Hospitals must face the inevitability of more electrical shutdowns as NFPA 70E-2012: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace becomes yet more stringent and other needs require shutdown of the hospital’s electrical system. Electrical equipment requires regular repair or maintenance, yet this critical work is often deferred because it is too difficult to gain approval to turn off the power. As well, some Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services validation surveyors have been requesting evidence of circuit breaker inspections and periodic exercising, which can necessitate shutdowns at various levels of the hospital power system, including hospital mains. This session will enable you to—
• Demonstrate the need to plan, communicate, train, and conduct safe, effective building-wide electrical shutdowns based on specific case studies and lessons learned.
• Compare previous NFPA 70E editions with the 2012 edition in terms of the need to increase focus on electrical arc flash safety.