Grounding enclosures to meet OSHA standards

[MFS-PDX-313]

A co-worker (who's an older electrician) said that our equipment needs to have the covers of our enclosures grounded with ground wires. He's saying that because we don't we're violating OSHA. We've always designed to NFPA 79 which states that as long as we don't have devices mounted to the enclosure we're fine. I've never heard of having to meet OSHA requirements. Does anyone have any knowledge of this?

 

[PaulMmn]

Isn't this similar to the story about ConEd and a handhole cover being electrified?

 

[petersonra]

I am not aware of any code that specifically requires an enclosure door be bonded with a wire in general, only that an effective ground fault path be maintained where there is a likely potential for a ground fault. Most knowledgeable people would consider an enclosure door is not likely to become energized.

 

[infinity]

If you're building the equipment to comply with NFPA 79 what would OSHA have to do with it?

 

[jim dungar]

Most knowledgeable people would consider an enclosure door is not likely to become energized.

We would always bond the doors when wiring was brought to 'door mounted' components like pushbuttons and HMI.

 

[petersonra]

We would always bond the doors when wiring was brought to 'door mounted' components like pushbuttons and HMI.

That would be a case where you made it likely that it might become energized.