Page 40 - Occupational Health & Safety, June 2017

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Identify,Verify, and Comply: The Three Pillars of a Successful Electrical Safety Program
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Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2017
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In today’s day and age, power is not only a con- venience, but a physiological need. People need power to function—we depend on it, businesses depend on it, and industry depends on it. The
demand for electricity has been significantly high as a result of various factors such as economic growth, technological advancements, and increase in popula- tion over the past few decades. And while the need for reliable power delivery only continues to grow, so does the size of electrical market, as well as the pool of workers on or near energized equipment, thereby increasing the size of the electrical safety market.
The global expansion of energy transmission and distribution network, the trend of industrial automation, and industrial safety regulations are the primary factors contributing to the growth of this market. Moreover, the danger of workplace exposure to electrical hazards continues to increase as work- ers’ responsibilities expand to include interaction with electrical equipment. In reality, almost every single facility has a need for electrical safety as main- tenance workers, janitorial staff, facilities staff, and equipment operators all risk exposure to electrical shock. There is quite a large number of possible end users. As such, awareness is paramount—not only about the requirements for use, but also about the requirements for in-service inspection and testing of rubber insulating equipment.
Identifying the Need for Electrical Safety
Arc flash and electrical shock injuries continue to pose a significant threat to workplace health and
safety. Anywhere from five to 10 arc explosions occur in electric equipment every day in the United States, and as many as 10 United States workers are killed or injured according to CapSchell Inc., a Chicago-based research and consulting firm. Moreover, the risks as- sociated with shock and electrocution from inadver- tent contact with energized parts have also long been recognized as a danger to workers, and they aren’t going away any time soon, if ever. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), electrocution is the fifth-leading cause of workplace fatalities in the Unit- ed States, with more than 2,000 fatal and more than 24,000 non-fatal electrical injuries reported in the past 10 years. Because BLS counts arc flashes as burns rather than in its electrical shock statistics, the true rate of electrical shocks is even higher. Furthermore, OSHA estimates that 80 percent of electrically related accidents and fatalities involving “Qualified Workers” are caused by arc flash/arc blast.
OSHA rules and the NFPA 70E standard make the use of rubber insulting products mandatory when even the smallest probability of contact with 50 volts AC or higher exists. Regardless of the heavy fines, serious injuries, and deaths that occur from arc flash and electrical incidents, compliance continues to re- main an issue. What’s even more shocking is that many workers are not using rubber insulating equip- ment because they simply don’t know they need it.
While the best way to prevent arc or electrical in- cidents from happening is to de-energize equipment before beginning work, there are instances where turning off the power could create an even greater hazard. As such, employers and facility owners must establish safe practices to protect their workers against arc flash incidents, including the use of personal pro- tective equipment (PPE).
Rubber insulating products such as gloves, blan- kets, sleeves, line hoses, and hoods used by electrical workers today are manufactured in accordance with industry consensus specifications under the auspices of ASTM International. These ASTM standard speci- fications are referenced in the OSHA regulations deal- ing with electrical safety, specifically 29 CFR 1910.137 covering Electrical Protective Devices and 29 CFR 1910.269 covering Electric Power Generation, Trans- mission and Distribution.
Bear in mind that rubber gloves are the only pro- tective gear designed for constant contact with, and protection from, energized conductors and equip- ment. All of the other items are designed for protection from accidental, incidental, or brush contact.
Take care to choose the correct rubber insulat-
SAF-T-GARD INTERNATIONAL, INC.