Raise Your Right Hand Qualified Electrical Worker
Jim Phillips, P.E., BScEE, IEEE Life Sr. Member, MIET
Brainfiller.com | Electrical Power, Arc Flash, Electrical Safety Training | IEEE 1584 Arc Flash Vice Chair | NFPA 70E Committee | International Chair IEC TC 78 | NEC Committee
Attorney:?“Can you tell us how Mr. Jones died?”
Witness:?“There was an electrical explosion. Something went wrong when he was working on the panel. A big fireball shot out that caught his clothing on fire. It was horrible.”
Attorney:?“Was Mr. Jones qualified to be performing that particular task?”
Witness:?“Sam? Sure. He was the most experienced electrician that we had. He had been with the company for more than 12 years.”
Attorney:?“I did not ask you about his experience or how long he worked for the company. I asked if Mr. Jones was qualified.”
Witness:?“Sure, he was qualified.”
Attorney:?“Then, why wasn’t he wearing arc-rated clothing? Why wasn’t the panel placed in an electrically safe work condition?”
Witness:?“Electrically safe work condition? Arc-rated what? I don’t know.”
Attorney:?“Perhaps we should first discuss what a qualified person is.”
Qualified Worker and NFPA 70E
When a person is severely injured or killed, legal action often follows. This normally includes an exhaustive investigation, forensic analysis, depositions and more - all in an attempt to determine exactly what happened. During the process, the victim’s qualifications are often thoroughly examined as well.
The line of questioning listed above occurs all too frequently. Victims may be considered experienced based on their years on the job, but that does not necessarily mean they are qualified, according to the requirements of NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. During an accident investigation, the word “qualified” becomes a key focal point during the investigation. What exactly does it mean?
NFPA 70E and its informative annexes use the words “qualified,” as in “qualified person(s),” “qualified employee” and “qualified contractor” dozens of times. According to NFPA 70E Article 100, the definition of a qualified person is, “One who has skills and knowledge related to the construction and operation of the electrical equipment and installations and has received safety training to identify the hazards and reduce the associated risk.
More specific details about the requirements of being a qualified person can be found in Section 110.4(A)(1): 110.4(A)(1) Qualified Person. A qualified person shall be trained and knowledgeable in the construction and operation of equipment or a specific work method and be trained to identify and avoid the electrical hazards that might be present with respect to the equipment or work method.
Examining the text begins the process of developing questions about whether a person is qualified.
??Was the person trained?
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??Was the person knowledgeable? How was this determination made?
??Shouldn’t the person have identified the hazard?
??Why didn’t the person establish an electrically safe work condition?
Additional requirements found in Section 110.4(A)(1)(a) state the person shall be familiar with the applicable precautionary techniques, electrical policies, procedures, PPE, insulating materials, insulating materials and insulated tools and test equipment.?
Based on these additional requirements, continued questioning could include the following:
??Was the person familiar with electrical policies and procedures?
??Did this person review the policy?
??Is there a record of this?
??Was the person using PPE?
A person can also be considered qualified with respect to certain equipment and methods but unqualified for others. If a person knows how to insert a bucket in a motor control center, he or she does not necessarily know how to rack (insert) a draw-out circuit breaker in switchgear.
During an investigation, the answer to one or more of these types of questions may be negative. For example, when asked if an electrically safe work condition was established, all too often the answer is no. Upon further review, it may be discovered the person was working on energized electrical equipment because he or she either did not know how to establish an electrically safe work condition or, perhaps, the worker just was in a hurry.
Another question that often receives a negative answer is whether the person was wearing PPE. The answer may be that proper PPE was not used, or worse, the worker was never provided PPE.
When answers such as these are provided, the statement that a worker was qualified can quickly be brought into question.
The Whole Truth and Nothing But: Experienced vs. Qualified
Although experience can be extremely important, when it comes to electrical safety, being experienced does not always translate into being qualified, according to NFPA 70E. Ensure electrical workers and those who work around electrical hazards are truly qualified. If an electrical accident happens, this will not only make it easier to answer questions in a legal setting, but it may also help avoid the electrical accident altogether.
Environmental Health & Safety Professional | OSHA Outreach Trainer | Project Manager | Veteran Advocate
11 个月Timothy Moore
Coach, Electrical and Control Systems Engineering at ArcelorMittal Dofasco
1 年Unfortunately the questions about qualified are asked after an incident. A great company and leader looks after their folks by ensuring training on safe work practices and use of PPE on equipment that they fully understand.
Service Manager at Champion Electric Inc.
1 年Great write up; the distinction between being experienced and truly qualified in electrical safety is indeed paramount. I would like to add how essential it is to delve deeper into the specific requirements of qualification, particularly the emphasis on ‘demonstrated’ skills and knowledge. The 70E definition/term of “qualified person” transcends mere understanding of hazards and system operations as outlined in the NEC definition. It encompasses a proven ability to apply safe work practices and mechanical skills, adhering to established safety protocols. For me, the combination of theoretical knowledge and practical application, forms a cornerstone for electrical safety, especially in interactions with energized electrical premises wiring systems.
Facilities Electrical Manager | Electrical Safety Professional
1 年Curiously missing from the 70E Article 100 citation in the post above is the term "demonstrated", as in "...demonstrated skills and knowledge...". Demonstrated in this context is a key term which must not be overlooked. What does "demonstrated" mean? Performative demonstration of common electrical tasks used to establish an ESWC? Documentation or training records demonstrating the skills? Some combination of both? Does 20 years of experience "demonstrate" ones skills and knowledge? Who knows? "Demonstrated" is not clearly defined, sadly.
Electrical Safety Consultant at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station
1 年This is a great reminder of the ramifications when workers are permitted to perform certain tasks without necessary training regarding the hazards and how to mitigate or eliminate them, proper documentation and annual audits. Unfortunately, when the civil trail starts its just one step in the long journey of reactive measures that are inevitable. However, as you've pointed out Jim, a proactive approach by ensuring workers are fully qualified according to the regulations and applicable consensus standards will significantly reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities. Thanks Jim