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OSHA regulations
OSHA regulations mandate that employers provide a safe
workplace. Specically, OSHA Standard 29 CFR Part 1910,
Subpart S, addresses safety-related practices for electrical
work. It makes clear that, with very few exceptions, equipment must be deenergized before work is performed,
and lockout/tagout procedures must be followed.
This image, taken from high-speed, specially ltered
digital video shot during testing in Ferraz Shawmuts
high-power lab, illustrates the type of blast that can occur.
See the box (far right) for specic text from Subpart S.
In addition, OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910 contains many other
sections that pertain to electrical safety and arc ash
hazards. They address safety requirements, personal
protective equipment, and general environmental controls,
such as lockout/tagout.
While the NEC has traditionally addressed installation techniques intended to prevent re, electrocution and shock hazard,
it now contains requirements related to arc ash hazards.
Section 110-16, Flash Protection, requires that markings
be placed on switchboards, panelboards, industrial control
panels and motor control centers to warn qualied persons
of potential arc ash hazards.
Ferraz Shawmut
current-limiting fuses
and nger-safe devices
can help reduce the risk
of arc ash.
OSHA Standards
OSHA outlines these employer responsibilities in
Standard 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart S:
Equipment must be deenergized before work
is performed
In addressing work on electrical equipment,
1910.333(a)(1) states:
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.
Lockout/tagout procedures must be used
In Note 2 of 1910.333(b)(2), it states:
Lockout and tagging procedures that comply with
paragraphs (c) through (f) of 1910.147 will also
be deemed to comply with paragraph (b)(2) of
this section, provided that:
[1] The procedures address the electrical safety
hazards covered by this Subpart; and
[2] The procedures also incorporate the requirements
of paragraphs (b)(2)(iii)(D) and (b)(2)(iv)(B) of
this section
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 mandates that employees:
shall be provided with, and shall use electrical
protective equipment that is appropriate for the
specic parts of the body to be protected and for
the work to be performed.
In addition, the appendix to Part 1910 Subpart S includes NFPA 70E as a reference that
provides information which 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), 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:
1910.132(d)(1)(i)
Select, and have each affected employee use,
the types of PPE that will protect the affected
employee from the hazards identied in the
hazard assessment;
1910.132(d)(1)(ii)
Communicate selection decisions to each
affected employee; and,
1910.132(d)(1)(iii)
Select PPE that properly ts each affected
employee.
This is the section referenced in the OSHA standard
interpretation that discusses the relevance of 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.