MORE ON !!! NFPA 70 E Table 130.7(c)(9) (a) question

[jerryjtb]

My question is on the interpretation of 240 volt up to 600 volt molded circuit breaker operations with covers on. There are several locations in a facility where untrained non-electrical personnel switch 277 lighting circuit breakers on and off as needed. When one reads the chart from NFPA 70 E it would seem that this would be an unacceptable practice because of the ZERO HRC/Risk category. What are your thoughts?


Zog & Jim D. -- Unacceptable because the persons happen to be security guards that turn the lights on/off before and after the shifts report or leave work. --- We haven?t got management on the same page yet. My efforts with the question were to get unbiased outside options to support my efforts on application of the rules.

I believe your # 2 is the correct option. Have a qualified person operate the breakers for them

WDn ? I believe you may need to review your procedure because of the PPE requirements with the panel closed and switching 277 volts if you have not completed an analysis.

 

[jim dungar]

You can make your security guards qualified. Train them in how the panel is built, how to operate the breaker, and the hazards associated with mis-operating it. 110.6(B) says the training needs to correspond to the risk to the employee.

But you also need to make sure they are wearing the appropiate PPE when they are doing this (i.e. HRC=0 does not allow short sleeve shirts or synthetic fibers).

NFPA 70E does not require qualified persons to be "electricians".

 

[kid_stevens]

Mount switches outside of the breaker panel for the lights and your problem is solved.