APPLICATION OF WORK FLOW PROCESS

IN AN ELECTRICAL SAFETY PROGRAM

Copyright Material IEEE
Paper No. ESW2017-36

Terry Becker, P.Eng., IEEE Senior Member

ESPS Electrical Safety Program Solutions INC.
Suite No. 401 , 14 - 400 Village Lane
Okotoks, AS T1S 1Z6
CANADA
terry.becker@esps.ca

Abstract - It's all about the work task! Is it a reactive or
planned electrical work task or job? Has a Work Order been
issued? Is the work energized or not and if the assigned work
task is energized what does the Qualified Electrical Worker
(QEW) have to do to execute it as outlined in an employer's
overall Occupational Health & Safety Management System
(OHSMS) and associated Electrical Safety Program (ESP). The
requirements of the CSA Z462 and NFPA 70E Standards must
be addressed in the execution of the work task. Documentation
must be used before, during and after the work task has been
executed. This set of documents forms the "Work Package" for
the assigned work task. The process of executing the energized
electrical work task has a natural flow of required steps and
when all steps are completed provides the best due diligence for
employer and employee and ensures the requirements of the
employer's Electrical Safety Program are met.
Does your company's Electrical Safety Program provide a focus
on the work task and what is required to be done to execute the
work task?
Index Terms - Electrical Safety Program, Occupational Health
& Safety Management System, Work Order, Electrical Hazard
Identification, Field Level Hazard Assessment (FLHA), Safe
Work Permit, Energized Electrical Work Permit, Field Level Risk
Assessment (FLRA), Risk Assessment Procedure, Risk Level,
Risk Class, Arc Flash Risk Assessment, Shock Risk
Assessment, Energized Electrical Job Risk Assessment
(EEJRA), Job Safety Analysis, Job Hazard Analysis, Hazard
Task Analysis, Hierarchy of Preventive & Protective Control
Measures, Energized Electrical Work Permit, Electrical Work
Zone, Electrical Safe Work Procedure, Management of Change.
EEJRA Energized Electrical Job Risk Assessment
EEWP Energized Electrical Work Permit
FLHA Field Level Hazard Assessment
FLRA Field Level Risk Assessment
RAP Risk Assessment Procedure
SWP Safe Work Permit
I. INTRODUCTION
The CSA Z462 Workplace electrical safety Standard and NFPA
70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace Standards
are work task based. They have been from the beginning and
the 2015 Editions placed additional emphasis on this with the
updated Hazard/Risk Category Tables to the 2015 Arc Flash
Hazard Identification for alternating current (AC) and direct
current (DC) CSA Z462 Table 4A and NFPA 70E Table
130.7(C)(15(A)(a).
The basis of these tables is identifying the work task that will be
performed first, having the Qualified Electrical Worker assess
the equipment condition as normal or abnormal or any
equipment condition second and then deciding that arc flash
PPE is required, yes or no.
The key is the work task drives the process of analyzing
exposure to an arc flash and/or a shock hazard. This paper
further emphasizes that within a company's Electrical Safety
Program the safety management system framework elements
focus on the work task and the worker's role that will perform it
and that the Electrical Safety Program could include a Work
Flow Process Flow Chart (see Figure 1) as a visual tool of the
administrative processes the Electrical Safety Program needs to
have documented and completed . Emphasis is placed on
ensuring field based documentation is completed and signed off
on by a Qualified Electrical Worker before they proceed with
executing the work task(s) .
II. STEP 1 - WORK ORDER
A work order or work request is provided to a Qualified Electrical
Worker in a maintenance role. This work order can be manual,
automated or verbal.
Depending on the company, a Computerized Maintenance
Management System (CMMS) may be used with explicit details
provided for electrical equipment identified as requiring
maintenance, the assigned maintenance requirement and
frequency as well as relevant data related to the electrical
equipment (e.g. possibly arc flash incident energy data has
been added to the CMMS database and is printed out on the
work order, single line diagrams or a detailed electrical safe
work procedure, materials required, etc.).

