Article 100 contains definitions that are essential to the proper application of NFPA 70E. Three separate boundaries are defined in this article. Two are shock protection boundaries—the limited approach boundary (LAB) and...
Basic electrical theory is that the greater the load is, the greater the current. Normally, the current flows through conductors and various electrical components, but what if the current takes a different path? What if it...
In 1989, OSHA first issued CFR 29 1910.147, The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout). It is estimated that compliance with the regulation prevents 120 deaths and 50,000 injuries each year across all industries. In...
NFPA 70E requires that each employer implement and document an electrical safety program (ESP). During the 2021 revision cycle of NFPA 70E, new requirements were added to include an electrically safe work condition (ESWC)...
There is some confusion in the electrical industry with respect to the application of arc flash equipment labeling as seen in NFPA 70E Section 130.5(H). The question is this: when is arc flash equipment labeling an...
Jim Dollard has an extensive background in codes and standards. Send questions about the National Electrical Code (NEC) to Jim at codefaqs@gmail.com. Answers are based on the 2020 NEC. Circus tent wiring—portable or temporary...
Effective education and training are paramount in creating a safe work environment and establishing a safety culture. However, employers don’t always have the knowledge or familiarity with specific tools, equipment or...
Performing an arc flash study can be complex enough, but the latest edition of IEEE 1584—IEEE Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations has taken it to a whole new level. A lot has changed since arc flash studies...
When implementing electrically safe work practices in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 70E, one must apply all rules in the standard. We cannot simply jump to Article 130 and apply the requirements for work involving...
Once again it is Electrical Safety Month, and NFPA 70E continues to be at the forefront of electrical safety. However, not enough people are properly trained based on the requirements of this standard. Below are several...
May is Electrical Safety Month. As one of OSHA’s “Focus Four,” it is vital that appropriate attention is placed on attaining and maintaining electrical safety in the workplace, not just in May, but year-round. The National...
In NFPA 70E 2021, the requirements for an electrical safety program (ESP) are relocated from Section 110.1 to 110.5. This revision in no way diminishes the importance of the ESP. It was part of a logical reorganization of...
The 2021 Edition of NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, introduces a new informational note to address the age-old dilemma: How do you verify absence of voltage when the calculated incident energy is...
Electrical contractors come in all shapes and sizes. One commonality is employees’ potential exposure to electrical hazards. Once you develop and implement the required electrical safety program (ESP), what next? We develop a...
More documentation is being required in the National Electrical Code and NFPA 70E, the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. The words “documented” or “documentation” appear in the 2017 NEC approximately 104 times...
OSHA standards require a workplace free from exposure to electrical hazards. Electrical safety in the workplace is achieved through (1) adherence to applicable installation requirements in NFPA 70, the National Electrical...
Electrical testing devices are a critical part of performing electrical work and ensuring the safety of all. Whether complying with the de-energization requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or NFPA...
NFPA 70E, the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, and NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, share the same goal of electrical safety. However, they are dynamically different because the NEC deals only with minimum...
My fascination with electricity began as a young boy, and I learned many things the hard way. One lesson involved dismantling an old record player to see how it worked. That was when I learned the famous electrical technician...
In a general context, a “qualified person” has a very broad definition. Outside of the codes and standards world, qualified means having the qualities, accomplishments, etc. that fit a person for a specific function, office...
