General Or Gc Electrical Safety

Electrical SafetyElectrical Safety

AGENDAAGENDA

– Electricity's Beginning OnsiteElectricity's Beginning Onsite– Temporary Power/LightingTemporary Power/Lighting– GFCI vs. Circuit BreakerGFCI vs. Circuit Breaker– Power ToolsPower Tools– Safe Guarding Permanent PowerSafe Guarding Permanent Power– Energized WorkEnergized Work

Electricity’s Beginning Electricity’s Beginning OnsiteOnsite

Electricity's Beginning On SiteElectricity's Beginning On Site

The First Point of inspecting an electrical The First Point of inspecting an electrical system is at it point of origin system is at it point of origin (1926.404(c))(1926.404(c))

Ensure Overhead Lines (insulated) will Ensure Overhead Lines (insulated) will be more than 8 feet away from future or be more than 8 feet away from future or existing buildings (NEC 225-19).existing buildings (NEC 225-19).


Ensure Service entrance lines have Ensure Service entrance lines have appropriate clearance distances from the appropriate clearance distances from the ground (NEC 225-18) ground (NEC 225-18) – 10’ sidewalks, accessible to pedestrians only, 10’ sidewalks, accessible to pedestrians only,

ect. ect. – 12’ over residential property and driveways no 12’ over residential property and driveways no

subject to truck trafficsubject to truck traffic– 15’ Same as 12’ but when voltage exceeds 300V15’ Same as 12’ but when voltage exceeds 300V– 18’ Over public streets and areas subject to 18’ Over public streets and areas subject to

truck traffictruck traffic


Ensure the connection at the Ensure the connection at the weatherhead is secure and seems weatherhead is secure and seems capable of safely holding.capable of safely holding.

Ensure underground services are Ensure underground services are protected from damage (NEC 230-49 protected from damage (NEC 230-49 refers to table 300-5)refers to table 300-5)

Temporary PowerTemporary Power


After the Service entrance has After the Service entrance has been confirmed as safe the next been confirmed as safe the next step is to follow the conduits to step is to follow the conduits to the first Panelthe first Panel

Temporary PowerTemporary Power Ensure Appropriate warnings and Labels Ensure Appropriate warnings and Labels

are in placeare in place– Flash Hazard (NEC 110.16)Flash Hazard (NEC 110.16)– Danger High Voltage (110.34 (c))Danger High Voltage (110.34 (c))– For rooms and other guarded locations – For rooms and other guarded locations –

Qualified Persons only (NEC 110.27(c))Qualified Persons only (NEC 110.27(c))– Reference Index of NEC:Reference Index of NEC:

• Labels Required and Warning SignsLabels Required and Warning Signs


Open the Panel and ensure:Open the Panel and ensure:– That no energized parts are That no energized parts are

accessible (1926.405(d))accessible (1926.405(d))– Circuits are identified for Circuits are identified for

disconnecting purposes disconnecting purposes (1926.403(h))(1926.403(h))

Verify that all circuits are in the Verify that all circuits are in the “on” position. “on” position.

This is especially important in This is especially important in verifying that an effective verifying that an effective lockout/tagout system is in place.lockout/tagout system is in place.

If a circuit is off, ask and verify If a circuit is off, ask and verify why???why???



Ensure that access to electrical Ensure that access to electrical rooms and panels are limited to rooms and panels are limited to qualified persons NEC 110-27qualified persons NEC 110-27


Ensure Temporary Power (Plugs) Ensure Temporary Power (Plugs) are separate circuits from are separate circuits from Temporary Lighting. (1926.405(a)Temporary Lighting. (1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(c))(2)(ii)(c))

Temporary LightsTemporary Lights All bulb types must be protected from All bulb types must be protected from

accidental contact or breakage at all accidental contact or breakage at all times. (1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(E))times. (1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(E))

– Any empty light socket that does not Any empty light socket that does not contain a bulb exposes energized parts contain a bulb exposes energized parts that can be a violation of 1926.416(a) or that can be a violation of 1926.416(a) or 1926.403(i)(2) exceptions listed A-D1926.403(i)(2) exceptions listed A-D

Temporary LightsTemporary Lights

Temporary Lights are to be installed so Temporary Lights are to be installed so as to protect the conductors from as to protect the conductors from damagedamage– Hang fixtures as designed and not Hang fixtures as designed and not

with conductive material. with conductive material. 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(f)1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(f)

– Flexible cords are permissible if Flexible cords are permissible if protected correctly. 1926.405(a)(2) – protected correctly. 1926.405(a)(2) – (ii)(I) and (ii)(J)(ii)(I) and (ii)(J)

GFCI vs. Circuit GFCI vs. Circuit BreakersBreakers

GFCI vs. Circuit BreakersGFCI vs. Circuit Breakers

GFCI SpecificationsGFCI Specifications– Will trip at 4-6mANOTE: A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) limits the duration of an electrical shock to a period considered safe for healthy people. It does not prevent electric shock. This device does not protect against electric shock due to contact with both circuit conductors or a fault in any wiring supplying this device.


