Appendix P. SAMPLE ELECTRICAL SAFETY COMMITTEE (ESC) COMMISSION

[From the Electrical Safety Committee Charter, November 2005]

Revised 03/08

Function

The Safety Review Committee (SRC) performs research for and makes recommendations to the Laboratory Director on the development and implementation of Environment, Safety, & Health (ES&H) policy, guidelines, codes, and regulatory interpretation. To properly execute its responsibilities under this charter, the SRC Chair may appoint expert sub-committees to address specific health and safety matters. The Electrical Safety Committee (ESC) is one of the SRC expert sub-committees. The ESC recommends policies and practices regarding the conduct and regulatory compliance of electrical and related work at LBNL. The ESC will:

• Provide the SRC with recommendations for training and requirements to implement the program.
  
• Provide the SRC with recommendations for funding of electrical safety initiatives.
  
• Develop and review technical material related to the electrical safety program.
  
• Review and suggest revisions to Chapter 8 and the technical electrical information in Chapter 18 (lockout/tagout) of PUB-3000.
  
• Assist the appropriate AHJ in the interpretations of electrical safety requirements.
  
• Assist in employee training and safety awareness for electrical hazards.
  
• Assess the performance of the Electrical Safety Program, including assessments, audits, inspections, and reviews of electrical accidents and near misses.
  
• The ESC may be requested to review electrical and electronic equipment and their installations at LBNL.

This committee may also discuss and study issues brought to them by LBNL and EH&S staff, Laboratory and/or Division management, with the approval of the SRC Chair.

Membership/Composition

The Chair of the SRC appoints the ESC Chair. Electrical Safety Subcommittee members are selected from LBNL staff having experience directing or otherwise being involved in experiments using electricity. Participation by research scientists and engineers is important to the functioning of the committee. Division Directors nominate members of their organizations to the SRC Chair, with the formal appointment made by the SRC Chair. Appointments are made for a term of two years, with possible unlimited renewal. Other experts (such as UC Berkeley, DOE, or other National Laboratory staff) are encouraged to attend the meetings and contribute to the discussions, but they have no vote.

Meetings

Meetings will be held as necessary, but at least every two months. When members are unable to attend, substitutes may be designated to attend specific meetings. If a member misses four meetings during a calendar year, the ESC chair will contact the member’s Division Director or Department Head to ask that a replacement be nominated. The ESC Chair will designate a recording secretary. Minutes shall be recorded for every meeting. The committee will submit a report of activities and recommendations to the SRC when requested by the SRC Chair. Each committee member shall have one vote. While consensus is desired, contested Electrical Safety Subcommittee decisions will be decided by simple majority vote. If an ESC member is absent, his/her designated substitute may vote.

Provision for Amendment

The Electrical Safety Subcommittee Chair shall submit to the SRC Chair any recommendations
for the amendment of this charter.

Appendix Q. CORD AND PLUG EQUIPMENT GUIDELINES

NFPA 70E Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements for work on energized equipment powered through a 120-volt line-cord ONLY:

1. The 120-volt line-cord can be unplugged and positively controlled. If the stored energy is below 1000 Joules then an unqualified worker may remove covers and work on the equipment.


• If the stored energy is above 1000 joules then a qualified worker, wearing the proper PPE as per NFPA 70E and Chapter 8, then must verify that all stored energy in the chassis has dissipated. Once this has been verified then the requirements for PPE are no longer in effect until the chassis is reenergized.


2. Equipment connected to a 120-volt receptacle by an AWG 16 or 14 line cord at least three feet long or AWG 12 at least six feet long**. In this case, the requirements for Arc-rated clothing have been reduced because the job has been reduced from a Hazard/Risk Category 1 to a Category 0. NFPA 70E allows the Category to be reduced by one when the available fault current is below 10,000 amps. "AWG" = American Wire Gauge.

PPE requirements for the above-described voltage measurements are:

• Natural fiber long-sleeve shirt


• Natural Fiber long pants


• Natural Fiber Undergarments


• Nonconductive safety glasses


• Voltage rated gloves and leather protectors


• Voltage rated tools


• Category III or IV Multimeter


• Appendix A1 briefing by the supervisor for energized diagnostics and testing.

**If the equipment has a shorter cord, then an extension cord may be used in conjunction with the equipment cord to provide the required circuit length.