequipmentbeforeworkingontheelectricalpartsorcircuit. Extensioncordsareusedforatemporarypowersource.Donotplugpowerstripsintoextensioncords. Inspectallcordsandelectricalequipmentonaregularfrequencyfordamagesandsignofoverheating. Neverpullthecordfromthesocket,grasptheplugtounplugfromthewalloutlet. Allelectricaldevicesmustbeproperlygroundedwithathreewireplugunlesstheequipmentisdoubleinsulated. NeverusecordinwetareaunlessyouareprotectedbyaGFICdevice.

Lab,Stage,ArtStudioandFacilitiesManagement
Neverworkonelectricdeviceswithanoperationvoltageof600voltsorgreaterwhileenergizes.Facilities Managementwillneedtotakeextrasmeasurestoprotectemployeesduringenergizework. Beawareofyourelectricalsurrounding,lookforelectricalhazards. Ensurethatallauthorizedorstaffhavereceivedappropriatetraininginordertooperateequipment. Electricequipmentmustbedeenergizedbeforemovingorworkingontheequipment. Maintainathreefootclearancearoundelectricalpanels. Alwaysfollowlockout/tagoutprocedureswhenworkingonelectricalequipment(Lockout/TagoutProgram).See UniversitySafetyManualChapter15http://www.eiu.edu/~environ/manual/Safety%20Manual%20Chapter%2015.pdf WearappropriatePersonalProtectiveEquipment(PPE)suchassafetyglasses,ratedrubbergloves,ratedrubber sleeves,insulatedboots,andfaceshield. o UniversitySafetyManual412.35PersonalProtectiveEquipmentApprovedprotectiveheadgear shallbewornbyallpersonnelwhen:Employeesarepresentinareaswhereahazardexistsfromfallingor flyingobjectsorfromotherharmfulcontactsorexposuresorwherethereisariskofinjuryfromelectric shock,hairentanglement,chemicals,ortemperatureextremes. Neveroverridesafetydevicessuchaselectricalinterlocks. Removeallrings,keychainsorothermetalobjectswhenworkingaroundelectricity. Wearappropriatepersonalprotectiveequipment,suchaseyeprotectionandinsulatedgloves,asneeded. Neverusemetalladderswhenworkingnearenergizedwiring. BatteryHandling29CFR1910.268(b)(2)(i) o Eyeprotectiondeviceswhichprovidesideaswellasfrontaleyeprotectionforemployeesshallbeprovided whenmeasuringstoragebatteryspecificgravityorhandlingelectrolytes,andtheemployershallensurethat suchdevicesareusedbytheemployees.Theemployershallalsoensurethatacidresistantglovesand

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EasternIllinoisUniversitySafetyManualChapter8
apronsshallbewornforprotectionagainstspattering.Facilitiesforquickdrenchingorflushingoftheeyes andbodyshallbeprovidedunlessthestoragebatteriesareoftheenclosedtypeandequippedwith explosionproofvents,inwhichcasesealedwaterrinseorneutralizingpacksmaybesubstitutedforthe quickdrenchingorflushingfacilities.Employeesassignedtoworkwithstoragebatteriesshallbeinstructed inemergencyproceduressuchasdealingwithaccidentalacidspills. Istheresponsibilityofalllabmanagers,principalinvestigators,stagemanagers,andfaculty

TrainingRequirementsandCompetencyAssessment
Training Requirement, Class Title Basic Electrical Safety Awareness Advanced Electrical Safety Lock Out/Tag Out Hazardous Electrical Voltage Safety Target Audience All Employees work on exposed electrical wiring or electrical devices that may pose a potential for electrical shock or arch flash Employees who work directly with electrical systems from 50 to 600 volts, Authorized Persons Employees who work directly with electrical systems from 50 to 600 volts, Authorized Persons Employees who work with or in the proximity of electrical equipment or systems over 600 volts, Qualified Electrical Worker (QEW) Frequency At time of employment and periodically thereafter At time of employment At time of employment Annually , by the Electrical Shop

Work unit specific training may also be required for specific workplace activities or equipment. Notify your supervisor if you have any questions.

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