Electrical Safety in the Workplace - Understanding NFPA 70E

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Article 90: Introduction and Purpose

Topics: Introduction to NFPA 70E; Enforcement of NFPA 70E; National Electrical Code; Electrical Hazards; Purpose of NFPA 70E; Scope of NFPA 70E; Arrangement of NFPA 70E; Organization of NFPA 70E; Rules; Interpretation and Application

Learning Objectives:

• Explain how and why NFPA 70E was created.
• State the purpose of NFPA 70E.
• Understand how OSHA can use NFPA 70E in enforcement actions.
• Explain which areas are covered by NFPA 70E and which are not covered.
• Explain how NFPA 70E is arranged and organized.
• State the differences among mandatory rules, permissive rules, and explanatory material.

Chapter 2: Articles 100 and 105: Terms and Definitions

Topics: Overview of Article 100; Electrical Safety and Hazards; Electrical Equipment; Accessibility and Boundaries; Grounding and Ground Faults; National Electrical Code (NEC); Overview of Article 105

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the importance of terms described in Article 100.
• Define terms related to electrical safety and hazards.
• Define terms related to electrical grounding and ground fault equipment.
• Define and understand accessibility terms.
• Recognize terms that are common to NFPA 70E and the NEC.
• State the purpose and scope of NFPA 70E Chapter 1 and the responsibilities of employer and employee.

Chapter 3: Article 110: General Requirements for Work Practices

Topics: Overview of Article 110; Host and Contract Employers; Training Procedures and Requirements; Establishing an Electrical Safety Program; Working with Electrical Equipment

Learning Objectives:

• Give an overview of the contents of Article 110.
• Describe the relationship between host employers and contract employers.
• Identify the training requirements, types of training, and documentation procedures covered in the article.
• Explain how to develop an electrical safety program.
• Identify the risks of working with electrical hazards.
• Explain how to use test equipment and instruments safely.

Chapter 4: Article 120: Establishing an Electrically Safe Work Condition

Topics: Overview of Article 120; Achieving an Electrically Safe Work Condition; Principles of Lockout/Tagout; Types of Hazard Control Procedures; Lockout/Tagout Equipment; Lockout/Tagout Application Procedures; Temporary Grounding Equipment

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the process of achieving an electrically safe work condition.
• Explain lockout/tagout principles and procedures.
• Describe the different forms of control procedures.
• Define the requirements for lockout/tagout devices.
• Identify the procedures for removing and releasing lockout/tagout devices.
• Understand the requirements for temporary grounding equipment.

Chapter 5: Article 130: Work Involving Electrical Hazards

Topics: Overview of Article 130; Electrical Work Permits; Working with Electrical Hazards; Approach Boundaries; Arc Flash Hazard Analysis and Boundary; Personal Activity Precautions; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); Other Protective Equipment; Overhead Lines within the Limited Approach or Arc Flash Boundary

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize electrical hazards and know when it is justifiable to work near such hazards.
• Understand the purpose and use of energized electrical work permits.
• Determine shock hazards associated with approach boundaries.
• Determine required arc flash protection.
• Determine the type of personal protective equipment required for a task.
• Develop an understanding of insulated tools and other protective equipment.
• Identify alerting techniques.
• Learn safety procedures to follow while working with overhead lines.

Chapter 6: Articles 200-250: Safety-Related Maintenance Requirements

Topics: Overview of Chapter 2; Article 200: Introduction; Article 205: General Maintenance; Article 210: Enclosures; Article 215: Wiring Systems; Article 220: Controllers; Article 225: Overcurrent Devices; Article 230: Rotating Equipment; Article 235: Hazardous Locations; Article 240: Batteries; Article 245: Portable Equipment; Article 250: Protective Equipment

Learning Objectives:

• Determine the general maintenance requirements for electrical equipment.
• Identify safety-related maintenance practices.
• Describe the electrical maintenance requirements for facilities.
• Determine to what degree fuses and circuit breakers should be maintained.
• Understand the maintenance of equipment in hazardous locations.
• Explain the requirements for maintaining and testing personal protective equipment.

Chapter 7: Articles 300-350: Safety Requirements for Special Equipment

Topics: Overview of Chapter 3; Article 300: Introduction; Article 310: Electrolytic Cells; Article 320: Batteries and Battery Rooms; Article 330: Lasers; Article 340: Power Electronic Equipment; Article 350: Research and Development Laboratories

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the hazards of working with special electrical equipment.
• Determine the safety requirements for special equipment.
• Identify safe work practices for electrolytic cells.
• Identify safe work practices for installing and maintaining batteries.
• Identify safe work practices for lasers.
• Identify safe work practices for power electronic equipment.
• Identify safe work practices for laboratories.

Chapter 8: Annexes and Supplemental Materials

Topics: Annexes A and B: References; Annexes C and D: Distances and Boundaries; Annexes E and F: Safety Program and Hazard Evaluation; Annex G: Lockout/Tagout; Annex H: Protective Clothing and PPE; Annexes I and J: Job Planning and Energized Work Permits; Annexes K and L: Hazards and Cell Line Safeguards; Annex M: Layering of Protective Clothing; Annexes N and O: Overhead Lines and Design Requirements; Annex P: NFPA 70E and Other Standards; Supplemental Information

Learning Objectives:

• Obtain additional information related to NFPA 70E.
• Identify examples of approach and arc flash boundaries.
• Develop a safety program and hazard/risk forms.
• Discuss lockout/tagout procedures.
• Be aware of the National Electrical Code references related to NFPA 70E.

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