For these reasons it is wise to engage third party experts to perform a proper Electrical Hazard Assessment. However, it is important to evaluate the assessment firm to make sure it has the knowledge and depth of experience needed to fully and accurately evaluate electrical equipment and safety practices. There are many firms that claim expertise in this area but not all of them are truly qualified. To select the best engineering services firm for your Electrical Hazard Assessment, there are a number of elements to consider. Here are some important questions to ask.

Is the engineering services firm conversant in the various challenges frequently encountered during an electrical hazard assessment and how to avoid them?

Anytime someone works in your facility, the company is liable. Can the assessment firm demonstrate that it can gather data safely and provide a written protection plan for working while systems are energized?

In addition documented proof of its own workers’ safety training, the firm must adhere to NFPA 70E guidelines and OSHA rules in equipment and tool usage. Is the firm familiar with your type of facility, processes, safety requirements and industry specific requirements? What is appropriate in one facility may not be appropriate in another.

Can the firm articulate the pros and cons of the different assessment methods? It is essential that the firm has mastered the intricacies inherent in the various electrical safety standards and their requirements including OSHA. Standards that need to be considered include 29 CFR Part 1910 Electrical “Subpart” S, NFPA 70, NFPA 70E, IEEE 1584, ANSI, ASTM, as well as various state and local standards.

The firm must be able to perform an assessment that meets the requirements of OSHA and NFPA 70E and includes an analysis of all electrical equipment down to 50 V. Knowing the differences between IEEE 1584 and NFPA 70E calculations for short circuit currents and why it is wise to calculate using both to account for worst case scenarios. Many firms do only 240 V and above analysis or an “open-book” analysis using NFPA 70E tables only, disregarding the table usage requirements and qualifications or lacking an understanding of each standard’s limitations; for example, IEEE 1584 cannot be used when available fault current exceeds 106 kA, or voltages exceed 15 kV.

Does the firm have the ability to create electrical one-line drawings and build a computer model using commercial software for short circuit current flow and coordination? To be effective the firm must have the technical library needed to model short circuit characteristics of existing equipment with the ability to evaluate available short circuit currents for equipment not included in their library. Experience with the electrical data management and analysis software packages that your company has deployed is valuable.

Does the firm have a comprehensive understanding of the documentation and recordkeeping requirements? If an assessment is not properly documented, for all practical purposes it never occurred and, in extreme cases, that can lead to violations and fines.

Does the firm understand the impact of the electric utility feeding the plant? Arc-Flash calculations start with available short circuit current, which increases or decreases depending on events at the utility. So that events at the utility will not be a factor, the calculations should be conducted with multiple potential values of available short circuit current and Hazard Risk Categories should be based on worst case scenarios to fully protect workers.

The Electrical Hazard Assessment is the first step. Will the firm provide recommendations and concrete action plans that lower hazards and correct deficiencies? Typically, these recommendations include changes to fuses, breaker settings, equipment repairs, adjustments to interrupting capacity of protective devices, suggestions to improve over current coordination problems, and other recommendations that could reduce or eliminate hazards or the need for PPE and fire retardant clothing.

Since recognizing Arc-Flash hazards, the NEC has issued warning label requirements that are further supported by OSHA. Your firm conducting the assessment should be capable of producing equipment hazard labels in-house and in volume and should be willing to install those labels to avoid label installation errors and increased liability concerns.

Does the engineering services firm have adequate personnel and resources to handle an assessment project for your facility and scope of work? One consideration is having electricians and engineers on staff and in close proximity to your facilities to avoid excessive travel costs.

Can the firm provide representative copies of documents associated with recently completed hazard assessments as proof of experience? These can be sanitized if needed but should include detailed study results and recommendations.

Can the firm provide references? As with any vendor, an established reputation and track record are important considerations when selecting a partner. Ask the prospective assessment firm to provide customer references that attest to successful completion of the entire scope of work and verify these references. Typically the scope of work will include data collection, oneline drawings, detailed short-circuit current coordination studies, electrical hazard analysis, and NFPA 70E training.

Will the assessment results be reviewed and signed by a Professional Engineer, licensed in the state where your facility is located? Because of the safety issues involved, this is frequently considered an ethical obligation.

Does the assessment firm carry general liability insurance and professional liability insurance (errors and omissions)? Does it have proof of this coverage readily available? If there is a delay in providing the proof, then that may indicate that the firm is obtaining the insurance just for you and have been lacking it on previous projects. It is also a good practice to examine the firm’s track record with regard to insurance claims over the past five years.

The 2009 edition of NFPA 70E will only strengthen the mandate for facility managers to consider electrical Arc-Flash hazards along with the shock hazards with which they are familiar. Intense heat and arc blast pressures, which are associated with an Arc-Flash event, can cause severe burns, concussions, and falls. These events are a leading cause of injury and death for qualified electrical workers, and they have the attention of OSHA inspectors.

OSHA issued fines to employers of over $34 million in 2005, of which 44 percent were due to electrical hazards. OSHA publication 29 CFR 1910 clearly spells out employer responsibilities in assessing the workplace in an effort to identify electrical hazards, and protect workers with appropriate work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE).

OSHA relies on consensus industry standards such as NFPA 70E to guide facility managers toward safe workplaces and safe electrical work practices. A competent Electrical Hazard Assessment is the facility manager’s best strategy to protect workers and avoid exposure to OSHA citations and injured worker lawsuits.

The work doesn’t end once the Electrical Hazard Assessment is completed. Whichever engineering services firm you select should follow up the assessment with safety training and ongoing audits using qualified on-staff trainers. Topics covered during training should include:

• Standards governing electrical work and their requirements, including NFPA 70E and others;

• Electrical safety work practices, including lockout/tagout procedures per 29 CFR 1910;

• Applicability of other OSHA rules and penalties for noncompliance;

• The difference between “qualified” and “unqualified” workers, and work limitations for unqualified workers;

• Examples of acceptable and unacceptable work practices in any condition including wet or damp locations;

• Use of key interlocking systems;

• Identification of type and level of hazards, including electrical shock and Arc-Flash;

• Identifying energized components and conductors;

• Determining nominal circuit and equipment voltages;

• The use of voltage sensors and meters;

• Interpreting hazard warning labels;

• Safe approach distances to exposed electrical conductors;

• Rules for authorized “Hot Work” and use of Live Work Permits and Job Briefings;

• The consequences of poor electrical safety practices to people and equipment;

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements, including selection, proper use, and maintenance;

• Required and recommended maintenance and safety inspections;

• Grounds and Grounding.