NFPA 70E

• An average of 9,600 serious electrical injuries occur each year
• Annually approximately 2,000 people go to burn centers due to arc flash burns
• Approximately one fatality per day due to electrocution
• Direct and indirect costs of a major electrical injury estimated at $23 million (13th annual IEEE-IAS Workshop, H. Landis Floyd II, PE).

It is essential that you know what the electrical hazards are in your facility and what to do to keep your workers safe, and, be in compliance with OSHA. An Arc Flash Assessment / Analysis (referred to as 70E Study) is a study of your facilities power system to determine the energy that is available at points in the system where workers can be exposed.

The output of the analysis is a determination and labeling of PPE requirements. It includes summary reports of energy levels of all equipment, fuse and circuit breaker analysis, single-line drawings of the electrical system, and recommendations as to any needed corrective actions.

There are two documents that tell us what we must do to insure worker safety and be in compliance. The first and foremost is OSHA regulations (law) and the second is the National Fire Protection Agency publication 70E “Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace” (commonly referred to as NFPA 70E). NFPA 70E is a standard and is referenced in the OSHA regulations. Using NFPA 70E as a guide will insure compliance with OSHA.

So what does that have to do with you? Think about it: OSHA regulations are federal law. They tell you what you have to do, but fall short of telling you how to do it. Not necessarily OSHA’s fault; that’s the way regulations have to be written in order to be enforceable. So if OSHA tells you what to do, but not necessarily how to do it, what do you do? Go to the electrical safety “how-to” book, NFPA 70E.

Companies will be cited and fined for not complying with these standards.

It is imperative that all workplaces have access to and an understanding of NFPA 70E, and our professionals at CSI are available to help with the training and education of your team. Electrical safety requirements are not easy subjects to understand, however, it is an absolute necessity for proper implementation. The prospect of training a staff of employees, who may work in an environment where they may be unfamiliar with the protocols for electrical safety, can be overwhelming.

As an employer, you want your employees to be confident in their knowledge and to have access to the guidelines they need to successfully handle any situation with electrical safety. We are here to provide your organization with the proper training for standardized electrical safety. With the help of CSI, you will gain the assurance that you have given your organization the tools to protect your employees and your company.

Whether your organization is industrial in nature or it is a workplace where electrical work is not an obvious task, CSI is available to partner with you!