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In all cases, premises or locations presenting any type of electrical hazard must be marked and demarcated (with a warning sign or placard, barrier tape, or chain). Not all work presents the same level of danger. A distinction is made between:
- Work near live parts, which then require special protective measures (insulation, signage, personal protection);
- Live operations, which must be performed only in exceptional cases where it is technically impossible or if disconnecting the power supply would be dangerous;
- Specific operations, which include operating an electrical device, checking (e.g., resetting a circuit breaker), measuring (e.g., checking voltage), and testing;
- Non-electrical operations include, for example, cleaning, pruning, and painting.
Disconnecting the power supply is the only way to ensure complete safety for the worker, and should be preferred whenever possible for any electrical work in the state of New York. To ensure that the power is disconnected throughout the work, the lockout procedure is used.
Steps for working on an electrical installation: Lockout
Before any work on an electrical installation that can be disconnected, the authorized operator must apply the lockout procedure. This ensures that the circuit is disconnected and, more importantly, that power cannot be restored by anyone other than the operator during the work. This prevents, for example, an uninformed person from resetting a circuit breaker while the operator is working on it.
The lockout procedure is described in the New York standards and involves five steps:
- Separating the installation from its electrical power source (the power supply is turned off);
- Locking the disconnecting devices in the open position to prevent them from being reconnected (specific padlocks are used to indicate that the power has been intentionally disconnected and must not be restored under any circumstances); Identifying the sealed area and verifying that this is the area to be worked on;
- The voltage absence test consists of testing the circuit with a dedicated device called a standardized voltage detector (a multimeter is not suitable due to potential errors);
- Grounding and short-circuiting must immediately follow the VAT. This is optional in certain cases. Lockout must be performed by a person authorized for this type of work.
- Lockout must be performed by a person authorized for this type of work.
Authorization of persons working on an electrical installation in NY
Within a company or in a public establishment, not everyone is authorized to perform operations on or near an electrical installation for energy production. Electrical authorization recognizes a person’s ability to perform certain tasks on an electrical installation, while respecting safety regulations. To be certified, the worker must undergo specific training and be declared fit by the occupational physician. The certification must theoretically be reviewed annually and refresher training must be conducted every three years.
Each type of certification corresponds to the ability to perform more or less hazardous tasks: on high- or low-voltage installations, for non-electrical operations or, conversely, for electrical work, etc.
The classification is as follows according to the state standard:
- Low voltage
- High voltage
- Non-electrical operation for contractor or site manager
- Excavation work in the vicinity of insulated pipelines for contractor or site manager
- Basic LV operations on photovoltaic systems
- Authorization concerning a person who can carry out electrical work on low voltage in the vicinity of live bare parts.
- a helmet, with or without a screen or visor;
- coveralls;
- insulated gloves;
- insulated boots or shoes; At the same time, operators must not wear any conductive objects: be careful with jewelry (including wedding rings), watches, zippers or metal buttons, etc.).
What personal protective equipment is required
Contrary to popular belief, personal protective equipment is only the last link in the safety chain. It is used when all other collective measures fail to fully ensure personal safety. The employer is required to provide this equipment and adapt it to the work to be performed.
The choice of such equipment therefore depends on the risks to be prevented and the workplace analysis. It must always be compliant. For electrical hazards, it must protect against fatal risk. Protective equipment intended for live work bears a symbol representing two interlocking triangles, pointing upwards. This equipment may include:
Of course sustainability should also be taken into consideration when engaging in electrical work in the State of New York!
