Milling Journal - Q1 2008 - (Page 28)

• If live parts are not de-energized, the employer must have a written procedure to protect employees from direct or indirect contact. This procedure must be suitable for conditions and based on the level of voltage. • Employees working in areas where there are potential electrical hazards must be provided with and use PPE that is appropriate for the specific parts of the body to be protected and for the work to be performed. NFPA. This association addresses electrical safety in the worklace through the NFPA 70E standard. This is a so-called “consensus standard,” created by a blue-ribbon panel of industry experts representing the best available knowledge. While it is not legally binding on industry, NFPA standards frequently are used in court cases as evidence. And NFPA standards have a way of becoming part of OSHA standards, which are legally binding. NFPA 70E requires electrical workers to be trained in safetyrelated work practices and procedural requirements as necessary to provide provide protection from the electrical hazards associated with their respective job or task. They must be able to identify and understand the relationship between the hazards and injuries that could result. Qualified persons know: • The construction of the equipment. • The operation of the equipment. • Work methods. • Electrical hazards and avoidance. • Precautionary techniques and PPE. • Arc flash protection, insulating, shielding, and insulated tools. • Skill and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live parts. • Determine nominal voltage. • Approach distances. • The process of determining the hazard and PPE necessary to perform the task. Section 110.7(F) of NFPA 70E requires that a hazard and risk evaluation procedure must be performed before work begins on our near live parts operating at 50 volts or more, where an electrical hazard exists. This includes flash hazard, which NFPA defines as any dangerous condition associated with the release of energy caused by an electric arc. Personal Protective Equipment OSHA and NFPA both require employers to provide appropriate PPE to electrical workers and training in how to use it. Head. Employees working with electrical equipment must wear Class E head protection that is non-conductive up to 20,000 volts. Eye and face. Employees must wear eye and/or face protection from arcs, flashes, and flying objects. Hand. Insulated gloves provide varying degrees of protection and are classified by color indicating maximum voltage exposure (See Table 2.) Insulating gloves must be tested electrically every six months, under the OSHA standard. In addition, they must be inspected visually for tears, rips, and punctures. A glove inflator, available from Salisbury Co., Skokie, IL (877406-4501), can simplify visual inspection. Clothing. Employees must wear flame-resistant clothing whenever there is possible exposure to an electric arc flash above the threshold energy level for a second-degree burn. Employees may not wear fabrics that would increase injury, including rayon, nylon, polyester, and acetate. Arc protective equipment, including electrical flash hoods and suits, must be worn wherever arc flash is a potential. Job briefing. NFPA 70E requires that before any electrical job begins, the employee in charge must conduct a job briefing with any other employees involved. The briefing must cover such topics as hazards present, procedures, precautions, controlling energy, and required PPE. For ongoing, repetitive work, one briefing is required each shift. An additional briefing is required for any significant changes in the job. Ground fault circuit interruptor (GFCI). A ground fault circuit interruptor is an important protective device that can prevent electrical shock when using a cord-connected piece of equipment. It operates on the differential current “hot leg” of a live circuit and a neutral ground. When it detects a hazardous condition, the GFCI pens the circuit within 25 milliseconds. Generally, it is set to operate when a leakage is over 5 mA. Ed Zdrojewski, contributing editor 28 First Quarter 2008 Response No. 281 MILLING JOURNAL

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Milling Journal - Q1 2008

Milling Journal - First Quarter 2008 Contents First Break Examining Fortification Standards IAOM 2008 Milling Short Courses 2008 IAOM Conference and Expo Melinda Farris Interview Designing a Purifierless Millflow Dirk Maier Named KSU Dept. Head NAMA’s 2008 Division Meetings Protecting Electrical Workers Miller Profiles Todd Bastean Interview Safety: How Serious Are We? Product Quality/Gwirtz Product Roundup: Magnets Pest Management/Subramanyam Explosion Protection Supplier Interview: Darin Stutler Product Reviews New IAOM Safety Award Criteria Don’t Forget OSHA Form 300A Milling Notes Great Lakes Regional Conference 4th Quarter 2007 Flour Production IAOM Reference Guide Hammermills Brushes Aspirators Level Indicators Product Reviews Magnets Mixers Packaging Purifiers Safety Equipment Screeners Separators Sifter Accessories Ad Index

Milling Journal - Q1 2008

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