EHS

Energized Electrical Work

This program describes the procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and auxiliary organizations’ employees from electrical shock and/or arc flash (NFPA 70) when working on or near electrically energized equipment.

I.  Purpose/Scope

  • Purpose:  Ensure procedures and equipment are in place and available to provide protection from electrical shock and / or arc flash when working on or near electrically energized equipment. 
  • Scope:  The requirements of this document apply to all CSUN employees and employees of CSUN auxiliary organizations.

II.  Definitions

  • Energized Electrical Work – Work on equipment that has not been de-energized
  • Exposed Fixed Circuit Part – Means that the bare conductor or other circuit part is stationary and will not move. This is the most common Limited Approach Boundary value used.
  • Exposed Movable Conductor – Means that the bare conductor can move (e.g., an overhead transmission line conductor).
  • Flash Hazard Analysis – Determination of the Flash Protection Boundary (SF 9005.01) and the Person Protective Equipment (SF 9005.02) that personnel working within the boundary shall use.
  • Flash Protection Boundary –a distance from exposed live parts within which a person could receive a second degree burn if an electrical arc flash were to occur.
    • At voltage levels above 600 volts the Flash Protection Boundary is physical limits of the equipment room, inside of which ALL personnel shall be protected.
    • At voltage levels of 600 volts and less the Flash Protection Boundary shall be 4.0 feet
  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - a United States trade association that creates and maintains private, copyrighted, standards and codes for usage and adoption by local governments.
  • Person Protective Equipment (PPE) – equipment designed to protect an individual from serious injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other hazards.
  • Qualified Person – One who has skill and knowledge related to the construction and operation of electrical equipment and installation and who has received safety training on the hazards involved. (SF 9005.07)
  • Shock Hazard – a dangerous condition associated with the possible release of energy caused by contact or approach to live parts.
  • Shock Hazard Analysis – Determination of the voltage to which personnel will be exposed, boundary requirements and the personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary to minimize the possibility of electric shock. (SF 9005.02)
  • Shock Protection Boundaries – Identified as Limited, Restricted and Prohibited and are applicable to the situation in which approaching personnel are exposed to live parts. (SF 9005.01) (NFPA 70E Table 130.2(C))
  • Limited Approach Boundary –a distance from an exposed live part within which a shock hazard exists.
  • Restricted Approach Boundary –a distance from an exposed live part, within which there is an increased risk of shock due to electrical arc, for personnel working in close proximity to the live part.
  • Prohibited Approach Boundary –a distance from and exposed live part within which work is considered the same as making contact with the live part.

III.  Exemptions/Exclusions

  • Exemptions from the Energized Electrical Work Program - none
  • Exemptions from Energized Electrical Work Permit:
    • Qualified persons conducting tasks such as:  testing, trouble shooting and voltage measuring (typically diagnostic work) may use Alternate Energized Work Procedures including the utilization of Flash Hazard analysis, safe work practices and with the appropriate PPE.

IV.        Responsibilities

  • Colleges, Departments and Auxiliary Organizations
    • Responsibilities are the same as Employees, Physical Plant Management (PPM) / Electric Shop, Purchasing and Facilities Planning and Contractors or their equivalent in your organizational structure
  • Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S)
    • Establish and update the written Energized Electrical Work Program
    • Provide consultation and training to departments who fall within the Program
    • Assist departments in determining how the program applies to their areas.
  • Physical Plant Management (PPM) / Electric Shop
  • Employees
    • Following the Energized Work program and notifying their Supervisor of any unsafe conditions or issues of non-compliance to the program.
  • Purchasing and Facilities Planning
    • Ensure Electrical Contractors and those contractors who may be working near energized equipment have a National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA 70E) Electrical Safety in the Workplace compliant program.
  • Electrical Contractors
    • Prior to initiating any work on the CSUN electrical infrastructure and every time work will be performed on electrically energized equipment the Contractor and PPM (Electric Shop) will conduct an in person  “Job Briefing” to  review the job and ensure NFPA 70E compliant procedures are in place.

V.  Training

  • Physical Plant Management Employees
    • PPM employees, excluding office and administration shall receive a basic awareness level training on the Energized Electrical program.  The awareness training provides an overview of the Energized Electrical program.
  • Qualified Person
    • Employee must have the following training and skills to be considered a Qualified Person
    • California Department of Industrial Relations Apprentice Electrician
    • Other State apprentice electrician program recognized by the State of California and PPM
  • CSUN Electrician Requirements
    • National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 70E - Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace
    • Electrical Safety Orders  - CCR Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Sub-chapter 5: Electrical Safety Orders
    • CSUN SP 2002 - Lock Out / Tag Out Program
  • Personal Protective Equipment
    • NFPA 70E Article 130.7
    • CFR 29, 1915 Subpart I, Personal Protective Equipment

VI.  Forms

VII.  Guidelines/Rules

CSUN’s energized work program is designed to provide a safe work environment for employees who work on electrically energized equipment, employees who are in the immediate area assisting those working on energized equipment and employees who may be in the general vicinity where energized work is being conducted.

