NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace Dan Lazorcak Will Rogers

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NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the
WorkplaceDan LazorcakWill Rogers
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Objectives

• NFPA 70E Overview and Background
• NFPA 70E vs- OSHA compliance
• NFPA 70E Safety Related Work Practices
  Definitions
• Implementation 3 Step Process
• Labeling and Permits
• Case Study

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What is NFPA 70E?

• A document that addresses electrical safety
  standards for employees who install, maintain or
  repair electrical systems
• 2004 Edition has an introduction, 4 Chapters and
  13 Annexes
• Chapter 1 Safety-Related Work Practices is the
  core of 70E
• Chapters 2-4
• 2 - Safety-Related Maintenance Requirements
• 3 - Safety Requirements for Special Equipment
• 4 - Installation Safety Requirements
• Annexes A M Lots of good information and
  examples

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NFPA 70E A little background

• First published in 1979 as a joint effort between
  NFPA and OSHA
• 1995 Edition (5th edition) included many of the
  current workplace safety requirements
• 2000 Edition (6th edition) added requirements for
  Flash Protection Boundaries Flame Retardant
  Clothing
• 2004 Edition (7th edition) emphasizes Safe Work
  Practices

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NFPA 70E A little background

• OSHA bases its electrical safety mandates, found
  in 1910 and 1926 on the information found in NFPA
  70E
• NFPA 70E is recognized as the tool that
  illustrates how an employer might comply with
  OSHA standards re electrical safe work practices
• Relationship can be described as
• OSHA is the SHALL
• NFPA 70E is the HOW

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Is Compliance with 70E Mandatory?

• Simple answer NO!
• 70E is a national consensus safety standard
  published by the NFPA to assist OSHA in preparing
  electrical safety standards
• BUTOSHA has proposed to use the 2000 edition of
  70E as the basis for future revisions to its
  electrical safety-related work practices (4/5/04
  Federal Register)

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Can I be cited for failing to comply with the
requirements of NFPA 70E?....

• YES!....
• In the event of an electrical shock or arc flash
  burn incident, history has shown OSHA will cite
  under
• 1910.335, which requires the use of PPE when
  working where a potential electrical hazard
  exists
• 1910.132, which requires the employer to assess
  the workplace for hazards and the need for PPE
• General Duty Clause

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Is Compliance with 70E Mandatory?

• Bottom line.The employer is expected to use
  consensus standards to help achieve compliance
  with OSHA regulations
• In a 2003 Standards Interpretation letter, OSHA
  stated that 70E can be used as evidence of
  whether or not an employer acted reasonably

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NFPA 70E Details Definitions
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Definitions

• Flash Hazard A dangerous condition associated
  with the release of energy caused by an electric
  arc
• Can result in temperatures up to 35,000 degrees F
• 4 times hotter than the surface of the sun
• Can produce fatal burns up to 5ft. from the arc
  and severe burns up to 10ft. away

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Definitions

• Arc-Blast Results from the rapid heating of air
  and the vaporization of metal
• Creates a pressure wave that can damage hearing
• Causes a concussion resulting in memory loss
• Can result in flying metal, some of which may be
  molten and/or toxic

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Definitions

• Flash Hazard Analysis A study investigating a
  workers potential exposure to arc-flash energy.
• Conducted for
• Determination of Injury Prevention
• Determination of Safe Work Practices
• Appropriate levels of PPE

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Definitions

• Flash Protection Boundary An approach limit
  (distance from exposed live parts) which a person
  could receive a second degree burn if an
  electrical arc flash were to occur
• Incident Energy Amount of energy impressed on a
  surface, a certain distance from the source,
  generated during an electrical arc event
  (cal/cm2)

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Chapter 1 Safety-Related Work Practices

• Training requirements for Qualified and
  Unqualified persons
• Requires an Electrical Safety Program and
  specifies its content
• Stresses the need to work on equipment that is
  de-energized via Lockout/Tagout
• OSHA only allows work on live electrical parts
  under 2 special circumstances
• When continuity of service is required
• When de-energizing equipment would create
  additional hazards

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Chapter 1 Safety-Related Work Practices

• Electrical Hazards Analysis for Shock and Flash
• Approach Boundaries for Shock
• Arc-Flash Boundaries
• Selection of PPE for Working on Energized
  Electrical Equipment
• Energized Electrical Work Permits

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NFPA 70E - Implementation
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Three Step Process

• Conduct both a shock and flash hazard analysis to
  determine incident energy potential within the
  Flash Protection Boundary
• Determine PPE clothing needs based upon the
  incident energy level associated with the task
• Select PPE matching the hazard to the arc rating
  of the garment/equipment

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Step 1 Conduct a Hazards Analysis - Shock
Hazard Analysis

• Determines the voltage to which personnel will be
  exposed, boundary requirements and PPE necessary
  to minimize electrical shock
• Approach boundaries specified in Table 130.2(C)

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Step 1 Conduct a Hazards Analysis Flash
Hazard Analysis

• Determine the Flash Protection Boundary (FPB)
  based upon calculations found in Section 130.3(A)
• Determine the necessary Protective Clothing and
  PPE to be used for work performed within the FPB
• Based upon the incident energy exposure of the
  worker

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Step 1 Conduct a Hazards Analysis Flash
Hazard Analysis

