General Requirements - hdbk10920015

DOE-HDBK-1092-98

2.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

This section deals with the reliability and effective maintenance of electrical systems that can be

achieved in part by careful planning and proper design. The training of personnel in safety-related

work practices that pertain to their respective job assignments is outlined.

2.1 ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE OR REPAIRS

Only qualified persons shall perform electrical repairs. It is dangerous for an unqualified worker to

attempt electrical repair. Before any electrical maintenance or troubleshooting is performed, sources

of electrical energy shall be deenergized, except where it is necessary for troubleshooting, testing,

or areas that are infeasible to deenergize. All energy sources shall be brought to a safe state. For

example, capacitors shall be discharged and high capacitance elements shall be short-circuited and

grounded.

2.1.1 WORK ON ENERGIZED/DEENERGIZED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

The first consideration for working on any electrical system is to have the circuit positively

deenergized. All circuits and equipment must be considered energized until opened, tagged and/or

locked according to an approved procedure and should be proven deenergized by testing with an

approved testing device known to be in proper working order. Review system drawings and/or

perform system walkdowns. Where the possibility exists that the circuit can become energized by

another source or where capacitive devices (including cables) may retain or build up a charge, the

circuit should be grounded and shorted. The grounding and shorting device should be selected and

installed in accordance with appropriate standards. Whenever work is to be performed on a positively

deenergized system, the worker must also identify and protect against any accidental contact with

any exposed energized parts in the vicinity of the work.

2.1.2 CONSIDERATIONS FOR WORKING ON ENERGIZED SYSTEMS AND

EQUIPMENT

Qualified employees performing such tasks as electrical repairs, modifications, and tests on

energized electrical systems, parts, and equipment need to comply with the following:

1. Live parts to which an employee may be exposed shall be deenergized before the employee

works on or near them, unless the employer can demonstrate that deenergizing introduces

additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational

limitations. See 29 CFR 1910.269(d)(2), 1910.333(a), 1926.950(d), NESC Rule 442, and

NFPA 70E, Part II, Ch.51.

2. Work performed on energized electrical systems and equipment may be done only if a

supervisor and/or cognizant safety professional and the personnel performing the work

determine that it can be done safely. Approval should be given for each job. Approval for the

See Appendix D for selected regulation cross references thoughout this document.

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