Nfpa 70e

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tasdes104

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Since 70E is not currently a legal requirement, at which point does a Safety Department enforce full PPE useage? We have books, tables, and absolutely no information on existing equipment arc flash boundries. Some of the equipment is 30 years old and working great. How do we assess that PE requirement?



Tom
 

WorkSafe

Senior Member
Location
Moore, OK
You would conduct a arc flash analysis.

70E is help ensure you are complying with existing OSHA standards. OSHA could cite you under the General Duty Clause for something contained in 70E if they choose too.

Compliance with 70E is a lot cheaper then a possible worker electrocution.

Age of equipment doesn't make a difference.

Do your guys wear anything at all in regards to PPE when working? If not, you guys got some serious problems going on.
 

davidr43229

Senior Member
Location
Columbus, Oh
I would agree with Worksafe.
The NFPA-70E (2009 Edition) is in play NOW, OSHA can site you, under a General Duty Clause, if they can't find a 1910 clause.
OSHA is the "Shall". The NFPA-70E is the "HOW"
1. You are required to preform an Arc Flash Study
2. You are required to provide PPE
3. You are required to Training your employees
4. You are required to update your LOTO


surprise. :confused:
 

pfalcon

Senior Member
Location
Indiana
APPENDIX A TO SUBPART S OF PART 1910? REFERENCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION said:
NFPA 70?2002 National Electrical Code. (See also NFPA 70?2005.)
NFPA 70E?2000 Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces. (See also NFPA 70E?2004.)

1910 Subpart S is basically NFPA70:2002 Article 110 and NFPA70E:2000 Chapter 1. As 70:2005 and 70E:2004 are also listed as references, OSHA can easily hit you up for the full contents of either standard unless you have an alternative standard acceptable to OSHA.
 

tryinghard

Senior Member
Location
California
Since 70E is not currently a legal requirement...
Tom, it is a code requirement 110.16 - and don't forget we're working live while testing. Most existing compounds like manufacturing and such are scrambling to get their equipment labeled; we are were I'm working.

I believe the minimum criteria for a component to label is 240v supplied by 112.5kva or greater so if 240v supplied by 75kva or 208 these are not required but may be desired.
 

jim dungar

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Wisconsin
Occupation
PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Tom, it is a code requirement 110.16 ....
110.16 is only about putting a 'advisory' label on equipment in regards to arc flash.
It actually has little to do with the implementation of 70E, which is about Electrical Safe Work Practices.
 

tryinghard

Senior Member
Location
California
110.16 is only about putting a 'advisory' label on equipment in regards to arc flash.
It actually has little to do with the implementation of 70E, which is about Electrical Safe Work Practices.
True, I got a little off topic regarding the NEC.

But in reply to the Tom's (OP) comment about 70E's legal requirement this should be answered here at this website OSHA Enforcement of NFPA 70E

?Though OSHA does not, per se, enforce the NFPA standard, 2000 Edition OSHA considers NFPA standard a recognized industry practice. The employer is required to conduct an assessment in accordance with CFR 1910.132(d)(1). If an arc-flash is present, or likely to be present, then the employer must select and require employees to use the protective apparel. Employers who conduct the hazard/risk assessment, and select and require their employees to use protective clothing and other PPE appropriate for the task, as stated in the NFPA 70E? standard 2000 Edition, are deemed in compliance with the Hazard Assessment and Equipment Selection OSHA standard.?

The empolyer can I be cited for not complying with NFPA 70E so however this fits into your definition of legally required the truth be known citations can ensue through a randum OSHA inspection.
 

zog

Senior Member
Location
Charlotte, NC
True, I got a little off topic regarding the NEC.

But in reply to the Tom's (OP) comment about 70E's legal requirement this should be answered here at this website OSHA Enforcement of NFPA 70E

?Though OSHA does not, per se, enforce the NFPA standard, 2000 Edition OSHA considers NFPA standard a recognized industry practice. The employer is required to conduct an assessment in accordance with CFR 1910.132(d)(1). If an arc-flash is present, or likely to be present, then the employer must select and require employees to use the protective apparel. Employers who conduct the hazard/risk assessment, and select and require their employees to use protective clothing and other PPE appropriate for the task, as stated in the NFPA 70E? standard 2000 Edition, are deemed in compliance with the Hazard Assessment and Equipment Selection OSHA standard.?

The empolyer can I be cited for not complying with NFPA 70E so however this fits into your definition of legally required the truth be known citations can ensue through a randum OSHA inspection.

This is all true, and OSHA levies fines for not following 70E everyday, however it depends on if it applies to you. The OP's profile lists him as a utility lineman, so he may fall under the NESC, which is lagging behind 70E but is implementing arc flash requirements into the standard.
 

davidr43229

Senior Member
Location
Columbus, Oh
This is all true, and OSHA levies fines for not following 70E everyday, however it depends on if it applies to you. The OP's profile lists him as a utility lineman, so he may fall under the NESC, which is lagging behind 70E but is implementing arc flash requirements into the standard
Under NESC Rule .011 the NFPA-70E was added

? Clothing requirements effective as of January 1, 2009;

? Arc flash assessment calculations required;

Just my $.02 :cool:
 

wtucker

Senior Member
Location
Connecticut
Since 70E is not currently a legal requirement, at which point does a Safety Department enforce full PPE useage?

The point at which the company genuinely wants its employees to be protected against electrical shock, burns and arc blast.

After all that's known about electrical hazards, after all the horror stories shared on this forum, after all the studies showing that electrical injuries are far more likely than others to require hospitalization, permanent disability or death, why would a company NOT want to provide and enforce full PPE usage regardless of what's required?

P.S. PPE certainly is required:

29 CFR 1910.132(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."


And, 29 CFR 1926.28(a) "The employer is responsible for requiring the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment in all operations where there is an exposure to hazardous conditions or where this part indicates the need for using such equipment to reduce the hazards to the employees."
 
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zog

Senior Member
Location
Charlotte, NC
The point at which the company genuinely wants its employees to be protected against electrical shock, burns and arc blast.

After all that's known about electrical hazards, after all the horror stories shared on this forum, after all the studies showing that electrical injuries are far more likely than others to require hospitalization, permanent disability or death, why would a company NOT want to provide and enforce full PPE usage regardless of what's required?

Well said, who really cares about "required" or not?, it is about protecting people from a life changing (Or ending) preventable injury.
 
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