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National Electric Code: Educate and Empower Your Employees with NFPA 70

According to Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), 54% of fatal accidents involving electrical current happened in the construction industry between 2003 and 2017. The industrial sector is just as vulnerable to injury or death caused by the improper handling of electrical current. In an effort to protect all electrical workers, the NEC and NFPA 70 were created.

What is the NEC and NFPA 70? How do they help industrial workers in their daily jobs? What are the benefits of safety training for industrial workers?

Defining NEC and NFPA 70

NEC is the acronym assigned to the National Electrical Code. This lengthy tome contains all the information needed to work safely with electrical currents in a variety of circumstances. The NEC is often referred to as the NFPA 70. This acronym stands for the National Fire Protection Association, which produces the codebook.

The NEC contains standards for electrical design, installation, and inspection. These regulations are meant to reduce the likelihood of fire damage from electrical systems. Many safety organizations, including OSHA, endorse the NEC and require their electrical workers to understand and uphold the ideas it presents.

Some of the things covered in the NEC include:

• Working with hydrogen technologies
• Guidelines for working with high and low voltage
• Wiring methods to reduce the chance of fire damage
• Safely configuring safety connections
• Arc flash hazards
• Maintaining safe work spaces
• Installing electricity indoors and outdoors
• Working in manholes

The NFPA 70 is an extensive collection of electrical knowledge geared towards create safe structures and power connections. All electrical workers should be familiar with its contents.

How the NFPA 70 Benefits Industrial Workers

Industrial settings are full of potential hazards. The NEC presents clear guidelines that keep workers safe from a number of threats. By adhering to these rules, industrial workers can protect themselves and their coworkers from:

• Electric shock. This is when electrical current enters the body. The victim may not suffer any outward signs of damage. However, exposure to electric shock can cause burns, internal injuries, or disrupt cardiac functions. Shock can also cause involuntary muscle contractions that contribute to falling accidents.
• Electrocution. This occurs when a large amount of current runs throughout the body. Like a severe case of electric shock, electrocution can lead to instant death or internal damages.
• Arc flash. When currents are not properly grounded, the heat it produces can combust gases in the air. This causes a bright flash of fire which can set structures on fire, melt metals, and cause severe physical damage to anyone in the area.
• Arc blast. This is the initial burst of flame that comes from an arc flash. This sudden, intense blast of heat acts like a supersonic shockwave, flashing outward in the space in which it occurs. Any equipment, material, or people in the area are likely to sustain heavy damage.

By following the guidelines given by the NEC, industrial workers can reduce the chance of falling victim to these painful and potentially fatal side effects.

Benefits of Safety Training for Industrial Workers

There are many advantages to live safety training for industrial workers.

The NFPA 70 is dense reading. Even if you can get through the highly technical information, it is impossible to retain the most important bits. A formal training ensures that workers remember the most important details for their daily work.

• Many industries require validation of industrial workers’ safety skills. By attending a formal training, workers are prepared to take certification tests and receive the right documentation to continue working.
• Safety training reduces workplace accidents. This benefits companies by reducing downtime, worker’s compensation payments, and lawsuits related to hazardous conditions.
• When workers are made aware of the potential dangers of certain actions, they are less likely to do dangerous things. Safety training points out the reasons why certain actions are unsafe.
• Safety training improves worker confidence. When workers feel empowered to keep themselves and their coworkers safe, they naturally become more satisfied and productive.

Get your employees the safety training they need to thrive and comply with the NFPA 70 – National Electric Code Practical Applications for Building and Facilities seminar from NTT Training. This instructor-led course takes participants through the finer points of the NEC that apply to industrial settings. Contact our representatives to reserve your session today.