electrical safety when using test equipment and...

Electrical Safety When

Using Test Equipment

and Instruments

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Electrical Safety When Using Test Equipment and Instruments By Dennis Neitzel

AVO Training Institute, Director Emeritus

IntroductionThere is a great deal of attention devoted to safe work practices during electrical construction, maintenance and repair work. Industry electrical publications regularly report on safety issues, including the use of the proper tools and equipment used for energized and deenergized work, as well as utilizing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) for each workplace situation. However, electrical test instruments are given very little, if any, discussion in safety articles, which would include using the wrong test instrument or improperly using them, which can have catastrophic results. Some of the most frequently used test instruments include noncontact voltage testers, multimeters, insulation testers and ground-resistance testers. The issues with using a non-contact or proximity device is that the requirement to test a circuit to ensure that it is deenergized requires the circuit to be tested phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground, which cannot be done using this type of tester.

When electrical safety is discussed, the subjects of shock, arc flash, and arc blast are predominate in the discussions. In these discussions the question is often asked: How do I identify when these hazards are present, or likely to be present, when I am using electrical test instruments on electrical circuits and equipment? This article discusses the electrical hazards, along with requirements for assessing the workplace to identify

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the electrical hazards and personal protective equipment (PPE) associated with using test instruments.

Electrical HazardsElectricity is widely recognized as a serious workplace hazard, exposing employees to electrical shock, electrocution, burns, fires, and explosions. Employees have been killed or injured in fires and explosions caused by electricity.

Additional considerations in relation to the electrical hazards of arc flash and arc blast, is that extremely high energy arcs can damage equipment, causing fragmented metal to fly in all directions. In atmospheres that contain explosive gases or vapors, or combustible dusts, even low- energy arcs can cause violent explosions. In these cases the electric arc may be the ignition source for a much bigger explosion and fire.

Due to the potential electrical hazards associated with the use of electrical test instruments, only qualified persons are permitted to perform tasks such as testing, troubleshooting, and voltage measuring when working within the Limited Approach Boundary of exposed energized electrical conductors or circuit parts operating at 50 volts or more, or where any other electrical hazard may exist.

Improper use of electrical test instruments can result in shock or electrocution, as well as creating an arc flash incident. This paper addresses these issues, along with the requirements for selecting and utilizing the test instruments to verify the presence of voltage.

Selection of Electrical Test InstrumentsRegardless of whether you are performing electrical installation work, equipment maintenance, verifying the absence of voltage for deenergized work, troubleshooting, voltage measurements, or similar diagnostic work, collecting accurate and consistent information from these tests is imperative. In order to comply with electrical industry standards and regulations, there is a need to select and use the right test instruments according to the application.

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When conducting voltage verification, for energized and deenergized work, the electrical worker must select the right test instruments and equipment applicable to the work to be performed. As a minimum, these should include the following:• Voltage indicating instrument suitable for conditions > Environment> Correct category (I, II, III, or IV)

• Continuity test instrument• Insulation resistance test instrument All test instruments include specific manufacturer’s operational instructions. The test instruments must be certified and display a label of an independent verification lab, such as UL, CSA, CE, ETL or TUV. Make sure all meters, test leads and probes have an adequate category (CAT) safety rating. Sometimes, the only thing standing between an electrical worker and an unexpected spike, is their meter and test leads. If you use the wrong equipment with the wrong voltage, you could be putting yourself and others at risk. So, before conducting any test, make sure your choice of instrument is correct.

Electrical standards, such as UL, ANSI, IEC, and CAN, specify protection from currents at levels well above a system's rated capacity. Without this additional protection, transient overvoltages, which are becoming increasingly common, can lead to equipment failure and serious injury or death.

Minimizing such risks requires that everyone working in electrical environments has safety equipment as required. They need properly rated gloves, eye protection, and electrical measurement test instruments that provide appropriate protection. Having the correct electrical testing and measurement instruments and using the correct procedures can improve job safety.

To do this, a quick review of the four category (CAT) ratings is in order:• Category I — typically covers electronic equipment. Signal level for

telecommunications, electronic equipment, and low-energy equipment with transient-limiting protection. The peak impulse transient range is from 600 to 4,000 volts with a 30-ohm source.

• Protected electronic equipment

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• Equipment connected to (source) circuits in which measures are taken to limit transient overvoltages to an appropriately low level

• Any high-voltage-low-energy source derived from a high-winding resistance transformer, such as the high-voltage section of a copier.

• Category II — single-phase receptacle connected loads. Local

level for fixed or non-fixed powered devices-everything from lighting to appliances to office equipment. Also, all outlets at more than 10m (30 feet) from Category III sources and all outlets at more than 20m (60 feet) from Category IV sources. The peak impulse transient range is from 600 to 6,000 volts with a 12-ohm source.

