Administrative Methods to Mitigating Electrical Hazards

The rules surrounding electrical safety continue to change.  There are three main components that are affecting change: scientific data, safety professionals, technology.  Researchers continue to develop and communicate new understanding of shock, arc flash, and other electrical hazards.  Safety professionals are working hard to set a safe working culture within the workplace.  Technology is being created to mitigate electrical hazards. 

There are multiple methods to reduce hazards.  Risk reduction techniques are commonly divided into engineering and administrative controls.  Reducing hazards through engineering methods (elimination, substitution, guarding, and safety controls) is preferred over administrative methods (operating procedures, training, and personal protective equipment).

However, most of the efforts to reduce employees to electrical hazards have been focused on administrative methods.  The use of administrative methods (operating procedures, training, PPE, signage) is not the same as eliminating the hazard, guarding the hazard, or using safety controls to eliminate access to the hazard.

Companies are implementing safe work practices, electrical safety training programs and procuring shock and arc flash personal protective equipment (PPE).  The Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, NFPA 70E, provides guidance for standard operating procedure, training, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for qualified people working on or near exposed live (energized) circuits. 

Safe work practices associated with electrical safety include the control of hazardous energy (Lockout Tagout) procedures, procedures for working on exposed live (energized) circuits, and electrical hot work permits.  OSHA requires that each company is responsible for developing, implementing, auditing the safe work practices to ensure that their employees have safe work conditions.

Companies are ensuring that employees who are working on or near exposed live (energized) circuits complete electrical safety training programs.  The consensus is that comprehensive electrical safety training is to be conducted at least every 3 years, and annual competency of refresher training be conducted every year between the comprehensive electrical safety training.  Electrical safety training is required for everyone who works on or near exposed live (energized) circuits where the voltage is 50 V or greater, or if the energy available can expose employees to shock or arcing hazards.  The elements of an electrical safety training include definition of hazards, safe work practices, use of PPE, use of tools, and understanding arc flash labels.  Testing is required to ensure that employees understand the concepts taught.  Testing should include a written test and practical examination.

PPE is used to protect employees from shock and arcing hazards.  Shock hazard PPE include voltage rated gloves, blankets, and mats.  Arcing hazard PPE include hard hat, leather gloves, leather shoes, arc rated clothing, arc rated face shield or arc rated hood, and safety glasses.  The rating of the PPE is determined through the calculation of the voltage (shock) and incident energy (arcing) energies.  Shock hazard PPE is identified by Class.  Arcing hazard PPE is identified by Category or Incident Energy Rating.  Employees working on or near exposed live (energized) circuits are required to wear BOTH shock and arcing hazard PPE.

Companies have used administrative methods as these are well known and can be easily identified in the company budget.  When implementing any component of the administrative methods to reduce shock and arcing hazards, it is important to have experienced and knowledgeable professionals involved.  The writers of the safe work practices can only produce effective procedures is done by competent technical writers with knowledge of the process and how to write effectively.  Training employees can only be effective when the trainer is a trained professional experienced in the craft of teaching and electrical safety.  The PPE used must be certified, regularly tested, and verified it is serviceable prior to each use.

The use of operating procedures, training, and PPE can reduce accidents associated with electrical hazards.  However, administrative methods are not as effective at reducing accidents as engineering mitigation techniques.