Electrical/Arc Flash

Electricity is a serious workplace hazard that is capable of causing both employee injury and property damage. It is the policy of West Virginia University to protect all employees, students, and other personnel from potential electrical hazards. This will be accomplished through compliance with the electrical safety related work practices described in this policy along with effective application of engineering controls, administrative controls, and the use of personal protective equipment.

This Electrical Safety and Arc Flash Program is based upon the principle of avoiding energized work when feasible. Live parts will be de-energized before an employee performs work on or near the equipment unless one of the conditions applies:

• De-energizing introduces additional or increased hazards. Examples of additional or increased hazards may include deactivation of emergency alarm systems or shutdown of hazardous location ventilation systems.

• De-energizing is not possible due to equipment design or operational limitations. Examples of this situation may include testing and troubleshooting of electrical circuits that can only be performed with the circuit energized and performing work on circuits that form an integral part of a continuous process that would otherwise need to be completely shut down in order to permit work on one circuit or piece of equipment.

• Energized parts are operating at less than 50 volts to ground and there is no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electrical arcs.

• the safety of employees who may work on or near electrical systems.

• that qualified employees understand how to comply with safety standards related to electrical safety.

• that qualified employees follow uniform practices during the completion of electrical work.