Saturday, March 23, 2024
Electricity is the second most powerful force mankind has learned to harness and we interact with it every day. Typically, we interact it with under safe conditions because systems are installed according to the National Electric Code, and it is safe to turn on a switch or plug in a cord. We as electricians however are constantly exposed to electrical systems and hazards that do not have the safeguards in place of the National Electrical code. We have to test energized conductors and work on systems without covers and faceplates on a regular basis, therefore we have to be extra vigilant about electrical hazards. We have to constantly remember that electricity kills, and it only takes .005 amperes of alternating current to do that. Electricians are more often hurt or killed in electrical accidents during the finish state of a project than in any other phase of construction. This is when things are the most dangerous and the most factors that can lead to accident are present. We are typically being pressured at this stage to get things done, more so than at other times. We have to get final inspections done, we need to get out of the way of the other trades who are being pressured to finish, we are aware of budgets and schedules and feel the natural pressure of pushing through. We all know and have experienced this pressure in construction. We also have to do testing and troubleshooting of circuits and devices at this stage, exposing us to hazards and of course we have other people helping to create hazards such as painters removing our covers so they can paint around them.
The other issue we have at the final stage of construction is identifying human error. During the previous stages of construction, electrical equipment, which was manufactured by imperfect humans, was installed by another set of imperfect humans and the circuitry was installed by yet another set of imperfect humans in less than perfect conditions. It would be insane to believe that every circuit was wired correctly, and every piece of equipment and overcurrent protection is going to work correctly the first time. We need to be aware that the hazards are increased the first time we energize a building and energize a circuit or piece of equipment. We need to be prepared for the potential that there was human error ahead of what we are doing now.
E Light requires us to preform our work in compliance with NFPA 70E so that we can mitigate these hazards and also protect our employees. All of our supervisors and project managers have received training in NFPA 70E and are in the process of obtaining their Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional Certification for Project Manager and their Certified Electrical Safety Worker Certification for supervisors so that they fully understand the requirements of NFPA 70E and they supervise, manage and train their crews to work together to help keep everyone safe.
Each of you can do your part to keep you and your teammates safe.
Here are the things you need to do every day regardless of your task:
1. Ask yourself am I -potentially exposed to electrical shock or arc blast in what I am about to do?
2. Have I tested the wires and the equipment to make sure that they are de-energized before I work on them?
3. Have I placed my personal LOTO lock on the circuit or equipment before I work on it.
4. If I am doing Testing and Troubleshooting, have I read the Testing and Troubleshooting plan and am I doing the testing and troubleshooting according to that plan?
5. And then ask yourself again...is there anything I am doing today that I could possibly get shocked doing? If the answer is yes.... Stop and think about what you are doing. You need to reach an electrically safe work condition before proceeding.
Here are the steps required to reach an electrically safe work condition:
(1) Determine all possible sources of electrical supply to the specific equipment. Check applicable up-to-date drawings, diagrams, and identification tags.
(2) After properly interrupting the load current, open the disconnecting device(s) for each source.
(3) Wherever possible, visually verify that all blades of the disconnecting devices are fully open or that draw out-type circuit breakers are withdrawn to the test or fully disconnected position.
(4) Release stored electrical energy.
(5) Block or relieve stored nonelectrical energy in devices to the extent the circuit parts cannot be unintentionally energized by such devices.
(6) Apply lockout/tagout devices in accordance with a documented and established procedure.
(7) Use an adequately rated portable test instrument to test each phase conductor or circuit part to test for the absence of voltage. Test each phase conductor or circuit part both phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground. Before and after each test, determine that the test instrument is operating satisfactorily through verification on any known voltage source.
(8) Where the possibility of induced voltages or stored electrical energy exists, ground all circuit conductors and circuit parts before touching them. Where it could be reasonably anticipated that the conductors or circuit parts being de-energized could contact other exposed energized conductors or circuit parts, apply temporary protective grounding equipment
If you have not completed those eight steps, then you are working in a situation where you could be hurt or killed by electrical current. I have worked on many awesome projects in my career, and I am very proud of each and every one of them however, I have yet to work on the project that was so important that it was worth giving my life for it. I love being an electrician and my work, but it is not my country, family or my God and therefore I am not willing to lay down my life for it. I want you to remember, that every time you expose yourself to electrical hazards without de-energizing or without taking the necessary steps required to protect yourself, you are risking your life for job. I encourage you to ask your wives, girlfriends, and family what they think about that.
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