Safe work practices shall be employed to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts when work is performed near or on equipment or circuits which are or may be energized.
Inspections
- Electrical equipment, tools, and appliances must be inspected quarterly at a minimum.
- The use of a hard fixed GFCI or a portable GFCI adapter shall be used where water is or can be present.
Faulty equipment, tools, or appliances shall be removed from service immediately and tagged “Out of Service”, dated and signed by the employee applying the tag.
Repairs
- Only Qualified Personnel, who have been authorized by the department supervisor or manager, may make repairs to electrical equipment, supply cords on electrical tools and to extension cords.
- The supervisor obtaining the services of a certified electrician is responsible to verify the electrician’s credentials.
- Employees shall not enter spaces containing exposed energized parts unless qualified and proper illumination exists to enable employees to work safely.
Extension Cords
- Use only three-wire, grounded, extension cords and cables that conform to a hard service rating of 14 amperes or higher, and grounding of the tools or equipment being supplied.
- Cords for use other than indoor appliances must have a rating of at least 14 amps.
- Cords must not be strained at the plug, or the receptacle ends.
- Work lamps (drop light) used to power electrical tools must have a 3 wire, grounded outlet, unless powering insulated tools.
- Adapters that allow three wire, grounded prongs, connected to two wire non-grounded outlets are strictly prohibited.
- Cords may not be run through doorways, across walkways or aisles, concealed behind walls, ceilings or floors, or run through holes in walls, or anywhere where they can become a tripping hazard.
- High current equipment or appliances should be plugged directly into a wall outlet whenever possible.
- All extension cords and or electrical cords shall be inspected before each use, for breaks, plug condition and pulled ends, possible internal breaks, and any other damage. If damage is found, the extension cord or electrical cord shall be removed from service and repaired or replaced.
Outlets
- Outlets connected to circuits with different voltages must use a design such that the attachment plugs on the circuits are not interchangeable.
Multiple Outlet Boxes
Multiple outlet boxes must be plugged into a wall receptacle.
- Multiple outlet boxes must not be used to provide power to heaters or ovens or other high-current loads.
Double Insulated Tools
- Double insulated tools must have the factory label intact indicating the tool has been approved to be used without a three-wire grounded supply cord connection.
- Double insulated tools must not be altered in any way, which would negate the factory rating.
Switches, circuit breakers, and disconnects
- All electrical equipment and tools must have an on and off switch and may not be turned on or off by plugging or unplugging the supply cord at the power outlet.
- Circuit breaker panel boxes and disconnects must be labeled with the voltage rating.
- Each breaker within a breaker panel must be labeled for the service it provides.
- Disconnect switches providing power for individual equipment must be labeled accordingly.
Portable Ladders
- Only approved, non-conductive ladders, may be used when working near or with electrical equipment, which includes changing light bulbs.
- Ladders must be either constructed of wood or fiberglass
- Portable ladders shall have non-conductive side rails.
- Wood ladders should not be painted, which can hide defects, except with clear lacquer.
- When using ladders, they shall be free from any moisture, oils, and greases.
Overhead Lines
- When working near overhead lines, a clearance distance of 10' must be maintained or the lines will be de-energized and grounded.
- When an unqualified person is working in an elevated position near overhead lines, the location shall be such that the person and the longest conductive object he or she may contact cannot come closer to any unguarded, energized overhead line than the following distances:
- For voltages to ground 50kV or below - 10 feet (305 cm);
- For voltages to ground over 50kV - 10 feet (305 cm) plus 4 inches (10 cm) for every 10kV over 50kV.
- Any vehicle or mechanical equipment capable of having parts of its structure elevated near energized overhead lines shall be operated so that a clearance of 10 ft. (305 cm) is maintained. If the voltage is higher than 50kV, the clearance shall be increased 4 in. (10 cm) for every 10kV over that voltage.
- When possible, power lines shall be de-energized and grounded or other protective measures shall be provided before work is started.
- Minimum approach distance to energized high power voltages lines for unqualified employees is 10 feet.
- Minimum approach distance for qualified employees shall be as per 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3)(i) Qualified – Table S5 Selection and Use of Work Practices.
