Article 130 in NFPA 70E provides minimum prescriptive requirements for work involving electrical hazards. Article 130 is the last article in Chapter 1. It is preceded by four articles containing definitions and requirements that are administrative, general and those necessary for establishing an electrically safe work condition (ESWC). 

NFPA 70E’s goal is to eliminate the hazard through the creation of an ESWC. Shock and arc flash risk assessments are required where justified energized work is performed (work involving electrical hazards) and when establishing an ESWC. Testing for the absence of voltage is considered energized work. See Section 110.2(C), which says electrical conductors and circuit parts are not considered to be in an ESWC until all applicable requirements in Article 120 are met. 

Additionally, when testing for absence of voltage, safe work practices must be used based on the results of the shock and arc flash risk assessments until electrical conductors and circuit parts are in an ESWC. Employees must approach testing for the absence of voltage the same way as work on energized conductors or circuit parts. 

The scope of Article 130 (130.1) explains that it contains requirements for work involving electrical hazards including, but not limited to, electrical safety-related work practices, shock/arc flash risk assessments and precautions/procedures when an ESWC cannot be established. Only qualified people are permitted to work on electrical conductors or circuit parts not in an ESWC. 

The last paragraph in the scope requires all Article 130 requirements apply without regard to the type of arc flash risk assessment (incident energy analysis or the arc flash PPE table method) performed. This requirement mandates the user apply all applicable requirements in Article 130, not just those for shock (130.4) and arc flash (130.5) risk assessments. 

The other applicable requirements address energized electrical work permits (EEWP); personal and other protective equipment; other precautions for personnel activities; work within the limited approach boundary or arc flash boundary of overhead lines, underground electrical lines and equipment; cutting or drilling (concrete walls/floors for example); and cutting, removing or rerouting electrical conductors and circuit parts where the conductor terminations or circuit parts are not within sight from the point of work. 

In general, an EEWP (130.2) is required when an employee will cross the restricted approach boundary or will interact with the equipment when conductors or circuit parts are not exposed but an increased likelihood of injury from an exposure to an arc flash hazard exists. Where required, an EEWP, job planning and job briefing must be performed, implemented and documented. See the exemptions to an EEWP in 130.2(C). 

Section 130.7 provides requirements for personal and other protective equipment. Employees must use and be given protective equipment made for each part of the body that has to be protected. It must be protected from damage, visually inspected before each use and cared for properly to maintain a safe, clean and reliable condition in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions. 

General PPE requirements mandate all parts of the body are protected. Rubber insulating gloves must meet the maximum use voltage requirements of Table 130.7(C)(7)(a) and all rubber insulating equipment, including, but not limited to, gloves, sleeves and blankets, must be tested at intervals not exceeding those in Table 130.7(C)(7)(b). Requirements for other protective equipment [130.7(D)] such as insulated tools and equipment, barriers to prevent inadvertent contact, ladders, nonconductive fish tapes for pulling wire and more must be employed for all work involving electrical hazards. 

It is important to apply all applicable precautions for personnel activity in Section 130.8. This includes, but is not limited to, requirements to ensure employees stay alert and eliminate blind reaching, the need for additional lighting, how conductive objects are handled, confined spaces, hinged doors/panels, housekeeping, clear spaces, flammable material, anticipating failure, opening/closing of circuits routinely or after device operation, safety interlocks, alerting techniques, barricades and look-alike equipment. 

Sections 130.9 and 130.10 contain requirements for working within the limited approach boundary of overhead lines and underground electrical lines and equipment, and 130.11 addresses cutting or drilling into equipment floors and walls. 

Section 130.12 addresses cutting, removing or rerouting electrical conductors and circuit parts where the conductor terminations or circuit parts are not within sight from the point of work. This requirement mandates additional steps to verify the absence of voltage or to identify the conductors or circuit parts being worked on before cutting, removing or rerouting. Examples of these additional steps can be found in the associated informational note. 

The requirements in Article 130 must be applied for all work involving electrical hazards. While performing shock and arc flash risk assessments are critically important, implementing comprehensive electrical safe work practices requires much more.

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