The Task Group on Electrical Safety of Department of Energy Facilities, in its January 1993 report, described a Model Electrical Safety Program. This concept has been expanded from its original narrative form into more detailed guidelines, drawing upon the electrical safety program of the Sandia National Laboratory for additional material. This model program is offered to the entire Department of Energy (DOE) complex as guidance to assist in developing and maintaining an effective and sound electrical safety program to ensure the safety and well being of all DOE, including contractor, and subcontractor employees working within any DOE site or facility. The model program has been designed to address the major areas of concern identified by the Task Group.

In essence, an Electrical Safety Program for protecting DOE and contractor workers and facilities should be founded firmly on established requirements of OSHA's electrical safety regulations in 29 CFR 1910 and 29 CFR 1926, National Electrical Code (NEC), DOE Orders and applicable state, local, mine, and tunnel safety standards. This program should establish an electrically safe workplace-free from recognized electrical hazards for all employees. Management should commit to involvement at all levels based on familiarity with the requirements.

Each site should establish an electrical safety committee and designate an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for interpreting the electrical requirements of OSHA, NEC, and other standards applicable to the site or its facilities. All personnel engaged in electrical work should be trained to have knowledge and understanding of electrical safe work practices. Appropriate electrical testing equipment and personal protective equipment should be provided, properly maintained and used.

A proactive preventive maintenance and inspection program for electrical systems and equipment should be in place and staffed by qualified electricians.

All electrical equipment purchases should meet appropriate codes and electrical safety requirements, as determined by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or as approved by the AHJ.

Before a site can have a successful electrical safety program, a continuous improvement effort and commitment must be clearly understood and shared throughout the site.

Each facility must demonstrate continuous improvement for design, construction, operation, maintenance and revisions at the site. Improvements must be tested against changing codes and regulations as they are made.

The ten principles of personal safety are as follows:

1. Plan every job-Planning is the key to preventing incidents therefore, eliminating injuries.

2. Anticipate unexpected events-If a person thinks about what can go wrong and does something about it, then a potential incident can be prevented.

3. Use the right tool for the job-Each employee must make sure that the correct tool is used and management must make sure the correct tool is available.

4. Use procedures as tools-Even though procedures are only paper or text, they should be viewed as tools to prevent injury.

5. Isolate the equipment-The best way to avoid accidental release of energy is by isolating the equipment before starting the job (lockout/tagout).

6. Identify the hazard-Employees who are exposed or potentially exposed must be able to recognize when and how they are exposed. Management has the responsibility to provide training to deal with each known hazard, as required.

7. Minimize the hazard-Take all known steps to minimize each hazard and the exposure to each known hazard.

8. Protect the person-The last chance to avoid an injury is to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Each person must use all protective equipment that is needed. It is management's responsibility to provide all appropriate PPE.

9. Assess people's abilities-Knowledge and ability help prevent injuries. Each person must recognize their limitations whether physical, mental or emotional. Management must also recognize the same limitations.

10. Audit these principles-The audit should validate the principles related to the people, task, and work environment. It should gauge the visibility of the principles in actual behavior.

The six basic elements of an effective Electrical Safety Program are listed below.

Management must have complete commitment to the program;

Effective training for all degrees of hazard and a baseline for training must be established; Effective and complete safe electrical work practices must be established; Documentation must be kept for all activities;

Electrical safety engineering support must be made; and

Oversight for the electrical safety program must be established, also.

The model program described in the following pages is presented in terms of purpose, scope, and ownership; performance objectives; responsibilities, authorities, and interfaces; definitions, and implementation guidance. References are listed for more in-depth guidance. A model Charter of the Electrical Safety Committee is provided as an appendix.

1. PURPOSE, SCOPE, AND OWNERSHIP

1.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of an electrical safety program is to

promote an electrically safe workplace free from unauthorized exposure to electrical hazards for all employees and contractors;

provide direction to implement electrical safety requirements of Department of Energy (DOE) orders, criteria, and guides. (See Section. 6, References); and

achieve compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations in accordance with DOE orders.

An electrically safe workplace will be achieved by

mandating and implementing the electrical subparts of Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations 29 CFR 1910 and 29 CFR 1926 as directed by the Secretary of DOE and OSHA; and

applying the National Electrical Code [National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 70)] and any exceptions by applicable state or local municipal requirements to the design, construction, and maintenance operation of facilities and research and development of electrical/electronic systems.

1.2 SCOPE

The Electrical Safety Program shall apply to all site organizations. These organizations shall conform to

the host's site electrical safety requirements, and

the local, city, county, or state jurisdiction.

1.3 OWNERSHIP

Site management shall appoint an organization to be owner of the Electrical Safety Program.

The Electrical Safety Program governs:

the electrical safety program owned by each department. The departments will develop and implement safe operating procedures specifically applicable to special electrical hazards in their workplaces.

2. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

The Electrical Safety Program has the following objectives.

Establish an effective electrical safety program by

establishing the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for interpreting OSHA, NFPA 70 and other requirements for electrical work;

establishing requirements and controls for implementing the program;

providing guidance to all departments, which includes developing and implementing safe operating procedures with electrical requirements;

developing an Electrical Safety Program self-assessment process;

establishing measurement criteria and documentation for self-assessment of the Electrical Safety Program;

evaluating the Electrical Safety Program on an annual basis to be followed by action plans in response to findings; and

evaluating each department against the requirements.

Ensure a safe workplace with the lowest reasonable risks from electrical hazards by

establishing training programs for qualified and unqualified worker requirements and safe work practices for all personnel engaged in electrical work in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.331-335;

complying with all applicable electrical requirements of

29 CFR 1910 and 29 CFR 1926; the NFPA;

American National Standards Institute (ANSI-C2), the National Electrical Safety Code

(NESC);

DOE orders; and

state, county and local revisions of the preceding requirements;

requiring the development and maintenance of an Electrical Safety Program; and allocation of resources for implementing this program.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES, AUTHORITIES, AND

INTERFACES

3.1 MANAGEMENT

Management ensures that the Electrical Safety Program is integrated into an overall Environmental, Safety, and Health (ES&H) program, selects the Electrical Safety Committee Chair, and approves the committee's charter.

3.2 ES&H MANAGERS

ES&H managers provide oversight for implementing the Electrical Safety Program.