RISK INSIGHTS

Ground-fault Protection for Construction Sites

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CONSTRUCTION

According to the National Institute of Safety and Health, injuries or death. GFCIs automatically limit or stop the the most frequently cited Occupational Safety and flow of current in the event of a ground fault, overload or Health Administration (OSHA) electrical violation is short circuit in the wiring system. They operate by improper grounding of equipment or circuits. This is monitoring the amount of current going into electric especially troubling for construction managers in light of equipment and the amount of current flowing out along the fact that construction workers suffer more electrical the circuit conductors. If the difference exceeds 5 burns and fatal electrical injuries than workers in all other milliamperes, the device automatically shuts off the industries combined. Each power to prevent injury. incident carries significant costs About AEGCPs in terms of lost time and resources and increases the The OSHA-approved alternative Construction workers suffer employers risk of costly lawsuits. to using GFCIs on a construction more electrical burns and fatal site is an AEGCP, which is a The most tragic aspect is that many of these accidents could for testing electrical injuries than workers regimented system extension have been prevented with the electrical tools and implementation of proper ground- in all other industries combined, cords to assure their proper fault protection practices. grounding. If an AEGCP is used in place of GFCIs for groundbut many of these incidents OSHA Regulations fault protection, the following could have been prevented OSHA requires employers to minimum requirements apply: provide either: (a) ground fault Keep a written with the implementation of circuit interrupters (GFCIs) on description of the construction sites for receptacle program at the jobsite. proper ground-fault protection outlets in use and not part of the Outline specific permanent wiring of the building practices. procedures for the or structure; or (b) a scheduled required equipment and recorded Assured inspections, tests and Equipment Grounding Conductor Program (AEGCP), test schedule, and make them available to covering all cord sets, receptacles not part of the OSHA and to affected persons upon demand. permanent wiring of the building, and equipment Designate one or more competent persons to connected by cord and plug. implement the program. OSHA defines a competent person as someone who is a) About GFCIs qualified to identify hazards and b) authorized to Grounding a tool or electrical system involves creating a take prompt corrective measures. low-resistance electrical path that connects to the earth. Visually inspect all cord sets, attachment caps, A ground-fault occurs in a tool or electrical system when plugs and receptacles, and any equipment there is a break in this low-resistance grounding path. connected by cord and plug, before use each The electrical current may then take an alternative path day. If you see any external damage, such as to the ground through the user, resulting in serious deformed or missing pins, damaged insulation,
This Risk Insights is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice. Design 2011 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.

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CONSTRUCTION

etc., or discover internal damage, take the equipment out of use until it is repaired. Perform two OSHA-required tests on all electrical equipment: a continuity test, and a terminal connection test. These tests are required: o Before first use o After any repairs, and before placing back in service o After suspected damage, and before returning to use o Every 3 months Maintain a written record of the required tests, identifying all equipment that passed the test and the last date it was tested (or the testing interval). Like the program description, make it available to OSHA inspectors and affected persons upon demand.

Using GFCIs in Conjunction with AEGCPs Although OSHA permits the use of an AEGCP in lieu of GFCIs, it would be a mistake to view the choice as strictly an either/or proposition. The best course of action is to use GFCIs in conjunction with an Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program. Taking this step will not eliminate the possibility of a costly electrical accident on the worksite, but it will significantly reduce the risk of injury or death due to ground faults. For more risk management tips, contact The Insurance Exchange at 301-279-5500.

Source: OSHA

This Risk Insights is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice. Design 2011 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.