• PPE for use inside the FPB can be determined two
  ways
• Method A Estimates the incident energy level by
  determining hazard risk category classifications
  from tables of common work tasks (Table
  130.7(C)(9))
• Method B Estimates the incident energy level
  based on knowledge of the electrical system and
  work practices (Annex D)
• Note Annex H Lays out a suggested simplified two
  category FR clothing system that provides 2 PPE
  clothing categories

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You could memorize 100s of equations, use 200
variables, and pages and pages of calculations
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...it seems complex, but several freeware Excel
templates make it a little easier.
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Heres a couple of examples
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And more . . .
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Lets do one real quick. But first well need to
define a couple of variables.
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Definitions (with the freeware, you only need to
know a few things to get started)

• Distance
• Seems obvious, but the standard is 18
• Arc Duration
• From fuse manufacturer (.0084 sec) or
• Breaker manufacturer (.25 sec)

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Definitions (continued)

• Impedance (Z) at transformer
• Usually labeled on transformer
• Bolted Fault
• This is where TRW needed help. We used the MVA
  method with our EE.
• The available amps - NOT a bolted fault

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MVA method was best for TRW
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Think of a large pipe filled with water
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OK, lets do a live example
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Nutshell version

• Get the bolted fault for major systems
• Determine your time (breaker or fuse)
• Decide your approach distance (18?)
• Plug it in get cal/cm2
• Determine PPE
• Apply labeling

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Why do we do it?...

• It seems like a lot of trouble
• It takes too long
• It costs money
• Its not exactly stimulating
• It not actually the law (yet)
• Youll get a LOT of resistance
• so, WHY?

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Just a moment (.0084 seconds to be exact)
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Step 1 Conduct a Hazards Analysis Flash
Hazard Analysis

• Method B
• ADD WILLS INFO HERE

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Step 2 Determine PPE based on Hazards Analysis

• There are 5 Hazard/Risk Categories with 0 being
  the least hazardous and 4 being the most
  hazardous
• The Hazard/Risk Category is determined by the
  incident exposure level you calculated in Step 1
• Compare the Hazard/Risk Category with Table
  130.7(C)(11) to determine Protective Clothing
  needs

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Step 3 Select Protective Clothing

• Garments are based upon their ability to protect
  against electric arcs
• Standard requires that garments have a minimum
  Arc Rating (maximum incident energy resistance)
• General reminderClothing made from meltable
  fibers (such as acetate, nylon, polyester, etc)
  are not permitted in fabric underlayers
  (underwear) next to the skin

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Step 3 Select Protective Clothing

• Flame Retardant Clothing Pants/Shirts/Cover-alls
  
• Voltage Rated Gloves w/ Leather Protectors
• Hearing Protection

• Hardhat
• Arc-Rated Faceshield
• Leather Work Shoes
• Flash Suits
• Safety Glasses

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PPE Label Example
PPE LEVEL 3
Caution Arc Flash and Shock Hazard
Minimum PPE Required FR pants, FR long sleeve
shirt, hard hat, safety glasses, arc-rated
faceshield, hearing protection,
voltage-rated gloves with leather
protectors, leather work shoes
NFPA 70E
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Labeling 2002 NEC 110.6

• Requires all switchboards, panel boards,
  industrial control panels and motor control
  centers to be field marked.
• Equipment installed after 2002 needs to be
  labeled.
• Equipment installed prior to 2002, must be
  labeled if ANY modifications or upgrades take
  place.

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Energized Electrical Work Permit

• Required when working on live electrical
  equipment gt50V
• Permits shall include the requirements of Article
  130(A)(2)
• Example in Annex J
• Exemptions for qualified persons performing
  troubleshooting, testing, voltage measuring, etc

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Case Study
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Case Study Ford Motor Co.

• Electrical incident in Buffalo NY Stamping Plant
  Sept. 1999
• Electrical apprentice sustained serious burn
  injuries while attempting to sever cables feeding
  through a junction box
• Employee cut into a live 460V cable

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Case Study Investigation found

• Employee did not lockout all energy sources or
  perform voltage check prior to cutting
• Ford provides FR coveralls doesnt require them
  to be worn under 600V
• Ford doesnt require insulated gloves,
  faceshields or non-conductive headwear under 440V
• Employee wearing safety glasses, non-conductive
  footwear and non-FR coveralls
• Employee was not wearing insulated gloves,
  faceshields or non-conductive headwear

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Case Study Citations

• Ford violated 1910.335(a)(1)(i) by not requiring
  employees to wear FR clothing and insulated
  gloves
• Ford violated 1910.335(a)(1)(v) by not providing
  or requiring electricians to wear appropriate
  face protection. Full faceshields should have
  been used.
• Fined 14,000

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Case Study Outcome

• Ford agreed to develop, document and implement
  hazard analysis evaluating plant specific tasks
  that create the potential for exposure to
  electrical hazards performed by one or more of
  Fords 4,000 electricians
• Agreement covers all 37 manufacturing and
  distribution centers in the US.
• Agreed to use NFPA 70E to develop the Hazard
  Analysis

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In Closing, Ask Yourself

• Are my employees adequately protected when
  dealing with energized electrical components?
• If yes, what means have you used to determine
  adequacy?
• Do my employees have the necessary PPE available?
• If yes, do they know why, when and where to use
  it?
• If the answer to either of these questions is NO,
  you may want to look into NFPA 70E

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