E-Books: Electrical Safety Code Manual

Electrical Safety Code Manual by Kimberley Keller. A Plain Language Guide to National Electrical Code, OSHA, and NFPA 70E. This book will tie together the various regulations and practices for electrical safety and translate these complicated standards into easy-to-understand terms. Even veteran master electricians will find it informative and gain a new understanding of how to minimize their exposure to possible injury. After all, you’re worth it. Employers, electricians, electrical system designers, inspectors, engineers, and architects must all comply with safety standards listed in the National Electrical Code, OSHA, and NFPA 70E.

All construction trades come with a degree of physical risk. Early in our country’s industrial history tradesmen discovered through trial and error which construction methods were the easiest to perform. Unfortunately,
easier was not necessarily safer, and many tradesmen were injured or even killed performing their jobs. Over time other factors surfaced, such as the results of poor quality construction methods that lead to the destruction of property. The potential for electricity to start fires, burn, shock, and even kill became quickly apparent and it was obvious that a set of guidelines was needed to reduce the likelihood of damage to both property and people.

By the late 1800s, more and more people were depending on electricity to power an ever-increasing number of conveniences from light bulbs to elevators. Installation techniques were based on trial-and-error, experience, and best judgment. This left the door open to a multitude of installation techniques, a complete lack of continuity, and a dramatic increase in the number of injuries and fires caused by electricity. Coincidentally, in 1890 Edwin R. Davis, an Auburn Prison electrician, designed the electric chair that utilized 1400 V of direct electrical current for the sole purpose of causing death. Its first use in August of that year was a gruesome example that electricity could kill a person.

*Electrical Safety Code Manual Book Cover*

Between the increasing demand for electricity and the shocking reality of its deadly potential, it is not surprising that the need became apparent for some kind of uniform regulation process for electrical installations.

In 1897 the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) issued the National Electrical Code (NEC), commonly known today as the NEC. Since that time, the NEC has instituted standards designed to protect both people and property from electrical damage. Although the NEC is not itself a U.S. law, it is commonly mandated by state and local laws.

The need for standardized code
The benefit of having one standardized set of regulations is clear. In the U.S., any person, company, or principality can be sued for creating a negligent situation that results in the loss of life or property. Never in the city issuing building permits exempt from this civil liability.
Negligence is generally defined as a failure to use reasonable care or prudence which results in injury or damage to a person or property. In order to establish reasonable care, uniform standards are needed which establish best practices for safety in trades and industry.
A municipality can best avoid lawsuits by focusing on a single source of proven safety codes, and the NEC has become the most widely accepted standard set for electrical requirements. Most states require electrical installations to be inspected for compliance with the standards of the NEC. A failed inspection will cost you time and money to fix and can stop your project in its tracks. Additionally, a majority of states also base their licensing programs and mandatory examinations on

The Contents of Electrical Safety Code Manual