138-17-19 WORKING ON ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS.doc

Health Care System Memorandum No. 138-17-19 June 23, 2017

VETERANS AFFAIRS PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

3801 Miranda Avenue

Palo Alto, CA 94304-1290

Effective Date: Unknown

Issue Date: June 23, 2017 HEALTH CARE SYSTEM MEMORANDUM No. 138-17-19

SUBJECT: WORKING ON ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

1. SUMMARY: Health Care System Memorandum (HCSM) No. 138-14-19, dated February 20, 2014, is rescinded. Minor changes have been made.

2. PURPOSE: To establish procedures, provide policy, and designate responsibility for working on electrical equipment and electrical circuits.

3. POLICY: It is the policy of the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) to de-energize or discharge electrical circuits and equipment before working on them. Only in rare and unique situations and after proper safeguards and approvals have been obtained, will work be performed on electrically energized systems. Lock-out/Tag-out systems will be used whenever energized systems are shutdown.

4. PROCEDURES:

a. Electrical Work Procedure 12KV:

(1) This policy applies to both in-house and contract employees. Approval must be obtained prior to any work performed on energized electrical circuits. Unless under emergency conditions, work on energized circuits or equipment cannot begin until the Energized Electrical Work Permit, Attachment A, is approved.

(2) If the system can be isolated, it will be shutdown/de-energized, locked out, and tagged, by the person doing the work. Once the work is completed, the lock-out/tag-out will be removed. When two or more people are working together, all parties must lock-out/tag-out the system, and remove their locks at the same time. After the system is inspected to ensure there is no danger to anyone, the lock-out/tag-out devices will be removed. After the system has been cleared, it can be reenergized.

(3) If the system cannot be shutdown and working on the system while live/energized has been approved, the employees doing the work will be provided with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to enable them to do the work as safely as possible. PPE will include, but is not limited to: fire retardant clothing, high voltage gloves, face shields, safety glasses, and rubber mats. PPE shall meet the most current NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 70E edition – Standard for Electrical Safety in the Work Place requirements. The PPE will remain in place throughout the duration of the work and will only be removed at the conclusion of the work. At no time will there be fewer than two employees working on any system as long as it is live/energized. All employees will receive training on the dangers associated with working on live/energized systems. All PPE will be tested on an annual basis or as required by the National Electric Code (NEC), NFPA 70E, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure it is safe for use.

When work is performed in-house, the Energized Electrical Work Permit needs to be filled out by the Electrician(s) doing the work and submitted to the Electric Shop Foreman. The Electric Shop Foreman will recommend approval and submit the permit to the Chief Engineer for approval. For Contract work, the Energized Electrical Work Permit must be filled out by the contract electrician(s) doing the work and submitted to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). The COR will recommend approval and submit it to the Electric Shop Foreman for approval. The Electric Shop Foreman will recommend approval and submit it to the Chief Engineer for approval. The Chief of Engineering will recommend approval and submit to the Director for final approval.

(4) In addition to the PPE, the following requirements must be met at the work site: permit posted at location; safety barricades; establish approach boundaries based on arc flash study or NFPA 70 requirements; emergency phone numbers posted; good illumination; and a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) qualified person at the site.

b. Campus Load Balancing

(1) Campus electrical load balancing between incoming feeders and campus distribution breakers is imperative to ensure the safest loading condition possible.

(2) During periods of construction that require transferring building loads onto alternate feeders, care will be taken to ensure an alternate feeder is not loaded above 80% of the breaker rating. Upon conclusion of work, all loads will be transferred back to the original configuration throughout the campus and adjusted to provide an even distribution of power.

(3) During seasons where the outside temperatures are expected to rise above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (°F), all feeder loads will be inspected daily to ensure they are balanced. When feeder load inspections confirm an unbalanced load, the Chief of Engineering will be informed immediately for balancing instructions.

5. RESPONSIBILITIES:

a. Staff who performs work on any electrical systems, while energized or de-energized, shall inspect/maintain their equipment prior to use, use appropriate PPE, and follow necessary safety precautions.

b. The Chief of Maintenance and Repair and the Electric Shop Foreman are responsible for overseeing any work on energized systems or equipment and ensuring proper PPE and safety procedures are followed when any electrical work is performed. The foreman is also responsible for ensuring that anyone working on energized systems or equipment has the proper training and is aware of the dangers associated with the work being performed.

c. The Chief, Engineering Service is responsible for the overall safe operation, maintenance, and repair of all electrical distribution systems and equipment.

6. REFERENCES:

a.

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive 1028, Electrical Power Distribution Systems, dated July 25, 2014.

b.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70 National Electric Code.

c.

NFPA 70B Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance.

d.

NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace.

e.

29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Standard 1910 Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Subpart I – Personal Protective Equipment, Subpart J – General Environmental Controls, Subpart K – Medical and First Aid and Subpart S –Electrical.

f.

HCSM No. 138-15-04, Emergency Power Supply Systems, dated February 11, 2015.

g.

HCSM No. 138-17-28, Lockout and Tag Out, dated January 30, 2017.

7. RESCISSION DATE:

June 30, 2020.

8. RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL:

Chief, Engineering Service.

Thomas J Fitzgerald III Director

Attachment (1)

Attachment A

ENERGIZED ELECTRICAL WORK PERMIT

Company Name:

1. Description of work:

Describe energized circuits or equipment requested to be worked on.

2.

Job Specific Work Plan:

a. Procedures to be used on and near the live electrical equipment

b. Barriers to be installed

c. Electricians must use full protective equipment. Safety equipment to be used while working on energized systems in accordance with NFPA 70E.

Certified and tested insulating material to cover exposed energized electrical components

Certified and tested insulated tools

Other, _____

d. Exit pathways Describe

3.

Impact of de-energizing the circuits or equipment:

Describe the impact on patient care and operations if the energized circuits or equipment were shut down.

Requested by:

Name

Journeyman Electrician

Recommend Concurrence/Non Concurrence Concur/Non Concur

Electric-A/C Foreman, PAD

Facility Manager Recommended Approval/Disapproval:

Approved:

Chief, Engineering

Director

· Electricians must wear personal protective equipment while working on energized systems in accordance with NFPA 70E.

· All electrical work must comply with the requirements of NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 70B, NFPA 70E, and OSHA Standard 1910.

· Unless under emergency conditions, work on energized circuits or equipment cannot begin until the permit is approved.