Kedegraw
New member
- Location
- Big Piney Wyoming
We have operators that are not qualified electricians. Can they as per the NFPA 70E open and close breakers and reset a tripped breaker? if so do we need to document that they can perform the work?
Qualified person. One who has received training in and has demonstrated skills and knowledge in the construction and operation of electric equipment and installations and the hazards involved.
You have asked two different questions.We have operators that are not qualified electricians. Can they as per the NFPA 70E open and close breakers and reset a tripped breaker? if so do we need to document that they can perform the work?
... Tripped breakers cannot be reset without making sure the reason for the trip has been rectified. ...
... You are required to investigate why the breaker tripped before you reset it unless you are sure that it tripped from an overload.
1910.334(b)(2)
Reclosing circuits after protective device operation. After a circuit is deenergized by a circuit protective device, the circuit may not be manually reenergized until it has been determined that the equipment and circuit can be safely energized. The repetitive manual reclosing of circuit breakers or reenergizing circuits through replaced fuses is prohibited.
Note: When it can be determined from the design of the circuit and the overcurrent devices involved that the automatic operation of a device was caused by an overload rather than a fault condition, no examination of the circuit or connected equipment is needed before the circuit is reenergized.
... In addition, to be permitted to work within the limited approach of exposed energized conductors and circuit parts the person shall be trained in all of the following: ...
Here from OSHA
OSHA 1910.334(b)(2) said:Reclosing circuits after protective device operation. After a circuit is deenergized by a circuit protective device, the circuit may not be manually reenergized until it has been determined that the equipment and circuit can be safely energized. The repetitive manual reclosing of circuit breakers or reenergizing circuits through replaced fuses is prohibited.
Note: When it can be determined from the design of the circuit and the overcurrent devices involved that the automatic operation of a device was caused by an overload rather than a fault condition, no examination of the circuit or connected equipment is needed before the circuit is reenergized.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9911
Thanks much. Unfortunately my experience has been that the circuits being reset by operators are just such circuits as to qualify for the note.
pfalcon;1419320 Thanks much. Unfortunately my experience has been that the circuits being reset by operators are just such circuits as to qualify for the note.[/QUOTE said:How do they know that the trip was caused by an overload?
Thanks much. Unfortunately my experience has been that the circuits being reset by operators are just such circuits as to qualify for the note.
OSHA 1910.334(b)(2) said:Reclosing circuits after protective device operation. After a circuit is deenergized by a circuit protective device, the circuit may not be manually reenergized until it has been determined that the equipment and circuit can be safely energized. The repetitive manual reclosing of circuit breakers or reenergizing circuits through replaced fuses is prohibited.
Note: When it can be determined from the design of the circuit and the overcurrent devices involved that the automatic operation of a device was caused by an overload rather than a fault condition, no examination of the circuit or connected equipment is needed before the circuit is reenergized.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owad...ARDS&p_id=9911
How do they know that the trip was caused by an overload?
Not following your logic, unless you have a trip unit with indication showing what type of fault it tripped on it is pretty hard to know it was an overload.
If you have a motor starter with a tripped breaker, that to me indicates that there is an issue other than an overload and you need to determine the cause of the trip before reclosing the breaker.