Application Note

ManualsBrandsFluke ManualsMeasuring instruments289

Then we’ll examine the

independent safety and stan-

dards organizations, including

the National Fire Protection

Association (NFPA), the Ameri-

can National Standards Institute

(ANSI), the Institute of Electri-

cal and Electronics Engineers

(IEEE) and the International

Electro-Technical Commission

(IEC). Though they’re not part of

government, they too help set

the rules of the safety game.

The government agencies

First, where did OSHA and NIOSH

come from, and what do they

do?

Both agencies were created

by the federal Occupational

Safety and Health Act of 1970.

OSHA is in the U.S. Department

of Labor and is responsible

for developing and enforcing

workplace safety and health

regulations. In addition, many

states have their own occupa-

tional safety agencies that work

with OSHA and govern work-

place safety on the state level.

NIOSH is an agency of the

U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, established to

help assure safe and healthful

working conditions by providing

research, information, education,

and training in the field of occu-

pational safety and health.

* Source: Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety

Index, Winter 2008

Alphabet soup

There’s no question that elec-

trical safety is a key concern

for electricians and engineers,

their employers, unions and the

government.

Every day, an average of

4,700 workers in the U.S. suffer

disabling injuries on the job.

Insurance industry estimates

put the direct cost of workplace

injuries in 2005 at more than

$8 billion.* With costs that high,

no wonder so many government

agencies and private groups hold

pieces of the safety puzzle.

Who sets the rules

for electrical testing

and safety?

From the Fluke Digital Library @ www.fluke.com/library

Application Note

To maximize safety for your-

self and your team, you need a

solid understanding of the rules

and standards that govern safe

electrical work. This article will

help you cut through the alpha-

bet soup of safety organization

names to see how each plays a

role in safety.

We’ll check them out in two

groups. First, we’ll look at the

government agencies that over-

see workplace safety, such as

the U.S. Occupational Safety and

Health Administration (OSHA)

and the National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health

(NIOSH).

Summary of content (6 pages)

PAGE 1
Who sets the rules for electrical testing and safety? Application Note Alphabet soup There’s no question that electrical safety is a key concern for electricians and engineers, their employers, unions and the government. Every day, an average of 4,700 workers in the U.S. suffer disabling injuries on the job. Insurance industry estimates put the direct cost of workplace injuries in 2005 at more than $8 billion.
PAGE 2
NFPA 70E flash-hazard requirements as a way of meeting the OSHA standard. The key distinction is this: OSHA 1910 Subpart S and other OSHA safety and health standards are law. Failure to follow these standards could result in a citation, a work shutdown, fines or other sanctions. The NFPA, ANSI and other standards OSHA refers to, on the other hand, are intended as guidelines to safety.
PAGE 3
NIOSH: Helpful information NFPA establishes standards through consensus While OSHA sets the rules, and sometimes levels penalties, NIOSH provides useful safety information. A good example is a new 88-page electrical safety handbook, Electrical Safety —Safety and Health for Electrical Trades Student Manual, available for downloading in portable document format (PDF) at http://www.cdc.gov/ niosh/docs/2002-123/2002123a.html.
PAGE 4
Service Entrance OSHA electrical safety regulation 1910 Subpart S refers to several ANSI standards. The key ANSI standards involving electrical safety are ANSI C33.27-74 (Safety Standard for Outlet Boxes and Fittings for Use in Hazardous Locations) and ANSI S82.02 (see below), which provides important safety rules for electrical test instruments. ANSI C2-81 (National Electrical Safety Code) deals with electric installations of more than 1000 volts, an area beyond the scope of this article.
PAGE 5
• CAT III covers distribution level wiring. This includes 480-volt and 600-volt circuits such as three-phase bus and feeder circuits, motor control centers, load centers and distribution panels. Permanently installed loads are also classified as CAT III. CAT III includes large loads that can generate their own transients. At this level, the trend to using higher voltage levels in modern buildings has changed the picture and increased the potential hazards.
PAGE 6
Electrical safety rules and standards: Who does what Authority Standard Title Subject Mandatory or Advisory? Topics Covered Also refers to OSHA 29 CFR Electrical Electrical Safety Mandatory 1910 Subpart S Design safety standards for electrical systems, safety-related work practices, safety-related maintenance requirements and safety requirements for special equipment NFPA 70E NFPA 70 ANSI C2-81 ANSI C33.