Electricity is often taken for granted, but it can be dangerous if not taken seriously. When you need electrical work, it is important for your safety to hire an electrical contractor that cares as much about that safety as you do. Your TruPro electrical professional is committed to ensuring your safety. What follows are some of the standards employed by TruPro contractors and electricians and what they mean for you.
Hazardous Communications
Chemicals on a job site or in a work place can be hazardous, especially if mixed with other chemicals, whether they are extremely volatile or relatively safe. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) for the workplace. See www.osha.gov for details.
Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of chemicals they produce or import and prepare labels and material safety sheets to convey that information to their customers. Employers, such as TruPro electrical contractors, that have hazardous chemicals on their job sites must provide this information to their exposed workers and make sure they are trained to handle the chemicals appropriately.
Lockout/Tagout
The unexpected energizing or start-up of machinery or equipment, or the release
of stored energy in the equipment, can hurt workers performing service or maintenance
on machinery or equipment. The Lockout/Tagout standard requires that practices and
procedures be in place to shut down equipment, isolate it from its energy source, and
prevent the release of potentially hazardous energy. This safety standard covers the
performance of maintenance and service activities while giving employers the flexibility
to develop lockout/tagout programs suitable for their facilities. Visit
www.osha.gov for details.
Assured Equipment Grounding
OSHA requires that employers use either ground fault circuit interrupters
(see below) or an assured equipment grounding conductor program to protect employees
on construction sites. Assured equipment grounding covers all cord sets, receptacles
that are not part of the building or structure, and equipment connected by cord and
plug that is available for use and used by employees. This standard requires that
cord sets and receptacles be visually inspected before use every day and, if defective,
not used until repaired. For more information, go to www.osha.gov.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
To protect workers on your job site, all 120-volt, single-phase 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets that are not part of the permanent wiring of the building or structure are required to have approved ground fault circuit interrupters. This does not apply to approved generators if the circuit conductors are insulated from the generator frame and all other grounded surfaces. Visit www.cpsc.gov for details on GFIC requirements.
Ladder Safety
Electricians spend considerable amounts of time on portable ladders to perform a variety of tasks. Planning and care are required to ensure they are used safely. Accidents involving ladders cause an estimated 300 deaths and more than 130,000 injuries requiring emergency medical attention in the United States each year. Accidents are usually caused by improper selection, care, or use, not by manufacturing defects. Prevention of these accidents is important to TruPro members, so emphasis is placed on proper planning, correct ladder selection, good work procedures, and adequate ladder maintenance. Go to www.cdc.gov for more information on ladder safety.
Substance Abuse Testing Program
TruPro contractors and electricians are in the process of creating a "drug-free alliance" for all workers to further promote on-the-job safety for all workers. The program will be self-funded and will test every employee upon employment, from a random pool, and for reasonable suspicion on a regular basis. The alliance has adopted standards established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA). For information on those standards, go to www.osha.gov.
National Electrical Installation Standards (NEIS)
Developed by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), in partnership with other electrical industry organizations, the National Electrical Installation Standards go beyond the basic safety requirements of the National Electrical Code (NEC). They clearly define the performance standards for electrical construction. All NEIS are submitted for approval by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to cover the installation of products and systems in a “neat and workmanlike” manner. As an enforceable part of contract documents, NEIS significantly reduce misunderstandings among engineers, electrical contractors, owners, and facility managers so you, the customer, get a top-quality job. Visit www.neca-neis.org for details on standards for electrical installations.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
As the world’s leading advocate of fire prevention and an authoritative source on public safety, the National Fire Protection Association has developed more than 300 codes and safety standards. These codes and standards influence every building, process, service, design, and installation in the United States. The American National Standards Institute accredits NFPA’s code development process. Your TruPro electrical contractor subscribes to the mission of the NFPA to reduce the burden of fire and other hazards to the quality of life. Visit www.nfpa.org for details.
OSHA 10+
This safety standard adds awareness level instruction on up to 20 different topics not covered in the 10-hour OSHA 10+ training program. Topics include blood-borne pathogens, confined space entry, demolition, excavations, material handling, respirators, and many other subjects. A safety trainer with OSHA authorization must perform this instruction. Participation is designed to ensure safe job sites for workers. For more information on OSHA 10+, visit www.wipapercouncil.org for more information.
OSHA 30
This standard expands the OSHA 10 and OSHA 10 Plus to a 30-hour safety training program.
Fall Protection
In 2004, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 1,224 construction workers died on the job, with 36% of those fatalities resulting from falls. Events surrounding these types of accidents often involve a number of factors, including unstable working surfaces, misuse of all protection equipment, and human error. Studies have shown that the use of guardrails, fall arrest systems, safety nets, covers, and travel restriction systems can prevent many deaths and injuries from falls. For more information, visit the www.osha.gov web site.
NFPA – 70E
Published by the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA – 70E establishes the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. It provides thresholds for worker protective apparel based on exposure to arc hazard risk. It is designed to protect workers that install, maintain, or repair electrical systems. Go to www.nfpa.org for details on workplace electrical safety.