Readiness check

Is your electrical safety and lockout/tagout program ready?

Electrical work kills by shock and by arc flash, and most of those incidents trace to a circuit that was thought to be dead, a missing lockout, or the wrong protection. NFPA 70E sets the practices that keep a worker alive. Answer for the way your crew actually works on the panel today, not the way the binder reads. The score stays on your device; enter an email only if you want the electrical safety checklist sent over.

1. Is the default to de-energize and work dead, with energized work done only when a real justification and an energized work permit are in place?Yes, dead is the default and energized work is justified and permittedUsually, but quick tasks get done live without a permitWe work it hot whenever it is faster

2. Before touching a conductor, do you verify zero energy with a meter using the live-dead-live check on a known source?Yes, every time, and the meter is proven before and afterWe test it, but not always with a known-source checkWe trust the breaker is off or use a non-contact pen only

3. When a circuit is taken out of service, is it locked and tagged by each worker with their own lock, and is stored energy released?Yes, individual locks and tags, and stored energy is dischargedOne lock or a tag only, or stored energy gets overlookedWe just flip the breaker, no lock or tag

4. Do you know the arc-flash boundary and incident energy for the gear you work on, from labels or a study?Yes, the gear is labeled or studied and we read it before workSome gear is labeled, but we do not always checkWe have no arc-flash labels or study

5. Is the arc-rated PPE and the rubber-insulating gloves matched to the task, inspected, and actually worn for energized work?Yes, rated PPE and tested gloves matched to the hazard, worn every timeWe have PPE but it is not always rated right or wornNo arc-rated PPE or current glove testing

6. Is your test meter rated for the system (the right CAT III or CAT IV rating) with good leads, not a cheap meter on a high-energy panel?Yes, the meter and leads are CAT-rated for where we testWe use what is in the bag without checking the CAT ratingWe use whatever meter is around

7. Are the workers doing this qualified, trained on NFPA 70E and the equipment, with the training documented?Yes, qualified persons with current, documented 70E trainingTraining happened but is dated or not documentedNo formal electrical safety training

8. Is the electrical safety program written down (energized-work permits, LOTO procedure, arc-flash data, PPE, training) so you can produce it on demand?Yes, the program and records are organized and produciblePieces exist across people and trucksNo, nothing is written or organized