MELTRIC Q&A

How can NFPA 70E help employers comply with OSHA’s CFR 1910.333 Standard?

NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, provides guidance, such as determining the severity of potential exposure, planning safe work practices, arc flash labeling, and selecting personal protective equipment.

What must an employer’s Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices include?

An employer’s Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices must include the determination of when it is necessary to establish an Electrically Safe Work Condition by disconnecting and isolating the circuit parts to be worked on from the energized circuit.

What is the most effective way to prevent electrical injury?

The most effective way to prevent electrical injury is to eliminate the hazards by establishing electrically safe working conditions. To do so, workers must identify and disconnect all possible sources of electrical energy and prevent its reappearance through effective lockout/tagout procedures.

What are the main provisions of Article 130 and why are they important?

Article 130 of NFPA 70E covers requirements for work involving electrical hazards such as electrical safety-related work practices, assessments, precautions, and procedures when an electrically safe work condition cannot be established.

When electrical conductors and circuits over 50 volts cannot be placed into an electrically safe work condition, and work is performed as permitted in accordance with NFPA 70E Section 110.4, the following requirements must be met:

• Only qualified persons are permitted to work on electrical conductors or circuits that have not been placed in an electrically safe work condition.
• A required energized electrical work permit shall be completed.
• Required shock and arc flash risk assessments shall be performed.

How do MELTRIC®’s switch-rated plugs and receptacles enhance safety without sacrificing functionality?

MELTRIC’s Switch-Rated plugs and receptacles combine the safety and functionality of a disconnect switch with the convenience of a plug and receptacle. They allow users to safely make and break connections under full load and provide significant protection in overload and short circuit conditions.

They are UL and CSA rated for:

• Branch circuit disconnect switching, up to 200A
• Motor circuit disconnect switching, up to 100 hp
• Short circuit closing and withstand, up to 100kA in circuits protected with RK1 current limiting fuse

What makes MELTRIC DS and DSN series switch-rated plugs and receptacles safer to use than standard pin and sleeve and twist type plugs and receptacles?

MELTRIC DS and DSN series switch-rated plugs and receptacles are designed and rated to function as a switch. Users can safely make and break connections, even in overload conditions. Switch-rated plugs and receptacles from MELTRIC provide a secure and foolproof means of ensuring user safety without the need for interlocks and safety switches required with other types of plugs and receptacles. A user is never exposed to live contacts while connecting or disconnecting.

Standard pin and sleeve and twist-type plugs and receptacles are not intended to be disconnected or connected under load. Doing so can be very hazardous because nothing prevents these devices from being connected and disconnected under load. In many applications, users are often exposed to these hazards. When interlocks are provided, their function is often defeated by the use of extension cords.

How do MELTRIC’s switch-rated plugs and receptacles simplify compliance with NFPA 70E?

MELTRIC’s Switch-Rated plugs and receptacles simplify compliance with NFPA 70E by eliminating the possibility of exposure to energized parts and arcing when making and breaking the electrical connections required to change out motors and other equipment. This avoids the need to take many of the special precautions required to ensure that workers are aware of and protected from the shock and arc-flash hazards that exist whenever work is performed on or around energized circuit components

Can you describe a Motor Change-out Process Comparison between MELTRIC switch-rated plugs & receptacles and a typical disconnect switch?

Changing out a pre-wired motor with MELTRIC is quick and simple. Pre-wiring can be done at a convenient time in the electrical shop helping to ensure proper motor rotation. With MELTRIC changeout downtime is reduced by up to 50%, equipment and installation costs are reduced by eliminating the need for interlocks and safety switches, and maintenance efficiency is improved by allowing mechanics to perform changeouts.

Change-out steps with MELTRIC:

1. Switch receptacle to ‘off’ position
2. Remove plug from receptacle
3. Apply lockout/tagout
4. Remove old/install new motor
5. Remove lockout/tagout
6. Insert plug into receptacle

Change-out Steps with a Typical disconnect switch:

1. Switch disconnect to ‘off’ position
2. Apply lockout/tagout
3. Perform Shock/Arc Flash Risk Assessment
4. Obtain permit for energized electrical work
5. Suit up with appropriate PPE
6. Remove the disconnect switch cover
7. Voltage test to verify deenergization
8. Disconnect motor from hard wiring
9. Remove old/install new motor
10. Connect new motor to hard wiring
11. Remove lockout/tagout
12. Turn disconnect to the ‘ON’ position
13. Remove and store PPE

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