Required to protect all Temporary Power circuits.– Extension Cords become “temporary

Power circuits” when plugged into permanent Receptacles.


Circuit breakers are Overcurrent protection devices which is one part of the overcurrent protection system.

Breaker/Fuse – Wire – Device


GFCI for Portable Generators– Required at 5KW (LOI 8/24/77)– Frame not required to be grounded NEC

250.34 and 1926.404(f)(3) GFCI Circuit Breakers

– For any VoltageFor any Voltage

Extension CordsExtension Cords


NEC References:NEC References:– 240.5 Overcurrent Protection240.5 Overcurrent Protection

– Table 400.5(a) Flexible Cord allowable ampsTable 400.5(a) Flexible Cord allowable amps

– Or 240.5(b)(3) extension cords considered protected Or 240.5(b)(3) extension cords considered protected when applied within the extension cord listing when applied within the extension cord listing requirementsrequirements


guide for cords less than 50 ft. guide for cords less than 50 ft. #12 gauge - 1920 watts - 16 amps – large bench saws #12 gauge - 1920 watts - 16 amps – large bench saws #14 gauge - 1440 watts - 12 amps - portable power #14 gauge - 1440 watts - 12 amps - portable power

saws, routers saws, routers #16 gauge - 840 watts - 7 amps –Belt Sanders#16 gauge - 840 watts - 7 amps –Belt Sanders , recip saws , recip saws #18 gauge - 600 watts - 5 amps - drills, small sanders#18 gauge - 600 watts - 5 amps - drills, small sanders


120 V Extension Cord Maximum Ampacity

Extension Extension Cord Length

Cord Size 200' 150' 100' 50'

14 2.75A 3.7A 5.5A 11A

12 4.25A 5.7A 8.5A 17A

10 7A 9A 14A 25A


– Prohibited Uses 1926.405(g)(1)(iii)Prohibited Uses 1926.405(g)(1)(iii)– as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structureas a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure– Where run through holes in walls, ceilings, or floors.Where run through holes in walls, ceilings, or floors.– Where run through doorways, windows, or similar Where run through doorways, windows, or similar

openings not protected from pinch points.openings not protected from pinch points.– Where attached to building surfaces or concealed Where attached to building surfaces or concealed

behind walls, ceilings, or floorsbehind walls, ceilings, or floors


– Shall be designed for hard or extra-hard usage.Shall be designed for hard or extra-hard usage.– 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(J)1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(J)– NEC Table 400.4NEC Table 400.4– Common Examples include – S, SO, SJ, SJTCommon Examples include – S, SO, SJ, SJT

– Shall be used only in continuous lengths Shall be used only in continuous lengths without spice or tap. 1926.405(g)(2)(ii)without spice or tap. 1926.405(g)(2)(ii)– #12 or larger may be repaired if spice retains #12 or larger may be repaired if spice retains

insulation and usage characteristicsinsulation and usage characteristics


– NEC 400.21 Insulation shall not be less than NEC 400.21 Insulation shall not be less than specified specified – If a visible amount of insulation has been removed it If a visible amount of insulation has been removed it

is in need removal or repairis in need removal or repair

http://www.safeconllc.com/whatswrong_wire.html

Power ToolsPower Tools

Power ToolsPower ToolsFrom NFPA 70E 110.9(B)(1)From NFPA 70E 110.9(B)(1)

Portable equipment must be handled in a Portable equipment must be handled in a manner which will not cause damage. Flexible manner which will not cause damage. Flexible electric cords connected to equipment may not electric cords connected to equipment may not be used for raising or lowering the equipment. be used for raising or lowering the equipment.

Flexible cords may not be fastened with staples Flexible cords may not be fastened with staples or otherwise hung in such a fashion as could or otherwise hung in such a fashion as could damage the outer jacket or insulation. damage the outer jacket or insulation.

