NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace EEI Safety and Health Meeting May 2011
NFPA Structure NFPA 70E Technical Committee reports to: NEC Technical Correlating Committee reports to: NFPA Standards Council Standards Council has final say. 2
NFPA 70E Representatives EEI Representatives to the TC: Kathleen Wilmer, Duke Energy (Principal) John Boothroyd, Entergy (Alternate) EEI Representatives to the NEC TCC: Neil LaBrake, Jr., National Grid (Principal) Tom Adams, ComEd Retired (Alternate) EEI Staff Liaison Chuck Kelly 3
2009 NFPA 70E 2009 version available from NFPA. 4
Arc Flash Standards Overlap 2007 NESC Rule 410A3 Applies to TD&G at utilities and similar industrial complexes. Implement arc flash protection by 1/1/09. Adopted by most (not all) utility commissions. Proposed OSHA Revisions 1910.269 and 1926 Subpart V Similar language to NESC rule. Expected to be final August 2011. NFPA 70E Does not apply to TD&G under exclusive control of electric utilities. Provides how to do arc flash in generating plants. Does not help with Transmission and Distribution implementation. Being effectively enforced in non-utility industries through general duty clause. Not incorporated by current OSHA regulations. 5
6 2012 NESC New Table 410-1 Clothing requirements for 50 to 1000 V
Next Revision Cycle Cycle for 70E 2012 Edition: Proposal and comment period conducted in 2010. Expect approval at Annual NFPA Meeting: 6/2011. 7
Overview of Proposals 540 proposals received. 44% rejected. Others were Accepted or Accepted in Principle or in Part. 8
Key Proposals Scope: Utility exclusion will remain in the 2012 standard. By other agreements will go back in. 9
General Direction More specific line item requirements. Less performance oriented. Lowering of acceptable levels of risk. Not much change to higher risk/ higher energy tasks. Change at the low energy end. 10
New requirements Requires documentation of meetings between host employers and contractors. (70E-83) Adds the regular supervision clause in 1910.269 for all employers. (70E-100) The employer shall determine, through regular supervision and or through inspections conducted on at least an annual basis that each employee is complying with the safety-related work practices required by this standard. Mandatory retraining every 3 years. (70E-103) 11
Work Permit Expanded situations where Energized Work Permit is required. (70E-199) When working within the Limited Approach Boundary or the arc flash boundary of exposed energized electrical conductors and circuit parts that are not placed in an electrically safe work condition work to be performed shall be considered energized electrical work and shall be performed by written permit only. 12
AED Training - Annual Employees responsible for taking action in case of emergency shall be trained in methods of release of victims from contact with exposed energized electrical conductors or circuit parts. Employees shall be regularly instructed in methods of first aid and emergency procedures, such as approved methods of resuscitation. Training of employees in approved methods of resuscitation, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automatic external defibrillator (AED) use, shall be certified by the employer annually. 13
Equipment Labeling Electrical equipment such as switchboards, panelboards, industrial control panels, meter socket enclosures, and motor control centers that are in other than dwelling units, that and are likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized shall be field marked with a label containing all the following information: (1) At least one of the following: a. Available incident energy and the corresponding working distance. b. Minimum arc rating of clothing. c. Required level of PPE. d. Highest Hazard/Risk Category (HRC) for the equipment. (2) Nominal system voltage (3) Arc flash boundary Exception: Labels applied prior to September 30, 2011 are acceptable if they contain the available incident energy or required level of PPE. The method of calculating and data to support the information for the label shall be documented. 14
Other New Requirements Hearing protection required for all work inside arc flash boundary. (70E-294) Requires balaclava for all category 2 work. (70E- 355) Added arc flash requirements for DC Hazards. Revised Battery Section. New tables and revised tables. New and revised annexes. 15
Next Steps Will be approved at NFPA Annual Meeting. Should be published September, 2011. 16