Qualified Worker Series Part 1 “What do they look like?” “Where can I find them?”

©2010. All Rights Reserved. Qualified Worker Series Part 1

Qualified Worker SeriesPart 1

1. “What do they look like?”2. “Where can I find them?”


Do you presently employ workers who are considered

“Electrically Qualified”?

• If OSHA came asking, could you provide them with the justification they would

accept?


What’s a Qualified Worker Look Really Like?

How am I going to know when I see one?


Qualified Person§1910.399

Effective August 2007

“One who has received training in and has demonstrated skills and

knowledge in the construction and operation of electrical equipment and

installations and the hazards involved.”


Industry Consensus Definitions

2008 NEC and 2009 70ESafety Training to Recognize

and Avoid


Unqualified = Not Qualified• An unqualified electrician who does not

know the equipment or has not received safety training on the potential hazards involved.

• A non-electrician, such as a general maintenance worker or painter, who is not expected to work on live electrical equipment.


Three Interlocking NFPA Standards Must be Addressed

NEC Installation70

70 BRecommended Maintenance

70 ESafe Work Practices


1910.332 Who needs training?

3 - 6

Typical Occupational Categories Of Employees Facing A Higher-Than-Normal Risk Of Electrical Accident

• Blue collar supervisor.*• Electrical and electronic engineers.*• Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers.*• Electrical and electronic technicians.*• Electricians.• Industrial machine operators.*• Material handling equipment operators.*• Mechanics and repairers.*• Painters.*• Riggers and roustabouts.*• Stationary engineers.*• Welders.

*Workers in these groups do not need to be trained if their work or the work of those they supervise does not bring them or the employees they supervise close enough to exposed parts of electric circuits operating at 50V or more to ground for a hazard to exist.


Exposure Drives the Need for Qualified

Worker Training , NOT a Worker’s Job

Description.[29 CFR 1910.332(c)]


Training Logistics• Training must be formal and targeted to

the hazard.– 3rd party vendors can be a good resource

• Subject Matter Experts• Can assist in establishing proficiency guidelines

• Proficiency must be documented– Written (understanding)– Hands on (skills obtained)


Competency vs Qualified

• Aren’t competent electricians (i.e. licensed or experienced) considered “qualified”?

• Not necessarily.

• Qualification is equipment or installation unique.


OSHA and NFPA 70E are Clear on this Issue.

• Workers should never be subjected to any task or assignment to which they are not familiar or prepared.


Qualified Workers Know:Know what “Live parts” look like.Know the level of hazard exhibited by

those live parts.Know the approach boundaries around

those exposed electrical hazardsKnow how to select appropriate PPE for

that hazard exposure. [29 CFR 1910.332(b)

(3)]


Additional Requirements• Some regulations and standards impose

additional requirements. • For example, MSHA—the U.S. Mines

Safety Health Administration--requires a person to pass an MSHA-approved electrical exam and receive electrical safety retraining annually thereafter.


Competency does play a part.

Electrically Qualified has two categories:

1) Qualified Electrical person

2) Qualified Electrical worker


Qualified Electrical Person• Qualified for:

– Specific Task• Turn on/off equipment• Reset overloads when not exposed to live parts• Additional training if exposed to live parts

– Work near but not on electrical energized equipment


Example of a Qualified Person

• Turn lights on and off using a circuit breaker in a panel.– Minimal training to accomplish task– Know limits of what they are trained to do– CANNOT reset a tripped circuit breaker– Must be aware of LOTO and other critical

circuits in that panel


Qualified Electrical Worker• Qualified for:

– Specific Equipment and Systems• Uses Competency to Troubleshoot and Repair• Can work circuits energized under an “Electrical

Energized Work Permit”– To Qualify others

• As designated by his employer


Example of a Qualified Worker

• Troubleshoot and repair reason lighting breaker in the panel is tripped.

• Test and troubleshoot control cabinet for production line after receiving hazard training on that piece of equipment

• Cannot do same task on similar control circuits until being trained on any hazard unique to that system.


Positive Proof Required

• Document, Document, Document …• Will need re-training if qualified worker has

not done that task in last 12 months


Employers Establish Work Place Safety

Protection is Provided by:

1) Policies

2) Procedures

3) PPE


Boundary exposure

Does this worker know how close he can get to an electrical hazard carrying that ladder?


Job Plan and Job BriefingAre there established written procedures for planning and briefing those working on electrical hazards?


Additional hazards in the area

Training may involve more than just the

electrical issues.

Confined Space


Higher Risk Hazards

A worker may be qualified on one system and not qualified to work

on another.


FR Fall Protection

Is there FR Fall Protection available if needed?


PPE Use and Inspection

Do your electrical

workers know how to properly

inspect their PPE on a daily

basis?


PM or Common Tasks

Is PPE use spelled out in your Electrical PM program

and documents?


Are Boundaries Clearly Marked and Monitored?


FAQ’s


1. Does OSHA Apply to State and Municipal Governments

• OSHA was established due to the inconsistencies in enforcement

• OSHA allows each state to establish their own safety oversight as long as it is as effective as the Federal standards


Cont.• Many municipal and state agencies are

now required to report to Bureau of Labor Statistics their injury data.

• It seems prudent that since Safe Work Practice compliance is both good for the company and its workers that following the OSHA guidelines is good business.

• Some state legislatures are being lobbied to bring state and municipal agencies under OSHA oversight.


2. What are the benefits of having Qualified Workers?

Increased worker productivityDecreased worker injury ratesTraining documentation:

can reduce or eliminate many potential OSHA fines after a reportable incident takes place.

can limit exposure to potential law suits resulting from an electrical incident

Control or decrease Worker’s Comp Rates


3. What does a Qualified Electrical Worker Look Like?

Electrical skills training ( license, resume’, etc. )Experience in safely performing similar tasksTraining on electrical equipment and installationsKnowledge in your company’s electrical safety

policies and proceduresTraining on the applicable regulations and

standardsTraining on donning, doffing and inspecting PPETraining on Voltage Detecting Devices


4. Who can Qualify my Workers?

• Someone who is qualified.

• Ultimately, it is the employer's responsibility to ensure that workers who work with or near electrical hazards are qualified to perform the work safely and effectively.


4. Cont.Qualifying person should:

Communicate well Be up to date on standards and regulations Be current in industry best practices Be proficient in the skills aspect of the

equipment or installation Have extensive experience to help relate real

world examples to the person being qualified.


4. Cont.• In house personnel may not be the best

choice:– Their absence for training duties could reduce

overall plant performance– May not posses the training assessment skills

needed to be effective– Am I making a “good faith” effort or taking a

short cut? OSHA my ask.– Do they possess current knowledge in

standards and regulations


5. Where do I find them?• With thoughtful planning and

documentation they may be closer than you think.

• You may have them employed right now.

• Or maybe not.


This can all be pretty overwhelming

• Is there anyplace I can get help in determining my workers are trained and qualified?

• Is there anyplace that can cost effectively help me qualify my workers?


NTT can help by providing:Tools for assessing your existing personnelTraining on standards compliance Hands on “Dress Rehearsal” training for targeted equipment and tasks.NTT College of Skilled Trades


Call or E-Mail NTT Today!

Qualified Worker Series Part 1 “What do they look like?” “Where can I find them?”

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