Page 76 - OHS, September 2022

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
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yet assume they are or perhaps feel their “qualified” status forces them to proceed with the job regardless.
While it may be a bit until we can work under a unified definition, there are things you can do in the meantime to help reduce the risk of electrocution. Here are five tips to consider for your job site.
One electrical safety class is not enough. Just as it takes more than an understanding of electrical equipment and installations to be considered a qualified person by NFPA 70E’s definition, an electrical safety training class alone won’t do the trick either. Classes advertised as “Qualified Person Training” should be taken with the understanding that course completion alone may not be enough to attain that designation.
Clarify “qualified” with your employer. This is a distinction that may be the most important. It is not the instructor of the electrical safety training course that designates you as a qualified person, but rather, your employer. You may be qualified to work on certain pieces of electrical equipment and not others depending on your employer’s training program. Get clarification to ensure you understand which scenarios are safe given your training and identify where you need further instruction for the installation and operation of a given electrical system.
Make sure a shock and arc risk assessment are in place.
Electrical workers face many dangers on the job, but few are more devastating than an arc flash. This electrical release of energy can be hotter than the surface of the sun, producing an explosion with the force of eight sticks of dynamite. Before starting to address the issue on the job site, be sure to conduct a risk assessment for both arc flash and shock dangers. This process should identify the level of risk at a given site, appropriate mitigation measures and specific recommendations for how to keep workers safe.
Labeling is critical. All equipment must be labelled appropriately. You may not always know where an arc flash can occur, so labeling equipment with proper warning signs and instructions reduces risk. Clear markings will help to easily
Why do we continue to see such a high number of deaths from electricity?
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Have the right attire for the work being done. Proper arc rated clothing is your best form of protection when performing live electrical work. Make sure your clothing rating is commensurate with the hazard category associated with the equipment you will be working on or near. Without the proper attire—such as hearing protection, face shields and leather footwear—your risks are higher for serious injuries. Before approaching electrical equipment and installations, make sure you have the right PPE for the job.
Job sites come with inherent safety risks. By understanding what it truly means to be a qualified person with your employer, workers can approach each situation with the right electrical training, tools and gear to keep them safe.
Ines Sira is the Vice President and General Manager, Global Safety, Wesco. Sira joined Wesco in 2021 as the Vice President and General Manager, Global Safety. She is an executive with two decades of leadership experience in Fortune 500 companies. Prior to joining Wesco, Ines led various businesses at 3M where she was accountable for the P&Ls of portfolios in highly regulated markets such as safety, aerospace and healthcare.
identify potential danger zones and prepare workers for a plan of action should an incident occur.
72 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2022 www.ohsonline.com