NFPA 70E is a major safety standard that impacts any worker who is exposed to electricity in the workplace.
But, there's a lot of confusion around what the standard is, what it requires, and whether it's required by law.
This article is designed to help clear up some common questions about NFPA 70E for anyone who needs to know more about this important workplace safety standard.
What Is NFPA 70E?
NFPA 70E is a safety standard developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
It is one of many safety standards that the organization has developed, and many are labeled with the letters "NFPA", followed by a number and/or letter.
NFPA 70E specifically deals with electrical hazards in workplaces. By outlining a series of "safe work practices," says the NFPA, 70E "helps companies and employees avoid workplace injuries and fatalities due to shock, electrocution, arc flash, and arc blast."
NFPA 70E includes guidance and rules on the following:
- Work practices and procedures.
- Safe work environments.
- Maintenance.
- Substations and switches.
- Premises wiring.
- Controller equipment.
- Fuses and circuit breakers.
- Batteries and battery rooms.
- Portable electric tools and equipment.
- Safety and protective gear.
- Electrolytic cells.
- Lasers.
- Research and development laboratories.
It also includes a series of annexes and tables that companies and/or workers may need to reference when implementing the guidelines and rules.
As of writing, the latest version of NFPA 70E in English is the 2018 edition, with the 2024 edition scheduled to be published later this year. The 2018 edition includes the latest guidelines on safety-related work practices, maintenance requirements, and equipment requirements that companies and employees should follow.
These include a series of recommendations on how to construct and maintain electrical systems. According to Electrical Contractor: NFPA 70E's various recommendations follow a broad four-step approach:
- Turn off electrical power while working whenever possible.
- Have customers sign an "Energized Electrical Work Permit," which "describes the work to be performed and why it must be performed live."
- Write down a plan to perform live electrical work safely.
- Use personal protective equipment (PPE) like flame-resistant (FR) clothing.
Where Does NFPA 70E Apply?
According to Electrical Contractor, NFPA 70E covers "workplaces," which include construction sites. Workplaces could include any place where electrical construction and maintenance occurs, but NFPA 70E is "enforced most often on construction sites and in industrial plants."
When Did NFPA 70E Start?
NFPA 70E started in 1979 with the publication of the first edition guidelines. When the new guidelines are published, it will be the 13th edition of the standard.
Is NFPA 70E Required by Law?
You would think that such safety regulations would be mandatory, but 70E is interesting. You are not required under OSHA guidelines to comply with NFPA 70E. However, the NFPA says, "OSHA looks to the prescriptive-based requirements of NFPA 70E to fulfill the performance-based requirements included in its standards."
The way the organization puts it, OSHA is a legal requirement that companies and personnel must follow. But, NFPA 70E is a series of prescriptive guidelines that help you follow the electrical safety rules mandated by OSHA.
Notes Electrical Contractor:
"Although OSHA is federal law, its language often is more general; therefore, NFPA 70E is frequently used to define specific details for protection against electrical hazards, such as electric shock and arc flash."
It should also be noted that, according to electrical equipment manufacturer Meltric, NFPA 70E compliance is assessed by OSHA when electrical injuries occur in the workplace.
Is NFPA 70E Certification or Training Required?
It is not, but NFPA 70E training is always a smart move.
Notes Safety and Health Magazine:
"NFPA 70E is considered the consensus industry standard for electrical safety practices, so even though OSHA does not call for NFPA 70E training specifically, it remains the best option for worker safety and compliance."
Where Can I Find the Full Text of NFPA 70E?
It is highly recommended that you reference the full text of NFPA 70E before making any decisions or taking any actions related to these guidelines. You can read the full text of NFPA 70E 2018 in English with a free NFPA account.
How Does NFPA 70E Apply to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
As part of NFPA 70E guidelines, electrical work is rated to determine if personal protective equipment (PPE) is required in any given situation. Arc-flash hazards are a major concern here. If an arc flash is possible, the right PPE needs to be used, according to NFPA 70E.
To determine the right PPE, you must pick one of two methods. According to Grainger: use either an incident energy analysis method or an arc flash PPE category method.
You can't use both.
The incident energy analysis method calculates "the incident energy and flash boundary" based on tables within the NFPA 70E guidelines. These calculations then map to the specific types of PPE listed in NFPA 70E. For each piece of PPE, NFPA 70E tells you if you must select a specific type of PPE for certain scenarios or use different PPE items "as needed."
With the arc flash PPE method, you use tables in NFPA 70E guidelines to determine "the arc flash PPE category and arc flash boundary based on the equipment being evaluated," says Grainger. Once you figure out the category, tables are provided to help you find the appropriate PPE.
For a great article comparing these two methods, see this article from Mitchell & Lindsey.
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Topics: Workwear, Workplace Safety
