NFPA70E Is it the law of the land?

[knaack134]

I'm in a city in Illinois. Is NFPA70E 2008 the law of the land, or do municipalities have to adopt it?

 

[LarryFine]

The latter. From the NEC:

The NFPA has no power, nor does it undertake, to police or enforce compliance with the contents of this document. Nor does the NFPA list, certify, test or inspect products, designs, or installations for compliance with this document. Any certification or other statement of compliance with the requirements of this document shall not be attributable to the NFPA and is solely the responsibility of the certifier or maker of the statement.


This Code is purely advisory as far as NFPA and ANSI are concerned but is offered for use in law and for regulatory purposes in the interest of life and property protection. Anyone noticing any errors should notify the Secretary of the National Electrical Code Committee at the NFPA Executive Office.

 

[quogueelectric]

Kind of like a constitution by by the insurance companys for the insurance companys. It mimics the old saying "OK nobody moves nobody gets hurt!!" The savings realized by the institution of these poloicys is the sole reason electrical contractors insurance rates keep dropping so low. Sarchasm duly noted .

 

[mdshunk]

I inquired directly of the NFPA many months ago, this exact same question, and received no reply. I can only conclude that NFPA 70E doesn't have the force of law anywhere. Having said that, you're nuts if you don't take those guidelines to heart anyhow.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

NFPA 70E is a Standard. Standards are not codes, unless a jurisdiction officially adopts them.


With that said, NFPA 70E is part of the OSHA construction/work documents. So, if you have employees it will be part of your responsibilities as a business owner.

 

[wbalsam1]

NFPA 70E is a Standard. Standards are not codes, ..............................

Well said, Pierre. So much confusion abounds in this area. :smile:

 

[cschmid]

another book of responsibilities..do employees have a list of responsibilities...:smile:

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Illinois is an OSHA state, that is they don't have their own state "OSHA" and the safe work rules in 70E are cited by OSHA in safety violation notices and can result in fines for non-compliance. As far as the installation rules in 70E, they are not enforcable as far as I know and it is my understanding that those rules will be removed from the next edition leaving only the electrical safe work practices.

 

[cornbread]

OSHA is the ?SHALL? comply with the law.
While OSHA tells you what to do to avoid electrical dangers, 70E tells you how.

OSHA 29 CFR
1910.132(d)(1)
The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:

1910.132(d)(1)(i)
Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment.

1910.132(d)(2)
The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.


Can you be cited for non compliance with 70E? Yes, in the event of a serious electrical shock or arc flash burn OSHA has issued citation for not complying with 1910.335(a)(1)(i)?employer need to indentify hazard and then need for PPE. OSHA does not tell you how to select PPE but 70E does.

OSHA has used 70E in the reference to 110.16, Arc flash labels.. Did the employer fail to indentify the hazard.