Adding a phrase about tools made it clear that, if a tool, such as a screwdriver, is used to remove a panel (or door), then electrical equipment behind that panel is not readily accessible. We put hasps on them to lock them. Electrical Safety Procedure: Lock Out Equipment Before Entering. nents, and they are required to be accessible at all times. [See “Accessible (as applied to wiring methods).”] Exposed (for the purposes of Article 41). Seems that it is not legal to lock a breaker in the ON position. There should be no less than three feet of clearance around all electrical panels. Thank you for your inquiry dated May 24, 2005, regarding clarification of the definition for “Readily accessible” as contained in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) electrical standards. Here are some basic safety considerations for all panels: * The breaker panel must be readily and easily accessible at all times. Each breaker in a panel represents a circuit supplying electricity to a designated area of your building. “In theory, simply installing a new electrical panel wouldn’t result in any energy savings because an electrical panel doesn’t normally impose a load on the electrical system,” says John. Does this mean that temporary storage, such as that on a cart, is acceptable? Outdoor electric equipment shall be installed in suitable enclosures and shall be protected from accidental contact by unauthorized personnel, or by vehicular traffic, or by accidental spillage or leakage from piping systems. Methods of documentation of arc flash data and overcurrent protection device (OCPD) settings affect the speed at which facility operators can respond to fault conditions. I am sure you have seen panel covers that have locks built into them. Electrical safety program chapter 2: Does locking the electrical panels operating at 600 volts or less (to control access by unauthorized employees) violate osha electrical requirements for not being readily accessible in the event of an emergency? Electrical installations that are open to unqualified persons shall be made with metal-enclosed equipment or shall be enclosed in a vault or in an area, access to which is controlled by a lock. Externally Operable. When designing a workspace, you must maintain unobstructed pathways to and from electrical equipment per the NEC. electric equipment and wiring used in connection with cranes, monorail hoists, hoists, and all runways. Refer to OSHA standards for complete and specific standards that may apply to your work situation. AO 2-2007 The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services adopted these rules pursuant to ORS . A readily accessible disconnecting means: (i)-- shall be provided between the runway contact conductors and the power supply. (2)(i) Live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more guarded against accidental contact by approved cabinets 1910.303(g) Guarding of live parts 44. Salem, Oregon 97301-3882 . Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible). When designing and installing electrical equipment, you must provide for adequate illumination and easy access in and out of the workspace. OSHA General Industry Inspection Checklist Conduct a thorough safety inspection using this checklist. At work there are atleast 100 breaker panels. 1910.303(g)(1)(vi) Headroom The minimum headroom of working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panel- boards, or motor control centers shall be 6 feet 3 inches 6'3" 43. The working width around the panel must be at least 30 inches. Osha safety regulations for maintenance workers. Although there are exceptions, the design safety requirements cover all electrical equipment used in buildings, on structures, on your premises, or on other premises (if the equipment is your responsibility). 1910.306(b)(1) -- Disconnecting Means. Improper storage of items in an electrical room leads to serious injury from Arc Flash Incident “We need the space.” “Where else can we put this junk?” “It’s just an empty room anyway.” It’s not uncommon for electricians to hear those excuses when confronted with a cluttered workspace around an electrical panel. 654.025(2). A large single panel, frame, or assembly of panels on which are mounted, on the face or back, or both, switches, overcurrent and other protective devices, buses, and (usually) instruments. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard, 29 CFR 1910.178(g), lays out the safety requirements for forklift battery charging areas. The definition of readily accessible in the National Electrical Code. This subpart addresses electrical safety requirements that are necessary for the practical safeguarding of employees in their workplaces and is divided into four major divisions as follows: 1910.301(a) Design Safety Standards for Electrical Systems . Later we were told that we could not do this and to take all the hasps off. Electrical panels and switches should not be blocked and must be readily accessible. (a) The converting apparatus (including the dc line) and high-frequency electric circuits (excluding the output circuits and remote-control circuits) shall be completely contained within enclosures of noncombustible material. Preferred/detailed arc-flash label example. There was a little confusion as to whether a key was considered a tool. Switchboards are generally accessible from the rear as well as from the front and are not intended to be installed in cabinets. per OSHA you must have trained electrical associates and training.. 