In recent years, you've probably heard about NFPA 70E far more often than you previously did. But it's no simple document. Here are three key concepts to understand so you can properly apply NFPA 70E:
- Understand that OSHA's position has always been to de-energize equipment before any work is performed on it.
- Don't ask, "What can I get by with?" and try to finesse the requirements. Instead, ask, "How can I protect myself from arc blast and arc flash while servicing this equipment?"
- Use the arc flash label (required by the NEC 110.16) as a point of reference, not as an authoritative determination of whether arc flash hazards exist and to what degree. Note that absence of a label does not mean absence of arc flash danger.