978-1-5090-5099-4/17/$31.00 ©20 17 IEEE

The work order will identify a problem with electrical equipment
and if it is reactive the electrical equipment may need
emergency attention (e.g. critical service, process reliability,
etc.) or it may identify a scheduled preventive maintenance
requirement. The Qualified Electrical Worker should have to
define the discrete energized electrical work task(s) that may be
required to solve the identified problem (e.g. diagnostics and
troubleshooting) or complete the preventive maintenance (e.g.
electrical equipment switching & isolation, infrared testing,
ultrasonic testing, cleaning , testing of power circuit breakers,
etc.).
The potentially perceived urgency of the work task(s) can have
an impact related to assessing the Risk Level related to the
work task. Additionally, when assigned the Qualified Electrical
Worker should also be able to determine if the work task must
be performed in a de-energized state or energized state. The
Qualified Electrical Worker may also have to follow up with the
work task requestor to determine the justification for completing
the work task in an energized state.
III. STEP 2 & 3 - TEMPORARY POWER REQUIRED
The installation of temporary power related to construction or
significant electrical equipment maintenance where normal utility
power is not available or may have to be isolated for an
extended period of time poses several challenges and may be
identified in the company's Electrical Safety Program as
requiring special attention. Temporary power for large industrial
construction sites can be comprised of multiple temporary
power generators, transformers and power distribution
equipment that will most likely be in a dynamically changing
configuration throughout the project schedule. The company's
Electrical Safety Program may identify that a "Temporary Power
Certificate" be generated to allow tracking for initial Code (e.g.
NEC or CEC) compliance and ongoing verification that the
integrity of the temporary power system is maintained in a
"Normal Operating" condition. The Temporary Power Certificate
would impose specific inspection requirements and at a
determined frequency to ensure a "Normal Operating" condition
is in place at all times. Temporary power equipment can very
quickly degrade in its condition and increase the potential risk of
exposure to electrical shock for Non-Electrical Workers that
utilize the system for portable electrical equipment necessary for
completing the construction or maintenance activity.
IV. STEP 4 - PRE-JOB BRIEFING & PLANNING
After the QEW has received a work task or job assignment a
company's overall OHSMS and ESP should require that the job
be planned and eventually at the work task location some form
or Pre-Job Briefing be completed and documented. The Pre-
Job Briefing could be a specific document from the ESP or
could be part of the work process of completing a Field Level
Hazard Assessment (FLHA) or Field Level Risk Assessment
(FLRA). Company specific versions of the FLHNFLRA will take
on many different names and may include a variety of
information that the company has identified that is important to
the specific worksite (e.g. manufacturing, mining, oil & gas,
forestry, building, etc.).
V. STEP 5 - OVERHEAD POWER LINE ENCROACHMENT
2
Depending on the Company and the work performed (e.g.
Electric Utility or Independent Power Producer) the QEW may
be directly exposed to working near Overhead Power Lines.
Specific Limits of Approach or Minimum Approach Distances
are legal requirements as identified in OH&S law in Canada or
OSHA law in the United States.
Additionally, the QEW may have work tasks not related to the
Overhead Power Lines, but may have work tasks completed in
proximity.
Other workers that are not QEWs may also have to complete
work tasks in proximity of Overhead Power Lines (e.g. pipeline
construction , drilling rig companies, general excavation, etc.).
It is statistically known that electrical shock and electrocutions
related to Overhead Power Line proximity or contact are the
highest frequency of fatal electrical injuries.
The identification of Power Line Encroachment in the "Work
Flow Process" may not be required for all companies to be
identified in their Electrical Safety Programs, but if they do it is
an extremely important requirement to place as much
emphasis on proactive management of Overhead Power Line
encroachment related to an assigned work task.
This element of the "Work Flow Process" would include the
requirement of a "Power Line Encroachment Authorization
Permit" to be completed and required signature(s) obtained
before the work task proceeds. By placing additional
emphasis on an assigned work task that is related to or in
proximity to Overhead Power Lines this administrative
element is applied to reduce the Risk Level having a positive
impact on the Likelihood of Occurrence.
VI. STEP 6 - RISK ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE
At this stage of the "Work Flow Process" the QEW must
complete the CSA or NFPA Risk Assessment Procedure. This
process has three discrete steps: 1. Identify the electrical
hazards that the QEW may be exposed to in executing the work
task in an energized state, 2. Assess the risk, and 3.
Implement risk controls according to the hierarchy of methods.
A company's Electrical Safety Program provides further details
on how the QEW can identify the specific Risk Level of the
specific work task(s) he or she has identified in order to execute
the assigned work order. It is recommended that the Risk Level
of typical energized electrical work tasks performed by a
company's QEWs be proactively determined by the Electrical
Safety Steering Committee (ESSC) following the process
outlined in the Electrical Safety Program or in conjunction with
the company's overall risk assessment process. The ESSC
makes and documents assumptions to determine a work tasks
Risk Level. The QEW must field verify the assumptions made
(e .g. Qualified & Competent QEW, Human Performance
Behavior validated as normal, condition of electrical equipment
verified as normal and appropriate Electrical Specific PPE,
Tools & Equipment identified, documented, pre-use inspected
and applied). Field based validation of the application of the
Hierarchy of Controls shall be documented as outlined in a
company's Electrical Safety Program.

