Hello all,

I have a question that I'm hoping someone can clarify for me.

I have a fan that needs service, a belt change. No conductors will be exposed and the breaker has been locked out. Do I still need to put a meter on it to verify the electrically safe work condition?

The guidance says you check for 0 volts to ensure a safe work condition. Then you LOTO. What if the breaker fails closed?

Mike

I completely agree Mike, there has been some pushback and I just wanted to make sure I'm not insane. Thank you!

I'm still getting pushback on this issue.

They lockout at the panel, then open the fan and change the belt. No work is performed near exposed conductors.

The argument is that they are not doing electrical work and therefore do not have to establish ESWC.

Can anyone cite something for me so I can put this to rest?

NFPA 70E (2021) 110.3
Energized electrical conductors and circuit parts operating at voltages equal to or greater than 50 volts shall be put into an electrically safe work condition before an employee performs work if any of the following conditions exist:
(1) The employee is within the limited approach boundary.
(2) The employee interacts with equipment where conductors or circuit parts are not exposed but an increased likelihood of injury from an exposure to an arc flash hazard exists.

There is no limited approach boundary as there are no exposed conductors. The argument may be made that de-energizing may cause an arc flash risk, but they are opening the breaker at ground level before servicing the fan on the roof.

I don't want to argue this in front of management and find out I am wrong.

Lock Out for mechanical work is different than Lock Out for electrical work.
For example, in some circumstances OSHA allows emergency stop circuits on the control circuits to suffice for preventing machines from starting, however control circuits cannot be used to lock out for electrical safety.

In your example, no electrical work is being performed so what is the compelling reason to open the control panel and establish an ESWC?

In a general sense, you've effectively removed (i.e. mitigated) the electrical hazard by keeping the maintenance item separate from an electrical item. Unless there are other electrical hazards present when you are changing the belt an ESWC is not required by NFPA 70E. A proper LOTO procedure will include an attempt to start the fan motor that's locked out, proving it is disabled right?

An ESWC would most likely be required if the belt being changed was in the same enclosure as the system controls and electrical equipment over 50V though.

Is an ESWC required to un-jam an assembly line without doing any electrical work or being exposed to any electrical hazards? Most likely not. It's a similar example.

Sincere thank you for explaining this to me.