• Appliance, portable tools and other household and similar loads• Outlet and long branch circuits• Outlets at more than 10 meters from CAT III source• Outlets at more than 20 meters from CAT IV source • Category III — three-phase distribution, including single-phase

commercial lighting. Distribution level-fixed primary feeders or branch circuits. These circuits are usually separated from Category IV (whether utility service or other high-voltage source) by a minimum of one level of transformer isolation; for example, feeders and short branch circuits, distribution branch panels and heavy appliance outlets with "short" connections to service entrance. The peak impulse transient range is from 600 to 8,000 volts with a 2-ohm source.

• Equipment in fixed installations, such as switchgear and polyphase motors

• Bus and feeders in industrial plants• Feeders and short branch circuits, distribution panel devices• Lighting systems in larger buildings• Appliance outlets with short connections to service entrance • Category IV — three-phase at utility connection, any outdoor

conductors or primary supply level. It will cover the highest and most dangerous level of transient overvoltage you are likely to encounter-in utility service to a facility both outside and at the service entrance, as well as the service drop from the pole to the building, the overhead line

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to a detached building, and the underground line to a well pump. The peak impulse transient range is from 600 to 12,000 volts with a less than 1-ohm source.

• “Origin of installations,” such as where low-voltage connection is made to utility power

• Electricity meters, primary overcurrent protection equipment• Outside and service entrance, service drop from pole to building, run

between meter and panel• Overhead line to detached building, underground line to well pump

Use of Electrical Test InstrumentsAs previously stated, due to the potential electrical hazards associated with the use of electrical test instruments, only qualified persons are permitted to perform tasks such as testing, troubleshooting, and voltage measuring when working within the Limited Approach Boundary of exposed energized electrical conductors or circuit parts operating at 50 volts or more, or where any other electrical hazard may exist. Improper use of electrical test instruments can result in shock or electrocution, as well as creating an arc flash incident.

The following additional requirements apply to test instruments, equipment, and all associated test leads, cables, power cords, probes, and connectors: • Must be rated for circuits and equipment where they are utilized• Must be designed for the environment to which they will be exposed

and for the manner in which they will be utilized• Must be visually inspected for external defects and damage before

each use > If there is a defect or evidence of damage that might expose an employee

to injury, the defective or damaged item shall be removed from service. When test instruments are used for testing the absence of voltage on conductors or circuit parts operating at 50 volts or more, the operation of the test instrument must be: • Verified on a known voltage source before an absence of voltage test

is performed

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• Test for the absence of voltage on the deenergized conductor or circuit part > A zero reading might mean that no voltage is present during the

testing, or> It could mean that the instrument has failed

• Verified on a known voltage source after an absence of voltage test is performed

This verification primarily applies to conductors or circuit parts operating at 50 volts or more. However, under certain conditions (such as wet contact or immersion) even circuits operating under 50 volts can pose a shock hazard.

ConclusionOnly qualified persons are permitted to perform tasks such as testing, troubleshooting, and voltage measuring, due to the electrical hazards associated with energized work. All required PPE, for the associated hazards, must be utilized when performing these tasks. Test instruments must be rated for the conditions under which testing is to be performed. When selecting voltage testing instruments, an assessment must be performed to determine the proper category (CAT) rating required, based on the highest hazard exposure.

When test instruments are used for testing the absence of voltage, for deenergized work, on conductors or circuit parts operating at 50 volts or more, the operation of the test instrument must be verified on a known voltage source before and after an absence of voltage test is performed. VitaDennis K. Neitzel, CPE, CESCP, Director Emeritus of AVO Training Institute, Inc., Dallas, Texas, has over 50 years in the electrical industry in various capacities, specializing in electrical equipment and systems maintenance, testing, engineering, inspection, and safety. Mr. Neitzel is an active member of IEEE (Senior Member), ASSE, NFPA, AFE, IAEI, and SNAME. He is a past Chair of the IEEE-IAS Electrical Safety Workshop (2012); a Certified Plant Engineer (CPE), Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional (CESCP), and Certified Electrical

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Inspector-General. Mr. Neitzel is a Principle Committee Member and Special Expert for the NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace; the Working Group Chairman for IEEE Std. 3007.1-2010, 3007.2-2010, 3007.3-2012 & IEEE Std 45.5-2014; and is co-author of the Electrical Safety Handbook, McGraw-Hill Publishers. Mr. Neitzel earned his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering Management and his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering Applied Sciences. He has authored, published, and presented numerous technical papers and magazine articles on electrical safety, maintenance, and technical training.

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