It is noted here that multiple discrete energized electrical work
tasks may be required to be completed to complete the job
identified on the work order and the Risk Level may be different
for each discrete work task.
VII. STEP 6 - SHOCK RISK ASSESSMENT
If the QEW has identified that a specific work task(s) may
expose them to an electric shock hazard they will be required to
complete and document a Shock Risk Assessment. The Shock
Risk Assessment as identified in CSA Z462 or NFPA 70E is a
specific risk assessment that will be used to identified: 1. The
voltage to which personnel will be exposed; 2. Boundary
requirements; and 3. The PPE necessary to minimize the
possibility of electric shock to personnel.
It is noted that the Shock Risk Assessment is used to reduce
consequence or damage to health related to the overall Risk
Assessment Procedure by the application of shock PPE, tools &
equipment by the QEW before completing the work task and
encroaching within the Restricted Approach Boundary.
VIII. STEP 6 - ARC FLASH RISK ASSESSMENT
If the QEW has identified that a specific work task(s) may
expose them to an electric arcing fault and arc flash they will be
required to complete and document an Arc Flash Risk
Assessment. The Arc Flash Risk Assessment as identified in
CSA Z462 or NFPA 70E is a specific risk assessment that will
be used to: 1.Determine is an arc flash hazard exists related to
the specific discrete work task. If an arc flash hazard exists, this
specific type of risk assessment shall determine: appropriate
safety-related work practices; the arc flash boundary distance;
and the arc-rated PPE that personnel within the arc flash
boundary shall used. 2.If a specific documented incident energy
analysis report has been completed or the "Table Method" has
been documented for the specific electrical equipment the work
task will be performed on than that information should be
updated when a major modification or renovation takes place
and it shall be reviewed periodically, at intervals not to exceed 5
years, to account for changes in the electrical distribution
system that could affect the results of the analysis; and take into
consideration the design or the overcurrent protective device
and its opening time, including the condition of maintenance.
IX. STEP 7, 8 & 9 - ENERGIZED ELECTRICAL WORK
PERMIT (EEWP)
An Energized Electrical Work Permit (EEWP) is a key
requirement of the CSA Z462 and NFPA 70E Standards and
the QEW must determine if the assigned work order and its
related discrete work task would require the execution of an
EEWP. The QEW must follow and use the requirements for the
EEWP and identified exemptions. The EEWP requires
approval. The EEWP may be "Annualized" for specific work
tasks and issued to a specific QEW where the justification is
infeasibility.
X. STEP 10 - SAFE WORK PERMIT (SWP)
3
Not all companies will use a Safe Work Permit. This would be
an optional element in the Work Flow Process flow chart. Large
industrial facilities with extensive operations, maintenance and
ongoing construction activities may use a safe control of work
"Safe Work Permit" system. This system includes the use of a
documented Safe Work Permit issued to every worker that
enters the company's facility to perform any maintenance or
construction work orders assigned to them. This Safe Work
Permit typically includes some high level requirement for hazard
identification and may place specific focus on unique hazards
and specific requirements (e.g. hazardous locations and air
testing).
XI. STEP 11 - FIELD LEVEL HAZARD ASSESSMENT (FLHA)
I FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT (FLRA)
An integral documentation component of an overall OHSMS is a
field based "all hazards" identification form that workers
performing construction or maintenance work tasks must
complete at the facility / field location where the work will
actually be performed. As a component of the FLHAlFLRA both
the arc flash and shock hazards shall be included to be
identified by effected workers. A QEW should be the worker
that identifies both arc flash and shock depending on their
assigned work task(s) . All other Non-Electrical Workers (e.g.
operations, mechanics, welders, general workers, etc.) should
identify that they may be exposed to electric shock related to
their use of portable plug-and-cord-connected electrical
equipment. It is important that if a company uses a field based
document for hazard identification for workers that it includes
arc flash and shock in the hazard inventory list.
XII. STEP 11 - ENERGIZED ELECTRICAL JOB RISK
ASSESSMENT (EEJRA)
A company may also have a unique electrical based FLHA /
FLRA document that was customized for use as a key field
