NFPA 70E Application Question

[safetyone]

I am the Safety Manager for an OEM of electrical equipment. I am trying to determine how NFPA 70E effects the employees working in my facility. These employees build electrical equipment and when completed the equip is tested. If during testing, the equip fails to operate at some level, the Technician will do some troubleshooting live. Most of the equipment is fused by 15A or 20A fuses operating at 208V. Some of the work the operators are doing is on 24V systems inside the equipment. The inside of some of the equipment is considered touch safe or guarded. I am having dificulty finding specific information in NFPA 70E that tells me if this type of work is covered by the rules and if it is what calculation apply. The equipment is consider portabe.

Any thoughts?

 

[jim dungar]

I am having dificulty finding specific information in NFPA 70E that tells me if this type of work is covered by the rules and if it is what calculation apply.

NFPA 70E is basically a list of what must be done not a "how to do it" book.

110.3 says it is your (the employer) responsibility to provide/create the electrical safety related work practices (ESWP). 110.7 contains highlights of what ESWPs should address. 110.8(A) says the ESWP shall consider the nature and extent of the potential hazards.

 

[zog]

I am the Safety Manager for an OEM of electrical equipment. I am trying to determine how NFPA 70E effects the employees working in my facility. These employees build electrical equipment and when completed the equip is tested. If during testing, the equip fails to operate at some level, the Technician will do some troubleshooting live. Most of the equipment is fused by 15A or 20A fuses operating at 208V. Some of the work the operators are doing is on 24V systems inside the equipment. The inside of some of the equipment is considered touch safe or guarded. I am having dificulty finding specific information in NFPA 70E that tells me if this type of work is covered by the rules and if it is what calculation apply. The equipment is consider portabe.

Any thoughts?

I developed a training program and safety procedures for S&C for this type of situation, and would be glad to help. I dont do the training anymore but still give advice and direction.

The 24V stuff is fine no precaution necessary as long as there is not >50V exposed in the equipment the tech is working on. The 208V stuff, it depends on what type of T/S they are doing, as far as if the T/S can be done at all with the equipment energized. Even if you can justify doing the T/S energized all arc flash and shock boundaries and PPE requiments from teh 70E apply. And your techs need to be qualified per 70E def to do the work, that means training and proof of compentency. I bet they think they are qualified and are really not (I would make a large bet on that actually)

Feel free to PM me with any mopre specific questions.

 

[quogueelectric]

I am the Safety Manager for an OEM of electrical equipment. I am trying to determine how NFPA 70E effects the employees working in my facility. These employees build electrical equipment and when completed the equip is tested. If during testing, the equip fails to operate at some level, the Technician will do some troubleshooting live. Most of the equipment is fused by 15A or 20A fuses operating at 208V. Some of the work the operators are doing is on 24V systems inside the equipment. The inside of some of the equipment is considered touch safe or guarded. I am having dificulty finding specific information in NFPA 70E that tells me if this type of work is covered by the rules and if it is what calculation apply. The equipment is consider portabe.

Any thoughts?

My thoughts are how could you be the manager without this training. For the life of me I cant think of one good reason that you shouldnt have to take the course. Just take the course it is an eye opener.