Making Startup Testing Safe, Part 2

Do any of the following unsafe practices occur in your startup testing program?

• Failing to assess the work areas before starting. This is the best time to look for deficiencies that contribute toward an unsafe situation.

• Working around unbonded metallic objects. This is one of those deficiencies you can catch and correct during that pre-work assessment. Tip: If you see utilization equipment connected to ground rods, you probably have unbonded metallic objects.

• Treating PPE as optional. How many times during cable testing and wire checks have you seen people not wearing their hard hat and safety glasses?

• Working on equipment before positively identifying it as the correct equipment to be under test. Check the drawings, equipment labels, and other indicators. In the case of a conflict, don’t pick between two possibly right answers; find a way to authoritatively determine the right answer.

• Skipping verification of de-energization. Always check with a meter to confirm the equipment is de-energized. It is possible to lock out the wrong breaker due to an error on the drawing or elsewhere.