Month: April 2019

Ensure the electrical equipment is marked with ALL of the following information:

1) The manufacturer’s name or trademark;
2) Voltage;
3) Current;
4) Wattage; and
5) Other ratings (as necessary)?

Is each disconnecting means marked to indicate its purpose?

Ensure sufficient access and working space is provided and maintained around electrical equipment to ensure safe operation and maintenance?

Does the provided working space met ALL of the following criteria:

1) Not less than 30 inches wide in front of the electric equipment;
2) Not used for storage;
3) Has at least one entrance;
4) Has at least three feet in front of live parts;
5) Is illumination; and
6) Has minimum headroom of 6 feet 3 inches?

Are all live parts guarded using approved enclosures and are all covers in place and closed?

Are electrical disconnect switches readily operable from the operating floor level?

Ensure there are means for disconnecting all conductors from the service-entrance conductors include ALL of the following features:

1) A disconnecting means that plainly indicates whether it is open or closed;
2) A disconnecting means installed at a readily accessible location nearest the entrance of the service-entrance conductors; and
3) Each service disconnecting means simultaneously disconnect all ungrounded conductors?

Are live parts of fixtures, lamps, appliances, protected from employee contact?

Are portable handlamps that are supplied through flexible cords equipped with an approved handle that includes a guard attached to the lampholder or to the handle?

Are only weatherproof lampholders and fixtures installed in wet or damp locations?

Are receptacles, cord connectors, and attachment plugs designed to be used only with same voltage or
current rating?

For Cranes, Hoists and Runways

(1) Are BOTH of the following disconnecting means provided:
1) A readily accessible disconnecting means between the runway contact conductors and the
power supply; and
2) Another disconnecting means that can be locked “open” readily accessible?
NOTE: The additional disconnect can be omitted if the unit is floor controlled, the unit is within view of
the power supply disconnecting means, and no fixed work platform is available.
(2) Is a limit switch or other device provided that prevents the load block from passing the safe upper limit of travel of any hoisting mechanism?
For welding equipment Is a disconnecting means provided for ALL of the following arc welders in the supply circuit:

For heating equipment Are ALL of the following safety features provided for the heating equipment and accessories:

1) The converting apparatus and high frequency electric circuits is completely contained within
enclosures of non-combustible material;
2) All panel controls are of dead-front construction;
3) Protective cages or shielding guard work applicators; and
4) A readily accessible disconnecting means to isolate each unit of heating equipment from its supply circuit?

Are “Danger” labels attached when the voltage is over 250 volts AC or DC?
Emergency Systems:

1) Does the facility include provisions for emergency systems intended to supply power for illumination and special loads during a power outage?
2)Is ALL emergency circuit wiring kept entirely independent of other wiring and equipment?
3)Is lighting arranged so that the failure of any single element cannot leave any area in total darkness?

Are all live electrical conductors only accessible to qualified personnel?

Are cabinets and other enclosures installed so that moisture cannot enter and accumulate within the
enclosures?

Are electrical installations of over 600 volts made inaccessible to unqualified persons by ANY of the following methods:

1) Enclosed and accessible only with lock and key;
2) Made with metal-enclosed equipment; or
3) Enclosed in a vault or area which has access controlled by a lock?

Are interlocks used on doors which allow access to voltages from 500 to 1000 volts AC or DC?

To identify fall hazards first we must recognize, identify, evaluate, propose controls and implement control measures. Identification of fall hazards may be done through injury record reviews, audits, and interviews.

• Where do workers go to at heights to perform work?
• Do employees go to any elevated locations for reasons other than to perform work?
• What are the work tasks that employees need to perform for a specific given physical location at heights?
• What movements at heights are required for workers to perform the tasks?
• What are the entry/exit routes for the work at heights and what physical means of entry and exit are used?
• How frequently do employees go to each specific location at heights and for what time duration?
• What are the items of tools, equipment, and materials that the worker must take to the elevated workstation?
• What are the specific factors at the site that could trigger the onset of a fall? Such factors include:
  • Slippery walking surfaces
  • Irregular walking surfaces that could cause a trip
  • Presence of natural factors-sunlight, darkness, wind, rain, lightning, snow
  • Presence of thermal, chemical and electrical factors and the possibility of fire or explosion.

Prior to the start of any work at height, a plan must be developed for prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall. It is the responsibility of the employee performing the work and his Supervisor to develop the rescue plan. In most cases self-rescue will be the practicable solution. In remote locations and work taking place on flat roofs employees shall be required to have a radio equipped with a panic button to notify management that a fall has occurred and to initiate the rescue plan. Equipment on site to aide in rescue include the JLG, lift cage that attaches to a fork truck, scissors lift, genie, ladder, scaffold, and emergency retrieval device.

Sample Rescue Plans

Work Required	Rescue Plan
Employee working near the edge of the roof falls.	1. Notify supervisor by radio or direct means. 2.  Supervisor dial 9-911 3.  Supervisor and maintenance employees go to roof and using the lanyard, pull the employee to safety, or employee is able to perform self-rescue.   Using the Man-lifts would be another option.
Employee working from JLG falls.	1.  Hit Panic button and notify supervisor by radio. 2.  Supervisor dials 75 and notifies first responders. 3.  JLG is lowered to the ground, or self-rescue is completed.
Employee is working on overhead pipes in a rack.	1.  Notify supervisor by radio, or Notify people in area to get help. 2.  Supervisor dial 9-911. 3.  Supervisor and maintenance employees go to area and using cage on a fork truck rescue the employee.  Here again self-rescue could be another option.
Process employee is painting from a fork truck with attached cage and falls	1.  Notify supervisor by radio, or notify people in area to get help. 2.  Supervisor dial 9-911 and notify first responders 3.  Supervisor and process employees use the cage on a fork truck and rescue the employee. (Self-rescue may be complete)

Note: In all falls an investigation using the causal factor analysis technique must be conducted. All fall protection equipment involved in the fall must be tagged out and given to the site Safety Supervisor for inspection and possible replacement.

Is it possible to for cords and plugs to identify and distinguish grounded conductors from all other conductors?

In branch circuits, do outlet devices have an ampere rating not less than the load to be served?

Are flexible cords and cables used ONLY for the following equipment:

1) Pendants;
2) Wiring of fixtures;
3) Connection of portable lamps or appliances;
4) Elevator cables; and
5) Wiring of cranes and hoists?

Are flexible cords and cables used ONLY in the following manner:

1) To connect stationary equipment to facilitate their frequent interchange;
2) To prevent the transmission of noise or vibration;
3) On appliances where the fastening means and mechanical connections are designed to permit removal for maintenance or repair; or
4) As data-processing cables approved as a part of the data-processing system?

Is the flexible cord equipped with an attachment plug and energized from an approved receptacle outlet?

Are flexible cords and cables used in ANY of the following ways:

1) As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure;
2) Where run through holes in walls, ceilings, or floors;
3) Where run through doorways, windows, or similar openings;
4) Where attached to building surfaces; or
5) Where concealed behind building walls, ceilings, or floors?

Are flexible cords used only in continuous lengths (without splice or tap)?

Are flexible cords connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief prevents the direct transmission of pull?