Page 37 - Occupational Health & Safety, September 2018

can vary in scope, from a cursory high- level view to a detailed scope ensuring all points are thoroughly assessed.
As stated in NFPA 70E 130.5 (H) and NEC 110.16, switchboards, panelboards, industrial control panels, meter socket enclosures, motor control centers, and dis- connect switches or circuit breakers that may be examined, adjusted, or maintained while energized must be identified and marked prominently with a label to warn qualified workers of potential electrical shock and arc flash hazards. Incident ener- gy analysis needs to be reviewed whenever changes occur in the electrical distribution system that could affect the analysis results, or every five years, whichever occurs first.
3. Hazard Prevention: Preventive mea- sures lower the probability of a hazardous scenario happening. Proactive prevention lowers safety risks. Examples include pre- ventive maintenance (example: infrared thermography) to reduce the risk of equip- ment failure, job safety planning/job brief- ings, and safety audits, among others.
4. Hazard Mitigation: After risks are identified, risk mitigation needs to be effec- tively implemented according to the hierar- chy of control methods:
■ Elimination, substitution, and en- gineering controls are the most effective methods. They are usually applied at the source and are less likely to be affected by human error, compared to awareness, ad- ministrative controls, and PPE.
■ The potential for human error and its negative consequences on people, pro- cesses, the work environment, and equip- ment must be considered during the imple- mentation of mitigation measures.
5. Electrical Safety Training: Training workers (employees and contractors) that are exposed to hazards is critical to work- place safety, particularly when the hazard/ risk is not eliminated or reduced to a safe level. Workers need to be able to identify and understand the specific hazards associ- ated with their respective job assignments. In the context of NFPA 70E, the training scope includes electrical safety, lockout/ tagout, and emergency response in a class- room setting, on the job, or a combination of the two. A worker will be considered a qualified person if he/she is qualified to perform the job safely; is trained and knowledgeable about the equipment and work method; is able to identify the associ-
ated electrical hazards; and is familiar with the proper use of the precautionary proce- dures, techniques, tools, and PPE required to avoid them.
Only qualified persons should be per- mitted to work exposed to electrical haz- ards that have not been put into an electri- cally safe working condition. Unqualified workers also need to be familiar with any electrical safety-related practices necessary for their workplace safety. The employer is responsible for determining, at least on an annual basis, that each employee is comply- ing with the required safety-related work practices and for documenting that each employee has received the proper train- ing, including names, training content, and training dates. The employer also has shared responsibility for contractors.
Going Beyond Compliance
Effectively addressing these five areas will help organizations be safety compliant. But the benefits of a comprehensive safety ap- proach will go beyond compliance: opera- tional excellence will follow. Safety is a key enabler of business continuity, operational performance, and productivity. Conversely,
workplaces with safety problems have low- er employee morale and productivity.
Another key factor to consider is cost. Everyone understands direct costs such as workers’ compensation and medical and le- gal expenses. They are easily recognized and quantifiable. Indirect safety costs, such as training, accident investigation, implemen- tation of corrective measures, lost produc- tivity, equipment, and property, are less eas- ily quantified but are financially impactful to the organization. The total cost of safety cannot be underestimated, and investing wisely in safety will always bring a positive ROI to the organization: A life is priceless.
Safety first, safety always! Workplace safety can be accomplished through cul- ture, plans, and actions. But workplace safety will only reach its full potential if effective leadership and employee engage- ment are in place.
Jay Smith is an Executive Vice President at Lewellyn Technology, the leader in electrical and combustible dust safety solutions (www. lewellyn.com). He is a leader in the Electri- cal Safety line of business and can be reached at jsmithjr@lewellyn.com.
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