Safety Update

Safety Update: Workplace Electrical Safety

On January 29th, 2009, two oil and gas workers, aged 32 and the other 27 were electrocuted just west of Edmonton, Alberta; and on February 2nd, 2009, a man was hospitalized with burns to his face and chest after an electrical arc flash at a meat processing plant just outside Brooks, Alberta. Electricity is one of the most commonly encountered hazards in the workplace; nationally workers are exposed to energized conductors or circuit parts that can result in an electrical shock or arc flash incident. Though the occurrence of such incidents may be perceived as being relatively low, the severity is extremely high and could be fatal.

Until recently there has been no Canadian (i.e. Federal or Provincial) guideline, Standard or Act to assist employers and employees with implementing appropriate preventive and protective control measures related to exposure to electrical hazards. However, this has recently changed under the auspices of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). A consensus based industry best practice for workplace electrical safety has been developed and was released late 2008, designated as the "CSA Z462-08, Workplace electrical Safety." The new CSA Z462 is based on the USA's NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace; which has been accepted and used in Canada since the start of 2004.

There are many helpful instructions and guidelines contained in the Standard that will assist Canadian electrical employees; and their employers to comply with the "due diligence" requirement in terms of Provincial or Territorial OHS Regulations and Bill C-45 (Section 217.1 in the Criminal Code). These guidelines include the following:

• Arc Flash and Shock Hazard Analysis
• Shock Approach Boundaries
• Arc Flash Protection Boundary
• Lockout Procedures
• Arc Flash and Shock personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Arc Flash and Shock warning labeling
• Details of simplified Hazard/Risk Category 2 and Hazard /Risk Category 4 clothing, PPE systems
• More detailed information on Arc Flash clothing, Shock related PPE requirements, and other electrical safety equipment such as insulated hand tools
• It is user friendly - user compatible with expanded information on how to determine Hazard/Risk Categories for arc flash protection based on arc flash hazard analysis using the Table Method
• It compliments CSA Z460, Canada's standard for Lockout and Hazardous Energy Control, and has a new annex on Lockout and concepts surrounding a comprehensive Lockout and Hazardous Energy Control program
• Important information on the layering of ATPV rated arc flash clothing.
• Metrification of all measurements
• New Annex - Documents in CSA Z462 the importance of using recognized Occupational Health and Safety Management Standards
• Other informative, value add annexures

Most importantly, the CSA Z462 sets a new standard for Canada. It states that electrical workers "shall be trained in safety-related work practices and procedural requirements as necessary to provide protection from the electrical hazards associated with their respective jobs or task assignments. Workers shall be trained to identify and understand the relationship between electrical hazards and possible injury."

eCompliance has recently, in partnership with one of the leading Canadian Electrical Safety Consultants, Terry Becker, P.Eng., C.E.M., CEO of ESPS Electrical Safety Program Solutions Inc.; developed and released a comprehensive online Electrical Safety and Awareness Course as a fundamental basis to meet due diligence requirements and/or further CSA Z462 training. ESPS also offers a comprehensive 2 day or 1 day classroom based course on the practical application of CSA Z462 in the workplace.

Both the CSA and ESPS are valued " strategic partners" of eCompliance and we would advise that you visit these websites and the links above for more information.

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eCompliance provides information about topical OH&S issues to assist existing and potential customers to cope with their own OH&S needs. It is not intended to be legal information or legal advice. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a lawyer if you want professional assurance that our information, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate to your particular situation.