September 2021 Q&A with John G., General Manager, CurrenTechnologies
Q – What is the relationship between OSHA’s standards and NFPA 70E?
NFPA 70E is an internationally accepted American National Standard that defines electrical safety-related work practices. The US Depart-ment of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) looks to the prescriptive-based requirements of NFPA 70E to fulfill the performance-based requirements included in its standards. NFPA 70E fleshes out how the performance-based requirements in the OSHA standards can be met by providing and defining minimum standard industry practices necessary for electrical safety. OSHA is the law, and NFPA 70E outlines ways to comply with OSHA’s electrical safety requirements. This symbiotic relationship between NFPA 70E and OSHA electrical safety standards helps to increase safety in the workplace.
Download the 2021 70E Fact Sheet From NFPA.org
OSHA Standard Interpretations
Electrical personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as “PPE”, is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries. These injuries may result from contact with electrical, workplace hazards.
The N.F.P.A. 70E (National Fire Protection Association—Electrical Safety in the Workplace) Reference Table 130.7 ( C ) (7)(b) Rubber
Insulating Equipment Test Intervals:
| Rubber Insulating Equipment | When to Test |
| Blankets | Before first issue, every 12 months there after* |
| Covers | If insulating value is suspect |
| Gloves | Before first issue; every 6 months thereafter* |
| Line Hose | If insulating value is suspect |
| Sleeves | Before issue; every 12 months thereafter* |
*New insulating equipment is not permitted to be placed into service unless it has been electrically tested within the previous 12 months. Insulating equipment that has been issued for service is not new and is required to be retested in accordance with the intervals in this table.
Remember…
Things may appear to be working fine but, that doesn’t mean they actually are!
Make sure that you maintain and test all of your electrical equipment and P.P.E. at the required intervals replacing items that fail!
Checklist
- Have you had your Electrical P.P.E. tested per the N.F.P.A.70E schedule above?
- Has your electrical equipment been maintenance tested in the last 5 years?
- Did you add any equipment, at any time? If yes, did you have an infrared inspection completed?
- Call CurrenTechnologies for help understanding what you need or to schedule your electrical maintenance, P.P.E. testing and supplies.
