Unqualified workers shall not perform any work for which a Qualified Electrical Worker is required. Electrical safety principles dictate that only properly qualified persons perform work on electrical equipment. This includes testing, troubleshooting and voltage measuring within the Limited Approach Boundary of energized electrical conductors or circuit parts operating at 50 volts or more or where an electrical hazard exists. This also includes building and modifying electrical equipment. See Pub 3000, Chapter 8, Work Process X for more information about who can become a Qualified Electrical Worker at Berkeley Lab.
Unqualified workers may perform work around or with electrical equipment provided the safe work practices in this section are followed. Failure to follow these work practices could lead to a shock or fire hazard that could significantly impair the science mission of the Laboratory.
Safe work practices for the unqualified person can generally be subdivided into the following categories:
- Proper handling and use of cord- and plug- connected equipment.
- Ensuring that electrical equipment is listed by an NRTL or inspected and found acceptable by the Electrical AHJ for non-NRTL equipment. The equipment must not be modified and must be used in accordance with its listing intent.
- Reporting all instances of defective electrical equipment for repair by a Qualified Electrical Worker.
- Proper safe work practices for switching electrical disconnects and circuit breakers.