Confined or Enclosed Work Spaces
- When an employee works in a confined or enclosed space that contains exposed energized parts, the employee shall isolate the energy source and turn off the source and lock and tag out the energy source prior to commencing work (Only qualified electricians can work on an exposed energy source).
- Insulating shields/barriers must be used where necessary.
Enclosures, Breaker Panels, Illumination and Distribution Rooms
- A clear working space must be maintained in the front, back and on each side of all electrical enclosures and around electrical equipment for a safe operation and to permit access for maintenance and alteration.
- A minimum two-foot working floor space in front of panels and enclosures shall be painted yellow.
- Proper illumination must be available before employees are permitted to enter work areas containing exposed energized parts. Employees may not enter spaces containing exposed energized parts unless illumination is provided that enables the employees to work safely.
- Housekeeping in distribution rooms must receive high priority to provide a safe working and walking area in front of panels and to keep combustible materials to the minimum required to perform maintenance operations.
- All enclosures and distribution rooms must have “Danger: High Voltage – Authorized Personnel Only” posted on the front panel and on entrance doors.
- Flammable materials are strictly prohibited inside distribution rooms (Boxes, rags, cleaning fluids, etc.)
Lock Out/Tag Out
- Lockout/Tagout is used before performing electrical work of any kind. While any employee is exposed to contact with parts of fixed electric equipment or circuits which have been deenergized, the circuits energizing the parts shall be locked out or tagged or both.
- No work shall be performed on or near exposed energized parts. This applies to work performed on exposed live parts (involving either direct contact or by means of tools or materials) or near enough to them for employees to be exposed to any hazard they present.
- If any employee is exposed to contact with parts of fixed electric equipment or circuits which have been deenergized, the circuits energizing the parts shall be locked out or tagged or both.
- Conductors and parts of electrical equipment that have been deenergized but not been locked or tagged out shall be treated as live parts.
- Only authorized personnel may perform lock out/tag out work on electrical equipment and will follow Company’s Lock out/Tag Out Program.
- Authorized personnel will be trained in lock out/tag out procedures.
- Affected personnel will be notified when lock out/tag out activities are being performed in their work area.
Contractors
- When hiring a third-party entity to perform electrical services, only approved, certified, electrical contractors may perform construction and service work on
- Company or client property.
It is the Manager/Supervisors responsibility to verify the contractor’s certification.
Fire Extinguishers
- Approved class C fire extinguishers must be provided within 75 feet of electrical breaker panels and distribution centers.
- Water type extinguishers shall not be located closer than 50 feet from electrical equipment and the extinguisher must have a warning label that states “DO NOT USE ON ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT”.
Electric Shock-CPR
- If someone is discovered that has received an electric shock and is unconscious, first check to see if their body is in contact with an electrical circuit. Do not touch a person until you are sure there is no contact with an electrical circuit.
- When it is safe to contact the victim, begin CPR if the person’s heart has stopped or they are not breathing.
- Call for help immediately.
Electric Welders
- A disconnecting means shall be provided in the supply circuit for each motor-generator arc welder, and for each AC transformer and DC rectifier arc welder which is not equipped with a disconnect mounted as an integral part of the welder.
- A switch or circuit breaker shall be provided by which each resistance welder and its control equipment can be isolated from the supply circuit. The ampere rating of this disconnecting means may not be less than the supply conductor ampacity.
Equipment Grounding
- Equipment bonding jumpers shall be of copper or another corrosion-resistance material.
Assured Grounding
OSHA requires that employers shall use either ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) or an assured equipment grounding conductor program to protect personnel from electrical shock while working.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
All 120-volt, single-phase 15 and 20 ampere receptacle outlets on construction or maintenance sites or temporary sites where moisture could be anticipated, which are not part of the permanent wiring of the building or structure, and which are in use by employees, shall have approved ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) for personnel protection.
- All hand portable electric tools and extension cords shall use a GFCI.
Additionally, approved GFCI’s shall be used for 240-Volt circuits in the same service as described above.
- GFCI’s must be used on all 120 volt, single-phase 15 amp and 20-amp receptacles within 6 feet of a sink, damp areas or on installed outdoor equipment.
- The GFCI must be the first device plugged into a permanent receptacle.
- The GFCI must be tested before each use.