based document of their documented Electrical Safety Program.
This document would be used in the field requiring by policy in
the company's Electrical Safety Program that the QEW
document specific information related to the assigned work
order and specific discrete energized electrical work tasks that
will expose them to arc flash and/or shock.
This EEJRA form or equivalent would also be used by the
QEW to field verify the assumptions made in completing the
Risk Assessment Procedure determined work task Risk Level
(e.g. Low, Medium or High). This document could also be used
to document the Risk Assessment Procedure at the worksite
location in real time if the Risk Level has not been determined
by the Electrical Safety Steering Committee (ESSC) and
proactively communicated to the QEWs.
XIII. STEP 12 - ESTABLISH AN ELECTRICAL WORK ZONE
Although not uniquely identified in CSA Z462 or NFPA 70E a
company's Electrical Safety Program can uniquely define the
Electrical Work Zone (EWZ) as the greater distance of the Arc
Flash Boundary or the Limited Approach Boundary for shock.
After the Electrical Work Zone has been established with a
suitable barricade the QEW should don Electrical Specific PPE,
enter the EWZ and utilize the identified tools and equipment to
execute the energized work with an acceptable Risk Level. It is
noted that Electrical Specific PPE, Tools & Equipment are used
to reduce risk by eliminating or reducing harm.
XIV. STEP 13 - POST JOB ANALYSIS
Following the completion of the work task a company's Electrical
Safety Program would identify the need for a post review of the
work.
XV. STEP 14 & 15 - ARE THERE ANY CHANGES?
The Post Job Analysis may identify the need for changes to
single line diagrams, procedures, PPE, tools or equipment or
other elements of the Electrical Safety Program's requirements.
Basically the Hierarchy of Preventive and Protective control
measures may need to be updated, or upgraded. A safety Standard Technical Committee Voting Members. He is
documented Management of Change process would or may be
required to be followed to have the change requested, justified
and approved.
XVI. STEP 16-SUBMITWORK PACKAGE
DOCUMENTATION
Depending on the company's requirements and the work order
management system used (e.g. manual work order issued or
CMMS) the company will require the QEW to submit completed
documentation for tracking billable hours, confirming materials
used and for record management purposes related to the
overall OHSMS. Typically any documentation used for hazard
identification would be required to be retained for 3, 5or 7 years.
XVII. CONCLUSION
The application of the CSA Z462 and NFPA 70E Standards
through the development and implementation of an Electrical
Safety Program is critical to sustainable and measurable
performance in electrical safety. A key component of the
Electrical Safety Program should be the management of the
work task that would be assigned to a QEW. A defined Work
Flow Process as outlined in this paper illustrates in a flow chart
a visual representation of administrative and documentation
requirements of a company's Electrical Safety Program "Work
Flow Process."
XIX. VITA
Terry Becker, P.Eng. is the Visionary, Owner and Principal of
ESPS Electrical Safety Program Solutions INC. Terry started
his 25 year career as an Electrical Engineer in the Oil & Gas
Industry in Alberta, Canada working for Mobil Oil Canada
(Exxon), DPH Engineering, PanCanadian Energy and EnCana
Corporation. In 2007 Terry created ESPS Electrical Safety
Program Solutions INC. (www.esps.ca) and currently provides
electrical safety consulting , products and arc flash & shock
training solutions to his clients in an effort to eliminate or
reduce the risk of worker exposure to arc flash and shock
hazards.
Terry is one of the original CSA Z462 Workplace electrical
the First Past Vice-Chair of CSA Z462 Technical Committee
and Annexes Working Group Leader. Terry is a volunteer
member of the NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the
Workplace Annexes Working Group, and DC Working Group.
Terry is also a Voting Member of the IEEE 1584 Standard. In
Canada Terry is also an Associate Member of the new CSA
Z463 Guideline for Maintenance of Electrical Systems.
Terry has achieved the NFPA Certified Electrical Safety
Compliance Professional (CESCP) status.
Terry and ESPS are actively developing Electrical Safety
Programs with clients and have completed more than 70
Electrical Safety Audits in Canada and Internationally. Terry has
presented at Conferences sponsored by CSA, the IEEE (both
PCIC, ESW and ESTMP Conferences), CANEW, WorkSafeNB,
NETA Powertest and IDC. Terry provides presentations for
other industry Associations across Canada and has presented
in Australia and India.

