ground assurance

[ksw]

I work on a Federal Reservation at a worksite that requires ground assurance of all 480 and 240 volt cords. Additionally, we are required to test all spider box GFCIs on a monthly basis. All of them are 20A. My question is this: Do I need to ground assure all 15A 120V utilization cords plugged into the 20A 120V GFCIs? My employer says no, I say yes because the cords are rated less than the GFCIs.

 

[eric9822]

I would also say no, we don't. I am not sure if you are subject to OSHA since you are on a Federal Reservation but it sounds like your employer is trying to follow the regulations.

Per OSHA 1910.304

1910.304(b)(3)(ii)
The following requirements apply to temporary wiring installations that are used during maintenance, remodeling, or repair of buildings, structures, or equipment or during similar construction-like activities.

1910.304(b)(3)(ii)(A)
All 125-volt, single-phase, 15-, 20-, and 30-ampere receptacle outlets that are not part of the permanent wiring of the building or structure and that are in use by personnel shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

1910.304(b)(3)(ii)(C)
Where the ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection required by paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(B) of this section is not available for receptacles other than 125-volt, single-phase, 15-, 20-, and 30-ampere, the employer shall establish and implement an assured equipment grounding conductor program covering cord sets, receptacles that are not a part of the building or structure, and equipment connected by cord and plug that are available for use or used by employees on those receptacles.

The way I read this is, if you have GFCI's in use you don't need an assured ground program.

 

[ksw]

My job site is new construction. Do the citations you list still apply? Additionally, all 240 and 480 volt cords are not GFCI protected. Only the 15A 120V cords are GFCI protected. Am I still okay to skip ground assuring them?

 

[eric9822]

You must have a ground assurance program for the devices that are not fed by 125V GFCI protected receptacles. If you have GFCI protection for the non-125V devices then the ground assurance program is not required. GFCI's are required for all 125 V devices and a ground assurance program cannot be substituted.

 

[ksw]

Yes, we have a ground assurance program for ALL cords. Someone told me that if a cord is plugged into a GFCI it must either meet or exceed the rating of the GFCI, and only then can it be passed over. So, when I saw that the hundreds of cords that we have (and use daily) are merely rated at 15 amps, I was curious as to why we are "passing over" the safety assurance of so many. . . . .