Every year thousands of electrical workers are injured or even killed while at work. To address this issue, safety and trade organizations around the world are enforcing regulations and standards that ensure workers do not open electrical switchgear for maintenance activities unless it is put into a safe work condition, the proper engineering controls and personal protective equipment (PPE) are used, and the appropriate level of safety and equipment training is given to everyone involved in the maintenance operation.
In the U.S. and Canada, the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) are at the vanguard of driving a cultural change within the electrical maintenance industry. The NFPA 70E/70B and CSAZ 462/463 standards and guidelines provide references for facilities to meet the requirements of workplace electrical safety and outline the best practices for setting up and maintaining a safe and efficient Electrical Preventative Maintenance (EPM) program.