Page 12 - Occupational Health & Safety - eDITION, August 2017

AUDITING
DITION
The e-Hazard Safety CycleTM: Auditing
The process involves a full review of electrical program records, including training schedule, qualification, electrical maintenance, and self-assessments.
ABY KEN SELLARS
s with any important task, checking on progress is criti- cal. The same concept applies to the e-Hazard Safety CycleTM. An audit that is utilized to determine a site’s elec- trical safety behavior is referred to as the Electrical Safety
Audit. This audit is an opportunity to assess the company’s status in regards to adherence to specific electrical safety regulations, NFPA 70E®, and electrical best practice behaviors. These audits can be voluntary and often are mandated by law per OSHA regulations, or in the case of government or military bases, by DoD or other military regulations (i.e., OPNAV and UFC 3-560-01).
What is Involved in an Electrical Safety Audit?
The basics of any ES audit will cover the following topics:
1. Training, including site interviews to determine level of elec-
trical safety knowledge
2. Electrical Qualification Process, including Task-Qualifica-
tion (if used at the site)
3. PPE—selection and proper usage 4. Shock Hazard awareness
a. Understanding the application of safety rules in shock prevention
b. Understanding the various boundaries, including Limited Approach, Restricted Approach, Public Safety, and Minimum Approach Distances.
5. Arc Flash hazard awareness Labeling of site equipment
a. If using NFPA 70E® tables, local understanding of how to properly interpret
6. Boundary determination (both Shock and Arc Flash) and proper setup
7. Electrical Safety tools, including 1000-volt and tools spe- cific to higher voltage applications (shot-gun sticks, insulating blankets, etc.)
8. Personnel and program auditing as required by applicable regulations or site policies
A typical small to medium-sized location can complete a thor- ough electrical safety audit in one day, with some time taken up
that evening for report writing as required. A larger facility may take two to three days for an audit, especially at sites that have an unusually large number of electrical employees (150 or more). The process involves a full review of electrical program records, includ- ing training schedule, qualification, electrical maintenance, and self-assessments. A typical audit report ranges from five pages to upwards of 30 pages for a larger facility.
The Auditing e-Hazard Safety CycleTM Envision:
■ Develop a plan for your site(s) to cover all necessary electri- cal audit categories.
■ Ensure the plan provides an easy-to-use format to per- form the audit, including audit documentation, appropriate check- lists, and a format for the written report.
■ Include a site periodicity for the electrical safety audit and be sure to schedule required personnel to conduct the audit efficiently.
Execute: Perform the audit in a systemic process as arranged in the planning stage. Stick to the plan; do not allow distractions to divert attention from the audit process. A suggested format might look like this:
■ Kickoff Meeting: 30 minutes
■ Document Review: 30-90 minutes, based on employee/ equipment count
■ Site inspection: 30-60 minutes based on location size/ complexity
■ Personnel and Management Interviews: 30-90 minutes based on number of qualified and task-qualified personnel
■ Closing Meeting: 30 minutes
Evaluate: The audit process must be revised periodically as changes occur within the industry, including code and standard updates, regulation changes, and updates on electrical Best Practic- es. Audit protocols, forms, and checklists will need to be updated, site interview questionnaires adapted, and required documenta- tion checklists for the audit adjusted as necessary. These revisions
are critical to keep the audit current and appropriate to the loca- tion undergoing the auditing process.
Evolve: In NFPA 70E®, the overall electrical safety program re- quires a three-year audit to “verify the principles and procedures” of the electrical program are still in compliance with the newest NFPA 70E® standard. In the e-Hazard Safety CycleTM, these revisions should be caught in the “Revise” step. However, a periodic review of the electrical audit process needs to be completed to make sure every part of this process is going as planned, sometimes referred to as a “confidence check.” This review should include a trend-analysis based upon all previous audits and should look at improvements already implemented, missed opportunities, and electrical injury rate trends (specifically, shock, burns, and electrical near misses).
By taking time to review the audit process, the location prepares mentally for the next audit, with specific targets in mind: reducing injuries, correcting unsafe behaviors, and leading personnel to the ultimate goal—a zero-electrical-injury work environment. Only then can the electrical safety cycle truly be called “complete.”
A partner and electrical safety consultant with e-Hazard, Ken Sel- lars is an instructor of electrical safety, NEC, Grounding/Bonding and Arc Flash Safety courses nationwide and has been with e-Hazard for 11 years. He obtained his electrical training in the U.S. Navy from 1985 to 1991 and holds an electrical license in Georgia. Ken worked at Alcoa-Warrick Operations in Newburgh, Ind. for 16 years, as Electrical Specialist, Finishing Department Electrical Supervisor and Construction Project Coordinator. In the latter position, he was re- sponsible for electrical and telecommunications installations of major projects including fiber optics, furnace electrical overhauls, fire alarm systems, etc., and for ensuring safety, regulatory and code-compliant electrical installations for multiple simultaneous projects.
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