2020-01-13_MCP 138-15_Electrical Safety Program.pdf

This is a Medical Center Policy (MCP) document establishing an Electrical Safety Program for VA Western New York Healthcare System in Buffalo, New York.

The policy applies to all employees and contractors working on, near, or with premises wiring or electrical components, with the primary objective of protecting personnel from electrical hazards that cannot be controlled through design or lockout/tagout procedures. The program mandates compliance with OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910, Subpart S) and NFPA 70E standards. Key responsibilities are distributed across organizational levels: the Associate Director ensures overall accountability; the Engineering Manager maintains qualified personnel lists, conducts arc flash assessments, manages PPE procurement and maintenance, enforces compliance with electrical codes, and supervises contractor work on energized circuits; supervisors and managers ensure employee familiarity with safety protocols and appropriate PPE usage; and employees must adhere to safety guidelines, report equipment defects, and maintain qualifications appropriate to their assigned tasks.

The policy establishes detailed work practices prohibiting live electrical work except during emergencies approved by the Director through an Energized Electrical Work Permit. All electrical work on de-energized equipment must follow lockout/tagout procedures; interlocks and selector switches cannot substitute for formal lockout procedures. For energized work, only qualified persons may proceed, and they must work with a second qualified person possessing equivalent PPE. The program requires visual inspection of cord-and-plug equipment before use, mandates GFCI usage in wet locations, establishes minimum approach distances (11 feet for unqualified persons from overhead lines exceeding 480 volts; graduated distances for qualified persons based on voltage ranges up to 140kV), specifies PPE requirements including insulated gloves tested every six months and insulated blankets tested annually, and requires comprehensive training for all qualified personnel covering hazard recognition, voltage determination, clearance distances, and arc flash analysis. The policy is effective January 13, 2020, with recertification required by January 13, 2025.