  • The two main hazards of energized electrical work are electrical shocks and arc flashes. These hazards are primarily managed through administrative controls that specify:
    • safe distances,
    • protection boundaries and
    • personal protective equipment (PPE) when working on electrically energized equipment.
  • ENERGIZED WORK PERMIT – Section Descriptions

Section 1 - Description and Justification for Energized Work

    • Written justification when an employee may be exposed to live or energized parts greater than 50 volts to ground.

Section 2  - Equipment Information

    • Description of the specific equipment (including common name, other designations equipment numbering, manufacturer’s name and model, etc.), location, operating voltage and from where the power is fed.

Section 3 - Flash Hazard Analysis

    • Voltage is the criteria used to determine the Flash Protection Boundary inside of which personnel could receive second degree burns in the event of an arc flash
    • 600 volts and less the Flash Protection Boundary shall be 4.0 feet
    • voltage levels above 600 volts the Flash Protection Boundary is physical limits of the equipment room

Section  4 – Shock Hazard Analysis (Voltage, Boundaries & PPE)

    • Electrical Energy - Voltage is the criteria used to determine the shock protection boundaries and areas they define.
    • Shock Protection boundaries and areas (SF 9005.01 Shock Protection Boundaries)
      • Limited – unqualified personnel boundary, no PPE
      • Restricted – area of increased risk to qualified personnel, PPE required
      • Prohibited – equivalent to contact with exposed part, PPE required

Section 5 – Protective Clothing & Equipment for Hazard/Risk Categories

    • Combination of voltage and the type of energized task(s) are used to assign hazard and risk classifications for the tasks.  The PPE to be used within the Flash Protection boundary and within the shock hazard restricted and prohibited areas is determined by a numbered protective system for a given hazard / risk classification and listed in SF 9005.04 PPE Protective Hazard System.
    • Tools to be used within the Flash Protection boundary and within the shock hazard restricted and prohibited areas are determined by the hazard / risk classification and listed in SF 9005.02 Hazard / Risk Classification.

Section 6 –Approvals & Agreements to Perform Energized Work

    • The Director of Engineering Services, Assistant Director of Engineering Services (electrical) and the Electric Shop Supervisor, must approve the Energized Work Permit in writing BEFORE any work on energized equipment may begin.
    • In addition, all Electrically Qualified Person(s) who are working on or assisting in the project must sign the Energized Work Permit as acceptance of the permit requirements.

VIII.  Procedures

  • Approval of Work
    • All activities that may involve exposure to energized systems or equipment shall be reviewed and approved by Physical Plant Management’s Engineering Services Department
    • Activities which require exposure to energized systems shall be conducted only after less hazardous alternatives have been considered.  Alternatives include, but are not limited to:
      • Not performing the work on the energized system
      • De-energizing the system through a shut down
      • De-energizing the system through the use of lock out / tag out methods
      • Energized Work Permit
    • Energized Work Procedures
      • Equipment with less than 50 volts to ground and less than 5 mA may be serviced / energized by Qualified Employees at the discretion of the Electric Shop.
      • Description and Justification for the Energized Electrical Work
      • Describe the work that will be done and the reasons and justification why this work cannot be done with the equipment de-energized.
    • Equipment Information
      • Determine the equipment name, identification and location including building name and room number.
      • Description of the circuit and from where the power is fed
      • Flash Hazard Analysis
      • Identify the Fault Clearing Device, the manufacturer’s model and the clearing time in seconds
      • Establish the Flash Protection boundaries as listed in form SF 9005.01, Flash Protection Boundaries
    • Shock Hazard Analysis
      • Refer to Hazard / Risk Classification SF 9005.02 and look for the type of task and the voltage for the job.  Once this is identified the columns on the right will provide the hazard / risk level and if voltage rated gloves and tools are required.
      • Using this hazard / risk level refer to Hazard / Risk Category vs. PPE form, SF 9005.04. The PPE required will be marked in the hazard / risk category column(s)
    • PPE  and Tools
      • Examine all PPE equipment, specialty and voltage rated tools to ensure they are in good condition and the inspections and certifications are current.
    • Energized Electrical Work Permit
      • Contact the PPM Electric Shop and complete sections 1-4 of the Energized Electrical Work Permit with either the Electric Shop Supervisor or Lead.
      • Review the Energized Electrical Work Permit with everyone who will be on the job and have each person print and sign their names in Section 5 of the Energized Electrical Work Permit
      • At the work site place the barriers noted in Section 3 of the Energized Electrical Work Permit . 
      • Prior to starting the job contact the Engineer Services and request the Director of Engineering Services to go to the job site to review and approve the Energized Electrical Work Permit.

IX.  Related Documents/References

X.        Revision Record

REVISION

CHANGES

DATE

1.0

Establishes Initial Procedure

August 2010

1.1

Format Change and update

January 2014

1.2

Reviewed

December 2018