July 16, 2018

Franklin, Wis.—NFPA 70E Standards for Electrical Safety in the Workplace address and establish safety processes, policies, procedures, and program controls to reduce risks and hazards associated with the use of electricity. Published and revised every three years by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the 2018 edition is now available.

Important changes to the 2018 edition as detailed in the NFPA Fact Sheet include:

• Risk Assessment Procedure — The risk assessment procedure now specifically requires you to address human error and its negative consequences on people, processes, work environments, and equipment. To assist in implementation, new Informative Annex Q has also been added.

• Hierarchy of Risk Control Methods — Formerly part of an informational note, the hierarchy of risk control methods has moved into the standard’s mandatory text. The standard now explicitly states that the first priority must be the elimination of the hazard; each method that follows it is considered less effective than the one before it.

• Establishing an Electrically Safe Work Condition (ESWC) — Although there are no major changes to these requirements, the sections within Article 120 have been completely restructured to logically step you through how to set up a program.

• Estimate of the Likelihood of Occurrence of an Arc Flash Incident — This table has been revised and has also moved [now Table 130.5(C)]. This table can be used for both ways of doing your arc flash risk assessment — it now also applies to the incident energy analysis method, instead of just the PPE category method.

• Selection of Arc-Rated Clothing using Incident Energy Analysis Method — Formerly part of the Annex material, this table [now Table 130.5(G)] has moved into the standard’s mandatory text. It has also been revised to provide guidance on how to select gear when using the incident energy analysis method.

Visit the NFPA website for more information and to access the 2018 NFPA 70E Standards.

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