H. Landis Floyd

Hazard Mitigation Through Design

The intent of this article is to start a dialog for exploring the concepts of PtD as applied to the hazards in construction. This article summarizes the scope and potential impact the NIOSH PtD initiative could have on electrical safety for all crafts in construction work environments. Based on NIOSH analysis, the construction industry represents 7% of the U.S. workforce but accounts for 45 % of occupational fatalities due to electrical hazards in the workplace. This article summarizes the goals and offers input in developing digital object identifier 10.1109/MIAS.2010.936122 strategies to be apart of the PtD initiative. Practical examples are provided to further stimulate expansion of these concepts in construction work environments.

Reducing Human Errors in Industrial Electric Power System Operation, Part I-Improving System Reliability

A large number of plant power outages and accidents involving personal injury result from human error rather than inadequate or defective equipment. The impact of operating errors on industrial power systems is considered, and the philosophy and key elements of proven practices and programs which contribute to system reliability are reviewed.

Arc-Flash Hazard Mitigation

Electrical safety is highly regulated in all industrialized countries. Historically, the details of electrical hazard mitigation focused on measures to prevent electric shock. as awareness of arc flash as a unique hazard separate and distinct from shock emerged in the 1980s, standards began to address its mitigation. Comparing standards from North America and the European Union (EU), there are some similarities and differences. This article benchmarks recognized occupational electrical safety standards against the comprehensive hazard control measures in safety-management systems standards. This analysis shows that current electrical safety standards do not provide a comprehensive solution and that an effective arc hazard mitigation program depends on the integration of several standards.

Toward a more globally effective standard for occupational electrical safety

Electrical safety is highly regulated in all industrialized countries. There is both commonality and differences in electrical safety standards and regulations country to country. This paper suggests a path forward to compare standards and regulations applicable in North America (NFPA70E, CSAZ462, ANSI/IEEE C2), Europe (EN 50110), Brazil (NR 10) and China (DL 408), and benchmark against the comprehensive hazard mitigation measures contained in ANSI Z10 Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems, which is harmonized with other safety management systems standards recognized globally. By comparing these standards against recognized safety management systems standards, such as ANSI Z10, it will identify gaps in electrical safety management. The comparison will highlight unique differences in the electrical safety standards, and will identify opportunities for improving individual standards.

Facilitating application of electrical safety best practices to “other” workers

The premise of this paper is that a significant portion of the workforce has been unintentionally overlooked in some efforts to reduce electrical injuries and fatalities in North America. This paper discusses the limitations, application, and potential impact of North American standards providing measures for electrical injury and fatality prevention and protection to workers. In particular, it discusses workers who may not be considered the primary beneficiaries of the requirements in the standard NFPA70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. For many organizations, the focus of and improvement in electrical safety programs have largely addressed electrical workers whose primary work tasks involve construction, operation, and/or maintenance of electrical equipment. However, nearly 50% of workplace electrical injuries and fatalities are not of electrical workers. Managers and administrators, painters, truck drivers, farm workers, and grounds keepers and gardeners are among the top ten occupations having the most fatal electrical injuries. For these nonelectrical workers, the exposure to electrical hazards ranges from the use of common portable tools and appliances to unintentional contact with overhead power lines in the course of routine work activities. This paper provides methods to help facilitate the application of specific requirements in NFPA70E and CSA Z462 and other best practices to these “other” workers.

Key learnings from the IAS Electrical Safety Workshops

The IAS Electrical Safety Workshop has three components in its mission: accelerate the application of breakthrough improvements in human factors, technology, and managing systems that reduce the risk of electrical injuries; stimulate innovation in overcoming barriers; and change and advance the electrical safety culture to enable sustainable improvements in the prevention of electrical accidents and injuries. This paper gives a brief history highlighting the profound impact IAS safety workshops have had on planning and implementing safety programs and standards.

A summary of the PCIC's impact on electrical safety

The mission of the Petroleum and Chemical Industry Committee (PCIC) is to provide an international forum for the exchange of electrical applications technology relating to the petroleum and chemical industry, to sponsor appropriate IEEE standards activity for that industry, and to provide opportunity for professional development. By including the safety related aspects of electrical technology in this mission, the PCIC has evolved into a leadership role in the Industry Applications Society and the IEEE for industrial electrical safety matters. PCIC members are active in many key industry and government standards impacting industrial electrical safety. The inclusion of personnel and process safety. The inclusion of personnel and process safety concerns in the conferences, technical papers, standards, tutorials and workshops organized by the PCIC have helped define the direction and means for accomplishing real improvements in electrical safety. This paper provides an overview of this evolution and its resulting impact.

Safety-Management Systems

There are several industry and international standards that address safety-management systems. These standards are well harmonized and based on the proven quality-manage ment principles. Consensus electrical safety standards in North America by themselves can be implemented within the context of a safety-management system standard, be it a consensus or a company proprietary standard. NFPA 70E and CSA Z462 identify this and provide reference to safety-management systems standards. Electrical engineers and specialists may not be expert in safety-management systems. Safety professionals may not be expert in electrical safety. Senior and middle management control priority, budgetary, and staffing decisions critical to electrical safety program effectiveness. An organization intent on achieving real improvement in its electrical safety program should avoid delegating the design and implementation of the program to its electrical experts and consider a joint effort involving electrical subject-matter experts, safety profes sionals knowledgeable in safety-management systems, and key members of management. Within the IEEE commu nity, we have the opportunity to enhance the content of IEEE 3007.3 to help advance the concepts related to safety management systems, continuous improvement, PtD, and application of comprehensive hazard control measures.

Maintenance strategies for a new era in electrical safety

Maintenance management systems are critical to petrochemical plant operations, as well as other businesses in which uptime and reliability are critical enablers of business success. The context and consequences of electrical maintenance has changed, especially in how it relates to changing paradigms on electrical safety. This paper outlines strategies to optimize the integration of an organizations electrical safety program into business management systems for critical equipment maintenance. Three terms are defined to help prioritize allocation of limited resources to maximize benefits in electrical safety and maintenance and reliability. These terms are discussed within the context of NFPA70B, Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance. A method for assessing electrical systems to identify specific equipment and systems critical to electrical safety is described. The paper further examines the relationship between the electrical safety program and the maintenance and reliability program and suggests ways to enhance the synergy and integration of these two business management systems.

Making the connection with reliability & maintenance management systems

The results of electric shock and arc flash hazard/risk analysis are dependent on certain aspects of the electrical equipment to be maintained to assure designed and assumed performance. This includes the mechanical integrity of covers, doors and barriers, the mechanical and electrical integrity of bonding and grounding systems, as well as the functional performance of circuit protective devices and protection systems. In addition, the frequency of exposures associated with maintenance tasks is dependent on the effectiveness of the reliability & maintenance programs in place. This paper introduces two concepts to help differentiate maintenance strategies: electrical safety critical maintenance, and electrical safety dependent maintenance. The paper further examines the relationship between management of electrical safety and reliability & maintenance and suggests ways to enhance the synergy and integration of these two business management systems.