Phone: (765) 429-5956 Fax: (765) 429-6123 dmann@debbiemann.com

NFPA 70E Safety Training

The 2009 version of NFPA 70E ramps up the training requirements, and labeling requirements, for electrical workers. NFPA 70E is an OSHA standard.

NIOSH has provided a safety book in the public domain that covers electrical safety very efficiently.

Part of the safety procedures includes documenting, and labeling, the facility’s electrical system. In order to safely work on a piece of gear there are basically three choices:

1) Turn off the gear upstream, lock out and tag it, test to make sure the gear really is off and then do one’s work. This requires knowing. and labeling, the source for each piece of gear.

2) Use the charts in NFPA 70E to determine the maximum Arc Flash levels and receive training for working on hot gear, which requires the use of PPE, personal protective equipment. The charts are conservative and much gear does not have equipment that could protect from the risk. This requires simple calculations and labels for each piece of gear.

3) Have an Arc Flash Study done, including mitigation techniques, and get the levels down enough that the equipment can be worked on hot. This requires an intense study of the facility followed by an indepth computer study. Labels are then required.

All three of these options require that electrical gear be labeled in some manner. And that personnel be trained in the procedures that go along with the labeling.

It is recommended that the first option be taken wherever possible. The revised code requires that anyone who might attempt to change a breaker or do other electrical work be trained in electrical safety.

Debbie Mann Consulting, Inc. will provide training based on the NIOSH 2009-113 booklet and NFPA 70E requirements. We will also work with you to provide the required labeling of your gear throughout your facilities.