Page 42 - IEC Insights Jan-Feb2019

SAFETY CORNER

and we estimate the possible severity and risks taken by providing guidance to determine the protective measures
of that injury. We then make a decision for safe work practices. The fact is when and steps necessary to eliminate the
without realizing that we have just working around energized equipment, hazard, reduce the severity or likelihood
completed a risk assessment and either our acceptance of risk and understanding of injury or damage to health.
accepted a level of risk or not or took of hazards has to be closely aligned with
steps to reduce risk. For example, there everyone around you because one mistake As always, keep safety at the top of
are individuals who will not jump out of impacts more than one individual. your list and ensure you and those
a perfectly good airplane because they around you live to see another day.
have identified the hazards, estimated The electrical worker must perform
the severity of injury and the likelihood a risk assessment per NFPA 70E. A Thomas Domitrovich, P.E. is VP of Technical
of that happening to them and made risk assessment is defined as “An Sales for Eaton’s Bussmann business
a decision to avoid it. Others look at overall process that identifies hazards, within the Circuit Protection Division of
that same activity, assess the hazards estimates the likelihood of occurrence Eaton Corporation. Thomas is based out
and act to mitigate those hazards by of injury or damage to health, estimates of St. Louis, MO and is an experienced
taking steps to reduce the likelihood the potential severity of injury or power systems electrical engineer. He
of injury by obtaining the best quality damage to health, and determines if is a LEED Accredited Professional and
parachute, the best quality training, protective measures are required.” a licensed Professional Engineer in the
and preparing through practice and state of Pennsylvania. In addition to
other precautionary steps necessary for This is why it is important that we other codes and standards, Thomas is
the jump. We all have our inner level understand what the hazards are with Principle member on Code Making Panel
of risk acceptance as well. Some will all of the equipment with which we 2 for the National Electrical Code (NFPA
live more dangerously than others. work, the risk involved with the work 70) and an Alternate member on NFPA
we are doing and the severity of injury 73 for electrical inspections of existing
Documents like NFPA 70E seek to level should something go wrong. Once we dwelling units both representing NEMA.
the playing field with regard to hazards have this recipe, we can chart the course

The fact is when working

around energized equipment,

our acceptance of risk and

understanding of hazards

has to be closely aligned

with everyone around you

because one mistake impacts

more than one individual.

40 Insights Magazine | January/February 2019 | www.ieci.org