XVIII. REFERENCES

[1] CSA Z1000 Occupational Health and Safety

Management.
[2] ANSI Z10 Occupational Health and Safety Management.
[3] CSA Z462 Workplace Electrical Safety Standard.
[4] NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the
Workplace.
[5] CSA Z1002 Occupational Health and Safety - Hazard
Identification and Elimination and Risk Assessment and
Control.
[6] The Fire Protection Research Foundation, Occupational
Injuries From Electrical Shock and Arc Flash Events, Final
Report, March 2015. Richard B. Campbell, ScD. And
David A. Dini, PE.
[7] EN FORM, Electrical Safety - A Program Development
Guide, Edition 1, June 1, 2014.

4
 Application of ESP in the Work Flow Process - Flow Chart
2015

Step 1
Work Ord er Issued from CMMS or Verbal Work Request Made

Yes Step 3
Obtain a Temporary
Power Certificate (TPC)

Step 4
Complete Pre-Job Briefing and P lanning Checklist

Step 5
Are there Overhead Power Lines or Buried Cables?
Is a Power Line Encroachment Authorization Permit
(PLEAP) required?

Energ ized Wo rk Task justified because of : Step 6

Greater Hazard: Additional hazards or 1. Complete Risk Assessment Procedure (RAP) Risk Register Table (RR T) .
increased risk . 2. Complete Arc Flash & Shock Risk Assessments to determine Boundaries .
Infeasible: Due to equi pment design or PPE , Tools & Equipment Requirements for the Work Task. luse AFSRA Form)
operational li mitations .
Less tha n 50V : No EEWP required .
Exemption for EEWP: Testing , trouble-
shooting , voltage measuring , current
Step 7
measuring, thermography, ultrason ic No
Is an Energized Electrical
inspection , access and egress to an area Work Permit (E EWP)
with energized electrical equipment if no required?
electrical work performed and genera l
housekeeping and misc. non-electrical tasks
if the Restricted Approach Boundary is not
crossed . Step 9
Step 10 Fill out Energized
Complete a SWP [if required) Electrical Work Permit
LEGEND (EEWP)
A FSRA Arc Flash & Shock Risk
Assessment Form (See ESP Appendix) Step 11 Defer to Shutdown
CMMS Computerized Maintenance Qualified Electrical Worker fills out
Management System FLHAlFLRA and EEJRA Forms
EEJRA Energized Electrical Job Risk
Assessment Form (See ESP Appendix)
Step 12
EEWP Energized Electrical Work
Establish an Ele
ctrica l Work Zone
Permit
and Perform Work Task
ESWP Electrical Safe Work Practices
FLHA Field Level Hazard Assessment
FLRA Field Level Risk Assessmen t Step 13
PLEAP Power Li ne Encroachment Post-job Analysis
Authori zation Perm it Step 15
RAP Risk Assessment Procedure Review & Update Docs
RRT Risk Register Table Yes Revise:
SWP Safe Work Permit • ESWPs
• Update 1 Line Diagram
TPC Temporary Power Certificate
• Other documents as
ESP Appendix Pre-J ob Briefing a nd Planning
required
Checklist
Step 16
Subm it Completed Forms For Filing
ESP Appendix Electrica l Risk Assessment
Attach to Work Order
Matrix and refer to ESP Section 6

Note: Refer to <Company>'s Electrical

Safety Program

Figure 1 - Application of the Electrical Safety Program in Work Flow Process Flow Chart