Power ToolsPower ToolsFrom NFPA 70E 110.9(B)(3)From NFPA 70E 110.9(B)(3)

Portable cord and plug connected equipment Portable cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) shall be and flexible cord sets (extension cords) shall be visually inspected before use on any shift for visually inspected before use on any shift for external defects:external defects:– Loose parts Loose parts – Deformed or missing pins Deformed or missing pins – Damage to outer jacket or insulation Damage to outer jacket or insulation – Evidence of possible internal damageEvidence of possible internal damage


If there is a defect or evidence of If there is a defect or evidence of damage to any electrical tools or damage to any electrical tools or equipment…equipment…

Take it Out of ServiceTake it Out of Service Imagine an employee dies while Imagine an employee dies while

using the Power tool that using the Power tool that youyou repaired.repaired.

Fatality at Trussville HighFatality at Trussville High

Ladders….Ladders….– Portable ladders must Portable ladders must

have non-conductive side have non-conductive side rails if they are used where rails if they are used where a workers or the ladder a workers or the ladder could contact exposed could contact exposed energized parts. energized parts.

– Keep all ladder parts at Keep all ladder parts at least 10 feet away from least 10 feet away from overhead power linesoverhead power lines

Controlling Permanent Controlling Permanent PowerPower

Through an effective Lock out / Tagout Through an effective Lock out / Tagout SystemSystem


Prior to Energizing Permanent Prior to Energizing Permanent Power There are a few things to Power There are a few things to checkcheck


Check Main Switch Gear for Check Main Switch Gear for Empty ConduitsEmpty Conduits– Why are they empty?Why are they empty?– Are they capped?Are they capped?– Will Duct Tape work?Will Duct Tape work?


Once the gear is energized there Once the gear is energized there should be no reason to re-enter.should be no reason to re-enter.– Re-entering energized gear would Re-entering energized gear would

require a scheduled “shut-down” with require a scheduled “shut-down” with local utility company. local utility company.

– Or Gear must be designed to shut-down Or Gear must be designed to shut-down in sections.in sections.


Check to Verify Lockout/Tagout Check to Verify Lockout/Tagout Equipment is available.Equipment is available.

Is there a LO/TO plan, who is the Is there a LO/TO plan, who is the authorized person(s)?authorized person(s)?

Reference NFPA 70E 120 Establishing an Reference NFPA 70E 120 Establishing an Electrically Safe Work ConditionElectrically Safe Work Condition


MSG

EQ

DP2DP1

PPLP HVAC

Energized WorkEnergized Work

Energized WorkEnergized WorkFrom NFPA 70E 130From NFPA 70E 130

Safety Requirements are the same wither Safety Requirements are the same wither the employee is working on or near the employee is working on or near energized parts energized parts

Voltage Testing, Trouble Shooting, Voltage Testing, Trouble Shooting, working in a panel with the main in the working in a panel with the main in the off position but the lugs are energized.off position but the lugs are energized.


You must have justification to work on You must have justification to work on energized circuits or partsenergized circuits or parts In short, if you are going to put other In short, if you are going to put other

people’s lives in danger by turning off the people’s lives in danger by turning off the power – you have justification.power – you have justification.

A work permit and Job briefing/planning A work permit and Job briefing/planning checklist must be completed before working checklist must be completed before working energized energized


If there is any chance circuits or parts If there is any chance circuits or parts may be energized, they are to be treated may be energized, they are to be treated as energized until verified as de-as energized until verified as de-energized, meaning PPE required.energized, meaning PPE required.


Use barricades to prevent or limit access Use barricades to prevent or limit access to work areas with un-insulated energized to work areas with un-insulated energized conductors or circuit parts conductors or circuit parts

Or an attendant shall be stationed to Or an attendant shall be stationed to warn and protect employeeswarn and protect employees

Topics DiscussedTopics Discussed

Electricity's Beginning OnsiteElectricity's Beginning Onsite

Temporary Power/LightingTemporary Power/Lighting

GFCI vs. Circuit BreakerGFCI vs. Circuit Breaker


Safe Guarding Permanent PowerSafe Guarding Permanent Power


QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

General Or Gc Electrical Safety

Documents

temporary power circuits

temporary power plugs

extension cords nec

temporary powerlighting

5b3 extension cords

extension cords guide

temporary lighting

404f3 gfci circuit breakers