Energized Electrical Work Permit (EEWP)Energized Electrical Work Permit small 11 402x1024 Electrical Work Permit

NFPA 70E Arcticle 130, B.1

An EEWP (Energized Electrical Work Permit) is a document that is required by OSHA and NFPA 70E. It must be employed whenever it is necessary to work on live electrical equipment. An Energized Electrical Work Permit describes the following:

  • The circuit, equipment, and location of the job/task at hand.
  • The work that is to be done.
  • Justification of why the circuit or equipment cannot be de-energized or the work deferred until the next scheduled outage.

The EEWP document should also include a section for the Electrically Qualified Person to assess the task at hand and determine if the job can be done safely. In order to do this he or she must be able to provide the following information:

  • A detailed job description procedure to be used when performing the job/task at hand.
  • A description of the safe work practices to be employed.
  • Results of the Arc Flash Hazard Analysis and  Shock Hazard Analysis.
  • Shock Protection Boundaries.
  • Necessary personal protective equipment to safely perform the assigned task.
  • Means employed to restrict the access of unqualified persons from the work area.
  • Evidence of completion of a Job Briefing including discussion of any job-related hazards.

The document shall include the signatures (and dates) of the following personnel:

  • Electrically Qualified Person performing the job/task at hand
  • Manufacturing Manager
  • Safety Manager
  • General Manager
  • Maintenance or Engineering Manager
  • Electrically Knowledgeable Person

When do I need to employ an EEWP?

Justification of work on or near electrically exposed parts that are more than 50 volts to ground must be put into an electrically safe work condition.

The only two exceptions are:

1.   Situations where powering down equipment becomes an Increased hazard: This is common in situations where a medical facility may require uninterrupted electricity for life support systems. It is also common for machinery to store kinetic energy such as a compressed spring. This often will make a machine more dangerous to the worker, the facility, and the machine itself.

2.   When it is simply infeasible to power down: This is only when voltage reading and troubleshooting live components. Electrical equipment troubleshooting obviously has to be done when energized. OSHA recognizes and allows this without requiring the application of an Energized Electrical Work Permit. However, the ppe requirements posted on the arc flash warning label for that particular piece of equipment must still be applied and no physical work such as the addition or removal of components can be done without first employing an EEWP.

The overall purpose of an Energized Electrical Work Permit is to ensure that the hazards of working on or near exposed live parts receive adequate consideration. It also informs both equipment owners, managers, and workers that work on energized equipment is going to be performed in the facility.

Using the permit also ensures the worker that the increased costs (including the risk of serious injury or death) associated with working on or near an exposed electrical conductor that is energized is justified.

Above all, the use and very existence of this permit can also sometimes help management understand that the work performed on or near exposed energized parts is simply not worth the risk.


How do I go about getting an Energized Electrical Work Permit for my facility?

Developing and Energized Electrical Work Permit is an important part of creating an electrically safe work environment. The following steps will help you get started.

  1. The first step is to have an arc flash hazard study performed on your facility. This is necessary to find out what category of personal protection equipment you must utilize when working on live equipment. It will also provide approach boundary information, max fault current, and much more.
  2. The second step is to get the proper training for your staff. You must provide electrical safety training based on NFPA 70E to all personnel that works in or around electrical components. This is where you will receive more information about creating an electrically safe work environment, how to utilize an EEWP, and how to apply the necessary PPE.
  3. The final step is to acquire the PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) for your electrical workers.

ITU can help with all the above and more. Our affordable Arc Flash Analysis and Award winning NFPA 70E Electrical Safety Training will get your business or facility in compliance with OSHA and NFPA 70E with no up sells or strings attached. Our engineering services are faster and more thorough than any other Electrical Safety Company in the country.