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Safety

NFPA 70E Tip: Job Safety Planning and Briefing

Dec. 3, 2020

Do you use job safety planning and briefing to keep you and your coworkers safe?

Unless you have a job safety plan, you are literally leaving your safety to chance. Before starting the job, the person in charge of it (e.g., crew leader or foreman) must complete a job safety plan and then conduct a job safety briefing with the involved employees [110.1(I)].

The plan must be completed and documented by a qualified person [110.1(I)].

The plan must include five elements [110.1(I)(1)(3)]:

A description of the job and the individual tasks comprising the job.
For each task, identification of the associated electrical hazards.
For tasks involving a shock hazard, an assessment per 130.4.
For tasks involving an arc flash hazard, an assessment per 130.5.
Work procedures, special precautions, and energy source controls.

The job briefing covers the safety plan. If an energized electrical work permit is involved, the job briefing covers that too [110.1(I)(2)].

If some work change occurs and it may affect employee safety, the person in charge must conduct additional job planning and briefing to address it [110.1(I)(3)].

About the Author

Mark Lamendola

Mark is an expert in maintenance management, having racked up an impressive track record during his time working in the field. He also has extensive knowledge of, and practical expertise with, the National Electrical Code (NEC). Through his consulting business, he provides articles and training materials on electrical topics, specializing in making difficult subjects easy to understand and focusing on the practical aspects of electrical work.

Prior to starting his own business, Mark served as the Technical Editor on EC&M for six years, worked three years in nuclear maintenance, six years as a contract project engineer/project manager, three years as a systems engineer, and three years in plant maintenance management.

Mark earned an AAS degree from Rock Valley College, a BSEET from Columbia Pacific University, and an MBA from Lake Erie College. He’s also completed several related certifications over the years and even was formerly licensed as a Master Electrician. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and past Chairman of the Kansas City Chapters of both the IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society. Mark also served as the program director for, a board member of, and webmaster of, the Midwest Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange. He has also held memberships with the following organizations: NETA, NFPA, International Association of Webmasters, and Institute of Certified Professional Managers.