Section 110.3 of NFPA 70E provides the general requirements for an electrical safety program. The first requirement is that the employer must implement and document the program [110.3(A)]. This program “…directs activity appropriate to the risk associated with electrical hazards.” It’s followed by four Informational Notes. The first one lists some safety-related work practices that should be part of every electrical safety program. The last three are resources you can consult for additional guidance.
The next two requirements are that the electrical safety program includes elements:
- To verify newly installed or modified systems are inspected for compliance with installation codes and standards [110.3(B), and
- That consider the condition of maintenance [110.3(C).
Then we get to a key principle that, over time, changed the way industrial safety is approached in America. Much of what was called “safety” at one time was a game of enforcement by management and “catch me if you can” by employees. Far superior results are achieved where management is charged with helping, guiding, and coaching employees to work in a safe manner.
Behind this principle is the concept that the properly trained employee is the single best person to ensure his own safety. Achieving superior safety results is about whether the employee understands and follows safety rules, not whether the employee gets caught breaking them.
Under the old enforcement system, employees would spot the supervisor coming in their direction and quickly put on their safety glasses. Under the newer approach, the employee’s safety glasses are on because he understands the importance of protecting his eyes.
This principle is foundational to NFPA 70E, and you can see its influence throughout the standard. It’s first presented in a hard-to-miss manner in Subsection 110.3(D). It says the electrical safety program shall be designed to provide an awareness of the potential electrical hazards to employees who work where such hazards are present. It then goes on to say the electrical safety program shall:
- Be developed to provide the required self-discipline to those employees, and
- Instill safety principles and controls.
What about those safety principles and controls? The electrical safety program shall identify them [110.3(E) and (F)]. Informative Annex E provides examples of these and of the electrical safety program procedures required by Subsection 110.3(G).
Two of the 10 safety principles listed are:
- Inspecting and evaluating electrical equipment.
- Using the right tools for the job.
Two of the eight controls are:
- Every electrical conductor or circuit part is considered energized until proved otherwise.
- De-energizing an electrical conductor or circuit part and making it safe to work on is, in itself, a potentially hazardous task.
Three of the 12 safety program procedure elements are:
- Limits of approach.
- PPE involved.
- Single-line diagrams.
