Work Practices

DOE-HDBK-1092-2004

2.13 WORK PRACTICES

NFPA 70E covers electrical safety-related work practices and procedures for qualified and

unqualified employees who work on or near exposed energized electrical conductors or circuit

parts in workplaces. This information provides a foundation for establishing an electrically safe

working environment. NFPA 70E has embedded four basic strategies in the document. These

strategies are:

1. establish an electrically safe work condition,

2. training,

3. planning the work, and

4. personal protective equipment.

NFPA 70E is updated on a 3-year cycle in compliance with ANSI requirements. This schedule

allows for the latest acceptable technology and experience to be integrated into the document.

2.13.1 TRAINING

Qualified workers shall be knowledgeable and trained in safety-related work practices, safety

procedures, and other requirements that pertain to their respective job assignments. Employees

shall not be permitted to work in an area where they are likely to encounter an electrical hazard

unless they have been trained to recognize and avoid these hazards. (See Section 2.8.)

2.13.1.1

LIVE PARTS

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

works on or near them, unless it can be demonstrated that deenergizing introduces additional or

increased hazards or is infeasible because of equipment design or operational limitations. (See

Section 2.1.1.)

Live parts that operate at less than 50 volts to ground need not be deenergized if there will be

no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electrical arcs.

2.13.1.2

SAFE PROCEDURE

Safe procedures for deenergizing circuits and equipment shall be determined before circuits or

equipment are deenergized. Deenergization procedures shall be included in the lockout/tagout

procedure for the circuit or equipment to be deenergized.

2.13.1.3

CIRCUITS AND EQUIPMENT

Circuits and equipment to be worked on shall be disconnected from all electric energy sources.

Control circuit devices such as push-buttons, selector switches, and interlocks shall not be used

as the sole means for deenergizing circuits or equipment.

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