What does the future hold for our industry — especially when it comes to those all-important standards that ensure reliability, protect property, and help us to avoid injury or death? As we revise and update codes and standards from NETA, NFPA, IEEE, ASTM, NEMA, CSA, and OSHA, I think we should all read this very carefully, especially the summary. WHAT …
Electrical and Thermal Burns: Why Is This an Important Topic in NFPA 70E?
How much heat does it take to burn unprotected skin? Not very much, right? We’ve all had it happen to us: Just stay outside in the sun for a short amount of time with unprotected skin, and there you have it — a burn to your skin. Now, place unprotected skin in front of a potential source of great heat, …
NFPA 70E, 2024 Edition: Second Draft Meeting
In late August 2022, the NFPA 70E Technical Committee met for the Second Draft meeting related to the revision of what will be the 2024 edition of NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. This was the step in the revision process where the 70E Technical Committee meets to review Public Comments as well as NFPA Correlating Committee …
A Game of Inches: Understanding Dimensions in NFPA 70E
As we enter into the fall season, temperatures are starting to come down, the leaves are turning, and the game of football is cranking up. As we go through football season this year, you will undoubtedly hear many times that it’s “a game of inches.” Football being a game of inches was highlighted in a memorable way by actor Al …
Fault on Feeder M1A: Guidance from NFPA 70E — Part 3
This is the last in a three-part series of articles as we navigate a 15 kV feeder fault and the subsequent repairs. We have discussed how NFPA 70E is an important tool for the electrical worker to use in the field as they troubleshoot, repair, and restore electrical equipment after a significant fault event, all with an eye on getting the …
Fault On Feeder M1A: Planning Recovery Using NFPA 70E
Previously, we discussed a 15 kV feeder fault at a manufacturing plant and how NFPA 70E is an important tool for the electrical worker to use in the field as they troubleshoot, repair, and restore the equipment to get the facility up and running. To recap, here’s what happened: The main circuit breaker in one of the plant’s three medium-voltage substations …
Electrical Service Work and Worker Fatigue: Take Care of Yourself!
Chances are you are in an electrical career you love: Testing, maintaining, installing, commissioning, designing, rebuilding, engineering, improving…and generally making electrical power systems safer and better. But are you doing so with a focus on managing the possible onset of acute or chronic fatigue? We live in a busy world — do more with less; be efficient in your tasks; …