Compliant CSA Z462 LV & HV Arc Flash & Electric Shock Training

Over the years I have unfortunately discovered in Canada that there are many "training companies" or "contractor/consulting companies" that claim they provide certified or compliant CSA Z462 "arc flash training" or "arc flash awareness" training.

Sadly they also quote "we are low cost," or deep discount if you send 10, 20 or more people to the training.

My father always said if you buy something cheap it is most likely never high quality and will not last! He was right!

For Canada here is a checklist for you as the employer/supervisor to ensure you provide compliant and defendable CSA Z462 Workplace electrical safety Standard, ARC FLASH & ELECTRIC SHOCK low voltage and/or high voltage training.

1. Does the company you are hiring have a CSA Group Copyright Use Agreement in place?

2. Does the company you are hiring have an NFPA Copyright Use Agreement in place?

3. The lowest cost will most likely be the lowest quality training, both delivery, content of PPT and the training materials provided.

4. If you want simple training then it will not be CSA Z462 compliant training. CSA Z462 is a detailed comprehensive Standard, training on it needs to be thorough, detailed and complete.

5. Who is the CSA Z462 Workplace electrical safety Standard Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the company and the trainer of any trainers the company uses for instruction? How do they substantiate their SME and on an Annual basis maintain their CSA Z462 SME (e.g. write articles, participate in the Technical Committee, attend and present at the IEEE IAS Electrical Safety Workshop, attend and present at the NETA Powertest Conference, provide free webinars to industry, etc.)? Just claiming they have achieved NFPA CESCP so they are an SME is a false statement.

6. Is the instructor the SME or trained by the SME?

7. Is the instructor an employee or sub-contractor? Do they have minimum $2MM commercial general liability insurance?

8. What training materials are provided to the students? Just the PPT? Are other training materials provided that can be used by the student to be successful in field applying the training received?

9. Did the instructor use arc flash and electrical shock PPE, tools and equipment props or electrical equipment (e.g. MCC starter bucket, disconnect switch, etc.) formally in the training instruction (see pictures below)?

10. Was a formal test with a pass/fail mark taken by each student?

11. If the student passed the formal test was a training certificate issued signed by the company's CSA Z462 SME?

12. Does the company have minimum $2MM commercial general liability insurance and separate errors & omissions insurance?

13. Is the training compliant to CSA Z1001 for Canada?

A formal pre-qualification of the company providing the training is required. The technical qualifications of the company and instructor shall be the priority in your evaluation, not the lowest price!

Subject yourself and your company to a mock electrical incident and "test" your due diligence? Do your workers have electrical safety competency right now? Does your company have a compliant Electrical Safety Program that you have also trained your workers on?

Three bids and a buy on "arc flash training" and the lowest cost and simple training will not stand up to the test of an electrical incident with worker injury or heaven forbid a fatality!

If you would like to discuss this article call me 1-587-433-3777 or by email, [email protected].

#shock #arcflash #oshacompliance #osh #70E #z462 #maintenance