10/24/2005 - 1910.399 - The definition of "Readily accessible" does not necessarily preclude the locking of electrical panels, provided those needing ready access are provided a key or lock combination. Osha says only trained personnel should have access, which in a commercial situation requires a locked panel. A requirement of being readily accessible can present some challenging situations. These standards set the minimum safety standards for panel boxes. Return to index New query §2987.1. A national set of standards ensures that trained personnel are able ...more. Breaker panels should have the faceplates securely installed and no wiring should be exposed to employees operating breakers or switches. This is fine because they only need to be readily accessible. We have to lock out each circuit in the panel when we work on them instead of locking some … “The panel itself doesn’t consume power. (See Panelboard.) Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) Department of Consumer and Business Services. OSHA regulations seem to blur the NEC requirements to mean that the cabinet has to be "easily accessible." Here are some basic safety considerations for all panels: * The breaker panel should be readily and easily accessible at all times. 30 inches wide – 36 inches deep . Minimum arc-flash label example. Is there a specific NFPA, OSHA or even NEC regulation that covers access to control cabinets, even when the item being stored in front is readily moved? Questions OSHA Regulation Yes No N/A Electrical Safety: General Requirements Completed By: ... cartridge fuses that are accessible to other than qualified persons and (b) all fuses and thermal cutouts on circuits over 150 volts to the ground? Know where electric panels and emergency disconnect switches are located, and never allow these panels and switches to be blocked. Electric panels should have quick and easy access to them should there be a need to reset a breaker or add other breakers. Even more importantly, if there is a sparking electric wire, a smoking outlet or an electrical fire, one want’s to be able to immediately shut off the power. I'd imagine always having it hidden behind a door is a no no, even if the door is allowed to be there This letter constitutes OSHA’s interpretation only of the requirements discussed and may not be applicable to any question not delineated within your original correspondence. Electrical installations in a vault, room, closet or in an area surrounded by a wall, screen, or fence, access to which is controlled by lock and key or other equivalent means, are considered to be accessible to qualified persons only. (ii)-- … Yes, we are indeed in the middle of the next revision to the NEC and panel members cannot escape the proposals around readily accessible. 1. I'm a former OSHA inspector here to help you identify and correct workplace safety hazards. They should be readily accessible and clearly marked to indicate what equipment or power source they control. The majority of your electrical safety considerations begin at the breaker panel. On or attached to the surface or behind panels designed to allow access. Panels should not be used for storage shelves or hangers. Where the circuit is in such a position that in case of failure of supports or insulation, contact with another circuit may result. OSHA is concerned about locking electrical items so no power can be applied. The majority of your electrical safety considerations begin at the breaker panel. High-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders Article 42. Each breaker in a panel represents a circuit supplying electricity to a designated area of your building. The power lines feed into your electrical breaker panel(s). if you are in a commercial location. Battery charging should be done in a place designated for that purpose only. Doors should be kept closed and latched except when actively working switches and breakers. OSHA – Construction - 1926.403(j)(2)(ii) Installations accessible to unqualified persons. No architectural appurtenance or other equipment may be located in the working space required by subsection (b) of this section. Chances are if you have electrical equipment, at least some of OSHA’s electrical requirements are going to apply to you. Electrical. Panelboard: A single panel or group of panel units designed for assembly in the form of a single panel; including buses, automatic overcurrent devices, and with or without switches for the control of light, heat, or power circuits; designed to be placed in a cabinet or cutout box placed in or against a wall or partition and accessible only from the front. Readily accessible does not contain that statement, so locked doors are OK. Service equipment is required to be "readily accessible" so it may be located in a locked room. 6 08/10/2005 - 1910.399 - Approval requirements for replacement, modification, repair, or rehabilitation of electrical utilization equipment. Good question, though aside from possible fire hazards a panel needs to be readily accessible if an electrical emergency occurs and power needs to be cut somewhere. Guarding and Grounding. (See “Switchboard.”) Osha standards for pedestrian walkway width. NEC allow it and says a locked panel is considered accessible to authorized / trained associates. Switch-- Panels are also required to have a “dead front,” per 29 CFR 1910.305(d). To edit this checklist, download it or make a copy. Operating procedures for electrical gear should be readily understood by facility staff, and methods to implement labeling should be considered by the engineers during design. Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to actions such as to use tools, to climb over or remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth This label must be readily accessible to employees who may work on the energized equipment. INDUCTION AND DIELECTRIC HEATING EQUIPMENT. feed into your electrical breaker panel(s).
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