In the age of social media, it seems everyone in the electrical safety world is posting about the horrors of arc flash. The more horrific, the better in search of the coveted “likes.” In the interest of taking a different approach, I prefer to share success stories of electrical safety training.

Recent update/refresher training

Earlier this summer, I was conducting an NFPA 70E update and refresher training program, and a student asked a question that pleasantly caught me by surprise. He said his organization has NFPA 70E training every three years as a requirement. To his knowledge, they have never had an electrical incident, including an arc flash or electrocution, so why do they still do this training every three years? Other than being an NFPA 70E requirement, I had a better explanation.

I asked how long he had worked at this facility. About 13 years, he replied.

Without skipping a beat, I responded with: The refresher training is working. I understand the “here we go again” mindset, but it keeps electrical safety and safe work practices in the forefront so workers don’t become complacent. Electrical safety training is not a “one and done.” It is an ongoing process. He still seemed a bit puzzled, so I continued the explanation.

Decades ago, when recognition of NFPA 70E was slowly growing in the industry, there was often quite a bit of pushback. I heard grumbling and the famous “we never had to do this before” in my classes. In those early years, I would often predict that, sometime in the future, the rates of electrical injuries and fatalities would decrease because of the training and improved electrical safety practices.

In those early years, I would also frequently state that once a generation or two of new electrical workers came up through the ranks, their perception of electrical safety would be different. They would look back at how the “geezers” (yes, I’m one) did things and wonder how anyone could work on energized electrical systems. And how could they do it without proper arc flash protection? I remember those days well. As someone who conducted quite a bit of energized testing and measurement back then—without arc flash protection—I’m glad to still be here.

Now that decades have passed and NFPA 70E update and refresher training has become routine, electrical injuries and fatalities have been greatly reduced. It works!

Two contractors saved

One of my first success stories was from long ago. I was conducting electrical safety training for a large energy company on a recurring basis. Each month, a new group of students would attend, as the company was rolling out a new electrical safety program based on NFPA 70E.

During the first session, the class was introduced to the requirement of establishing an electrically safe work condition. This was a new concept for them. The following month, I returned for another training session with a new group. The lead person that attended the first session told me that what I taught the first group saved the lives of two electrical contractors. Huh? I wasn’t used to hearing things like this.

He elaborated that two contractors were on-site for routine maintenance in an electrical room that contained older 480V overhead exposed open bus. Every year, they provided general maintenance such as retorquing the joints, wiping down the bus and a general inspection—a very thorough program. The one and only disconnect for the bus was located in the room, and it had been opened prior to starting work. Assuming that meant the bus was
de-energized, the contractors brought out their ladders and were ready to begin.

But at the last moment, the lead person yelled out, “STOP! Wait a minute!” He reminded them that they had just learned they were now required to place the bus into an electrically safe work condition, which requires performing an absence of voltage test. He continued, “You and I both know we’ve done this many times together, but I’m the lead person, so let me get my meter and set a good example.” 

To his surprise, after testing each phase of the bus, he discovered it was still energized—with the switch in the “off” position. He evaluated the switch, and although the handle indicated it was off, the mechanism on the inside failed to open, maintaining the bus’s energized status. He said they were within seconds of two likely fatalities.

So, no horror stories, no graphic images, just success. Let’s all work together to create more of those, rather than the opposite. That is something worth “liking.”

stock.adobe.com / Miklos