I have to agree with haze10 original post. We have to use risk assessment related to our operation or maintenance work on energized electrical equipment. We have to apply control measures from a practical and appropriate perspective. We also want workers NOT to fear energized electrical equipment, rather respect it. We need to also apply the concept of normal and abnormal conditions to energized electrical equipment. Abnormal conditions cause arc flash and shock.
With the door closed and equipment operating normal, no arc flash or shock PPE is required to open and close a circuit breaker or disconnect swiitch with a written procedure and training on the procedure.
There is a low risk under normal conditions that opening and closing a circuit breaker and switch would arc flash. The equipment is manufacturered to a Standard, rated for this transistion many time under no load, and desiged to operate.
The worker needs to assess if normal conditions exist when the operate it.
If you want a worker to wear arc flash gear to do this, then are you implying you want them to wear it to read a panel meter.
Just because we have an arc flash label on equipment doesn't mean there is an arc flash risk, it is task depedendant and based on risk which increase with aging, lack of maintenance, contamination due to operating environment, etc..
Regards;
Terry Becker, P.Eng.
ESPS Electrical Safety Program Solutions INC.
terry.becker@espsi.ca
403-465-3777
