Section 408.14004. Working on or near exposed de-energized parts.

(1) This rule applies to work on exposed de-energized parts and to work that is near enough to exposed de-energized parts to expose an employee to any electrical hazard the parts present. Conductors and parts of electric equipment that have been de- energized, but have not been locked out in accordance with the provisions of subrule (2) of this rule, shall be treated as energized parts and the provisions of R 408.14005 apply to work on or near such parts.

(2)     While any employee is exposed to contact with parts of fixed electrical equipment or circuits which have been de-energized, the circuits energizing the parts shall be locked out in accordance with the requirements of this rule. The requirements shall be followed in the order in which they are presented. As used in this section, "fixed electrical equipment" means equipment that is fastened in place or connected by permanent wiring methods. Lockout procedures that comply with current lockout requirements will also be deemed to comply with the requirements of this rule. Where lockout is required by this part, if a lock cannot be employed or if the employer can demonstrate that tagging procedures will provide safety equivalent to a lock, a tag may be used without a lock. In such cases a tag shall be in compliance with all of the following requirements:

(a)   A tag shall be of a distinctive employer design that clearly prohibits unauthorized

energizing of the circuits and removal of the tag.

(b)   A tag shall not be used without an additional safety measure, such as the removal of an isolating circuit element, the blocking of a controlling switch, or the opening of an extra disconnecting device.

(c)    All persons who have access to controlling devices shall be trained in, and familiar with, the employer's tagging procedures.

(d)   Meet the requirements of General Industry Safety Standard Part 37 “Accident Prevention Signs and Tags,” as referenced in R 408.14001a.

(3)   An employer shall maintain a copy of the procedures outlined in subrule (2) of this rule and shall make it available for inspection by employees and by the director of the department of licensing and regulatory affairs, and his or her authorized representatives. The written procedures may be in the form of a copy of the provisions of subrule (2) of this rule.

(4)    Safe procedures for de-energizing circuits and equipment shall be determined before circuits or equipment are de-energized.

(5)    The circuits and equipment to be worked on shall be disconnected from all electric energy sources. Control circuit devices, such as push buttons, selector switches, and interlocks, shall not be used as the sole means for de-energizing circuits or equipment. Interlocks for electric equipment shall not be used as a substitute for lockout.

(6)     Stored electric energy which might endanger personnel shall be released. Capacitors shall be discharged and high-capacitance elements shall be short-circuited and grounded if the stored electric energy might endanger personnel. If the capacitors or associated equipment is handled in meeting this requirement, the capacitors and associated equipment shall be treated as energized.

(7)   Stored nonelectrical energy in devices that could reenergize electric circuit parts shall be blocked or relieved to the extent that the circuit parts cannot be accidentally energized by the devices.

(8)   A lock shall be placed on each disconnecting means that is used to de-energize circuits and equipment on which work is to be performed. The lock shall be attached to prevent a person from operating the disconnecting means unless undue force or tools are used.

(9)   The requirements of this rule shall be met before any circuits or equipment can be considered to be de-energized and before any circuits or equipment can be worked on. A qualified person shall operate the equipment operating controls or otherwise verify that the equipment cannot be restarted. A qualified person shall use test equipment to test the circuit elements and electrical parts of equipment to which employees will be exposed and shall verify that the circuit elements and equipment parts are de-energized. The test shall also determine if any energized condition exists as a result of inadvertently induced voltage or unrelated voltage backfeed, even though specific parts of the circuit have been de-energized and presumed to be safe. If the circuit to be tested is more than 600 volts, nominal, the test equipment shall be checked for proper operation immediately before and immediately after this test.

(10)   All of the following requirements shall be met, in the order presented, before circuits or equipment is reenergized, even temporarily:

(a)    A qualified person shall conduct tests and visual inspections, as necessary, to verify that all tools, electrical jumpers, shorts, grounds, and other such devices have been

removed so that the circuits and equipment can be safely energized.

(b)    Employees who are exposed to the hazards associated with reenergizing the circuit or equipment shall be warned to stay clear of circuits and equipment.

(c)   Each lock shall be removed by the employee who applied it or by an employee who is under his or her direct supervision. However, if the employee who applied the lock is absent from the workplace, then the lock, if removed, shall be removed by a qualified person who is designated to perform this task if both of the following provisions are complied with:

(i)   The employer ensures that the employee who applied the lock is not available at the workplace.

(ii)    The employer ensures that the employee who applied the lock is aware that the lock has been removed before he or she resumes work at that workplace.

(d)   There shall be a visual determination that all employees are clear of the circuits and equipment.

History: 1992 AACS; 2015 AACS.