511 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 9-15

Sections

11-4. Roles and Responsibilities

Qualified Persons (QPs), Electrical

Must perform inspections and assist in developing Activity Hazard Analyses (AHAs).
Are required to comply with safety-related work practices and identify electrical hazards before starting work.
Authorized exclusively to perform tasks like establishing Electrically Safe Work Conditions (ESWCs) and handling specific electrical equipment and tasks.

Unqualified Persons

May assist QPs with electrical-related tasks if properly trained, supervised, and aware of the safety procedures.
Cannot conduct electrical work beyond their training level and must be qualified for each specific type of work.
May cross certain safety boundaries only with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and under close QP supervision.

Host Employer

Must inform contract employers of known hazards, necessary safety information, and observed violations.
Required to provide contract employers with relevant installation information for safety assessments.
Should report hazardous locations within the facility and address discrepancies with the KO or COR.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

11-4. Who is authorized exclusively to perform tasks like establishing Electrically Safe Work Conditions (ESWCs)?

Host Employers

Competent Persons (CP)

Qualified Persons (QP)

Experienced technicians

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EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 11-4 (a.–c.).

11-4. Roles and Responsibilities (a.–c.).

a.  Qualified Persons (QPs), Electrical.  QPs are responsible for the following: (11-4.a)

(1)  Performing inspections according to paragraph 11-5.

(2)  Assist in developing AHAs according to paragraph 11-6.

(3)  Complying with the safety-related work practices and procedures provided by their employer.

(4)  Ascertain by inquiry, direct observation, and by instruments whether any part of an exposed or concealed electric power circuit is located where it could bring any person, tool, or machine into physical or electrical contact with it prior to starting the work.

(5)  When Unqualified Persons are working near a limited approach boundary, the QP in charge of the work area must inform them of the existing electrical hazards.

(6)  The QP must work with supervision to determine the number of workers required to perform the job safely and identify the number of workers in the corresponding AHA. Work must be performed with enough workers to provide a safe working environment (see para 11-8.e(3)).  The Journeyman/Apprentice ratio must be according to state, local, and host nation requirements applicable to where the work is being performed.

(7)  Only QPs are authorized to perform the following:

(a)  Establish ESWCs.

(b)  Work on electrical conductors or circuit parts that have not been put into an ESWC.

(c)  Interact with equipment where conductors or circuit parts are not exposed, but an increased likelihood of injury from an exposure to an arc flash hazard exists (see NFPA 70E table 130.5(c)).

(d)  Install and/or remove electric conductors, equipment, or raceways, or manipulate cables. Such QPs must have verifiable credentials.  (See para 11-3.b)

(e)  Place and remove TPG.

(f)  Work on power generation, transmission, and distribution lines and equipment.

(g)  Operate aerial lift equipment within the minimum clearances (see table 11-4). provided the non-insulated equipment and grounded portions of the lift remain outside of the clearances listed in table 11-3.

b.  Unqualified Persons.  Unqualified Persons may assist QPs with electrical- related tasks provided they are properly trained in safety awareness and escorted and supervised by the QP. They must follow the established safety-related work practices and procedures. (11-4.b)

(1)  Unqualified Persons may not conduct electrical work which exceeds their level of specific training received.

(2)  An Unqualified Person may be qualified for one type of work, but unqualified for another based on the training received.

(3)  Unqualified Persons may cross the limited approach boundary to assist the QP only after they are informed of the additional hazards and don the appropriate PPE. The Unqualified Person must always be escorted by the QP.

(4)  Unqualified Persons may cross the arc flash boundary only if they are wearing the appropriate PPE and are under the close supervision of a QP.

c.  Host Employer.  The Host Employer must inform contract employers of the following: (11-4.c)

(1)  Known hazards covered by this manual that are related to the contract employer’s work and that might not be recognized by the contract employer or its employees.

(2)  Information about the employer’s installation that the contract employer must know to make the assessments required by this manual.

(3)  Report observed contract employer-related violations of this chapter to the KO or COR, which will notify the contractor employer.

(4)  If work must be performed on an energized system, then the host employer or system owner must first demonstrate that de-energizing introduces additional or increased hazards (for example, interruption of life support equipment, removal of light for an area) or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitations (for example, testing, troubleshooting).  (See para 11-8.e(4))

(5)  All known hazardous locations within the facility prior to construction activities. Any discrepancies between established hazardous locations and contract requirements will be addressed by the KO or COR.