In the world of operations, maintenance, service and construction, employees must be "qualified" if they are going to be exposed to electrical hazards capable of injuring, disabling or killing them. This series will provide a brief summary of what these regulations entail. Today, in Part 1, I'll discuss the source of qualification requirements in the U.S. and Canada .

Qualification Regulations

Qualification regulations differ slightly from industry to industry in terms of substance. But the general thrust and intent is the same: to ensure that employees, contractors, and service personnel are competent to work on or near electrical hazards.

In the U.S. , the primary source of regulation is federal. There are at least three parts of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that set standards of qualification for electrical work:

• Title 29 Part 1910 for General Industry including Electric Utilities (under OSHA);
• Title 29 Part 1926 for the Construction Industry (under OSHA); and
• Title 30 Part 75 and 77 for Coal Mines (under the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

In Canada , qualification requirements are included in the various provincial OHS regulations, e.g., Part 19 of the BC OHS Regulation and in Electrical Codes.

Qualification Standards

In addition to regulations, there are electrical safety standards promulgated by non-governmental standards organizations addressing qualifications for persons who work on or near electrical hazards. The standards that affect most companies in the U.S. are:

• National Fire Protection Association NFPA 70 "National Electrical Code" (NEC) ;
• NFPA 70E  Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace; and
• Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) Safety Standard for Overhead and Underground Electric Utility and Communications Utility Installations.

The principal Canadian standard is CSA C22.1-06 of the Canadian Standards Association.

Enforcement

There are three primary entities that enforce the above regulations and standards:

• OSHA;
• MSHA; and
• What are known as other Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), including state, county, and local government jurisdictions, as well as insurance companies.

In Canada, regulatory enforcement is effected by the provincial agency that oversees the health and safety laws. For example, in Ontario , that's the Ministry of Labour; in BC it's the Workers' Compensation authority.

Conclusion

Next week, in Part 2 of this series, I'll analyze the scope of qualification requirements as far as which individuals must be qualified to work on or near electrical hazards.

OSHA ENFORCEMENT TRENDS

Top 25 Violations

By Glenn Demby

I received the following note in response to last Monday's article analyzing OSHA enforcement data from FY2005:

Glenn: Very good article. For me as an EH&S Manager, statistics and real numbers are a great tool to use @ my leadership plant meetings. And to use as the why for improvement. Can you provide me a breakdown of the number 1 and so on for 2005 in the area of General Industry, such as LOTO, etc.?

Thanks  - Matt

Ask and ye shall receive.

Top 25 General Industry Violations Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2005:

1. Hazard Communication - Written Program (1910.1200(e)(1)): 2,395 violations

2. Machine Guarding - Types of Guarding (1910.212(a)(1)): 1,587 viols.

3. Hazard Communication - Hazard Information & Training (1910.1200(h)(1)): 1,124 viols.

4. Machine Guarding - Point of Operation (1910.2(a)(3)(ii)): 811 viols.

5. First Aid - Eye Wash/Emergency Shower Not Near Employees (1910.151(c)): 784 viols.

6. Guarding Floor Openings, Platforms & Runways (1910.23(c)(1)): 744 viols.

7. LOTO - Establish Energy Control Program (1910.147(c)(1)): 732 viols.

8. Abrasive Wheel Machinery - Exposure Adjustment/Safety Guards (1910.259(b)(9)): 729 viols.

9. Haz Com - MSDS for Each Chemical (1910.1200(g)(1)): 718 viols.

10. LOTO - Written Energy Control Procedures (1910.147(c)(4)(i): 700 viols.

11. Respiratory Protection - Medical Evaluation for Fit Testing (1910.134(e)(1)): 694 viols.

12. Respiratory Protection - Written Program (1910.134(c)(1)): 691 viols.

13. Electric - Wiring, Component, Equipment-Cabinets, Boxes/Conductors (1910.305.(b)(1): 662 viols.

14. Haz Com - Employee Info & Training (1910.1200(h)): 604 viols.

15. Powered Industrial Trucks - Operator Training (1910.178(l)(1)(i)): 563 viols.

16. Haz Com - Labeling Containers (1910.1200(f)(5)(i)): 547 viols.

17. Mechanical Power Transmission - Pulley Guarding (1910.219(d)(1)): 544 viols.

18. Electric - Use & Installation Labeled and Listed Equipment (1910.303(b)(2)): 515 viols.

19. LOTO - Training & Communication (1910.147(c)(7)(i): 512 viols.

20. Abrasive Wheel Machinery - Use of Work Rests (1910.215(a)(4): 502 viols.

21. Electric - Wiring Components, Equipment-Cabinets Boxes/Covers (1910.305(b)(2)): 501 viols.

22. Compressed Air - Reduce to Below 30 psi (1910.242(b)): 494 viols.

23. LOTO - Annual Procedure Inspection (1910.147(c)(6)(i): 493 viols.

24. PPE - Provide, Use and Maintain in Sanitary & Reliable Condition (1910.132(a)): 479 viols.

25. Haz Com - Maintain MSDSs (1910.1200(g)(8)): 468 viols.

The Canadian Perspective

Name That Province

I have a question for you Canadian members of SafetyXChange: How well do you think you know the OHS laws? Here's a little quiz.

NAME THE:

1. First province to recognize ergonomic injury as a workplace hazard and require employers to take specific protective measures.

2. Three provinces that identify workplace violence as an occupational hazard.

3. Only province that specifically bans psychological harassment in the workplace.

4. First province to enact a workers' compensation law.

5. Only province that imposes specific OHS duties on safety consultants.

6. Only province that doesn't automatically require the establishment of a JHSC at large workplaces.

ANSWERS

1. BC; 2. AB, BC, SK; 3. QC; 4. ON; 5. NS; and 6. AB.

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