Is the Relay Programmed?

Electrical protective devices are often installed or modified during capital projects, facility changes, retrofits, or due to changes related to arc flash incident energy reduction opportunities identified during completion of arc flash hazard incident energy analysis studies. During field implementation of Electrical Safety Programs and while performing external electrical safety audits it was discovered that Qualified Persons (e.g. Qualified Electrical Workers Low Voltage or High Voltage) did not know if the electrical protective devices had been commissioned and programmed and are functioning as intended, with a documented testing reported issued. When reviewing installed arc flash and shock equipment labels while completing an Energized Electrical Job Safety Planning form the Qualified person assumes the indicated incident energy and arc flash boundary are valid and the electrical protective devices are set to provide those incident energy and arc flash boundary results.This is a serious problem with respect to incident energy values and the arc flash boundary distance. Residual risk to the Qualified person would be “high” risk as they may be wearing arc flash PPE with an arc thermal performance value (ATPV) lower than the actual expected incident energy. When performing an energized electrical works task the potential for injury or damage to health would not be acceptable.