Productively safer lock-out tag-out procedure with Permanent Electrical Safety Devices

The NFPA 70E raised the standard for electrical workplace safety and fundamentally transformed methods regarding electrical and mechanical maintenance, and troubleshooting. These higher safety standards have inspired improvements to electrical system designs that increases both uptime and productivity, and reduces workers' exposure to arc flash and shock hazard risks. End-users continue to challenge electrical professionals to develop ways to better maintain energized or de-energized electrical equipment in accordance with NFPA 70E. As a result, many end-users have installed Permanent Electrical Safety Devices (PESDs), which allow for thru-door voltage verification without voltage exposure, on the outside of energized electrical equipment making them safer and simplifying mechanical and electrical lock-out/tag-out procedures (LOTO). With Permanent Electrical Safety Devices (PESDs), workers can access the inside of the panel in a de-energized state without voltage exposure; a method which not only meets but exceeds the requirements of NFPA 70E 120.1(1-6)/CSA Z462 4.2.1. PESDs are, essentially, the PPE you don't wear, and provide necessary barriers between personnel and voltage. Because workers are on the outside of the panel, PESDs decreases the opportunity for arc flashes and shock incidents, which is the crux of NFPA 70E/CSA Z462.