Tutorials

The IEEE IAS Electrical Safety Workshop is pleased to offer seven (7) tutorials. Four (4) will be presented on Tuesday morning and three (3) will be presented on Friday afternoon.

#DayPresentersTitleAbstract
1Tuesday, March 5,
8:00AM to 12:00PM
Christopher J. DeWaalArc Energy Reduction Compliance - NEC 240.87 Arc Flash Mitigation MethodsThe National Electrical Code (NEC) has a requirement to mitigate arc flash energy levels, given in 240.87 of the 2023 NEC and previous versions back to 2014. This section of the Code gives seven different options to users to reduce arc flash energy levels that all have their own applications, effectiveness, availability, costs, and maintenance requirements. There are also stipulations in 240.87 for testing and documenting any of the options that are chosen to meet the arc flash energy reduction requirements. This tutorial will compare and contrast the seven options, looking at which are appropriate for which applications, how effective each option is, what each option will cost in the short and long term. It will also include discussions on what documentation is needed to prove the energy reduction level to the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), and what performance testing may be required for each option by the AHJ.
2Tuesday, March 5,
8:00AM to 12:00PM
David RosewaterMedium and High Hazard Battery Safety Training TutorialThis is a train-the-trainer style tutorial to prepare experienced electrical workers to perform work safely on medium and high hazard batteries and to be able to train others to do so as well. The class will focus on applying risk assessment and the hierarchy of controls to energized battery work. This will be a supplemental class to existing electrical safety and lockout tagout programs and so will build on concepts already covered in those trainings. Modifications to traditional shock, arc flash, and thermal risk assessment are explained including edge cases. The tutorial will include quiz and test materials to gage student learning, an editable class guide, and guidance on implementing an observation component where the student demonstrates their knowledge on a real or simulated battery. This tutorial will prepare attendees to build or improve battery safety training at their own institutions or companies.
3Tuesday, March 5,
8:00AM to 12:00PM
Caitlyn HetzelTackling the Alarming Safety Knowledge Gap Among New Electrical WorkersWhen workers in the electrical trade go through schooling and on-the-job apprenticeships, it is all too common for electrical safety to be an afterthought. When workers are hired to perform electrical tasks, often times there’s minimal electrical safety training provided, if any. This is resulting in an alarming number of injuries within the first few years on the job, most of which go unreported due to fear of repercussions. This trend continues for many who, over the course of their careers, have never received the education they so desperately need to work safely and over time even influence newer workers to be unsafe, whether they realize it or not. This has been an issue for 50+ years. Advancements have been made for electrical safety in the workplace, so why haven’t the same advancements been made in the schooling of our electrical workers? In this tutorial, a deep dive will be taken into the troubling disconnect between expectations for electrical workers to perform their tasks safely by following the NFPA 70E and the lack of curriculum in trade schools covering safe work practices. The tutorial will give attendees the tools needed to make sure those performing electrical work are truly “qualified” to do so. It will also provide some guidance on how to bridge this knowledge gap, starting with examining the efforts at certain local trade schools of the author and how you can start the same initiatives in your area.
4Tuesday, March 5,
8:00AM to 12:00PM
Thomas Domitrovich, Nehad El-Sherif Reducing Risk Through Power Systems Analysis and Design When Confronting Conflicting Design Goals and Codes and Standards RequirementsDesign goals and codes and standards requirements can present conflicts with cost and safety goals leaving the design engineer with the challenge of meeting all of these goals and yet have a practical design. This tutorial will review some of these design goals and National Electrical Code requirements as well as NFPA 70E and NFPA 70B requirements to explore managing risk in power systems designs.

This tutorial will address the key following areas:

1. Risk. Build a foundation understanding of two main components of risk including likelihood and severity as they pertain to power systems competing goals.
2. Design Goals: This portion of the tutorial will entertain a discussion around fundamental design goals that present challenges to the design engineer who seeks to manage risk yet create a practical power system design.
3. Codes and Standards Requirements: A review of NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 70E, NFPA 70B, and other requirements that present challenges to the design engineer who seeks to manage risk. This portion of the tutorial will demonstrate how installation requirements seek to reduce either likelihood or severity or both but yet others may present the opposite effect.
4. Selective coordination: Selective coordination presents a challenge to arc flash safety goals. This portion of the tutorial will review selective coordination fundamentals, demonstrate the challenge to arc flash safety, and review design techniques to reach a compromise in managing risk.
5. Transformer applications: The first equipment on the secondary of each transformer in a power system presents unique challenges to safety and risk. This portion of the tutorial will demonstrate the challenge to arc flash and shock safety and entertain a discussion on design solutions to manage risk.

This tutorial will close with a review of some of the key challenges facing the power systems engineer when seeking to address somewhat competing goals and objects for their designs and review some of the key concepts to achieve compromise.
5Friday March 8
1:00PM to 5:00PM
Martin RobinsonDesigning Safe and Reliable Electrical Asset ProgramsThis workshop aims to introduce the attendees to the overall implementation concepts of a Reliability based asset management program and how they benefit their day-to-day operations. The workshop is designed to be an interactive forum, and attendee participation is essential to get the most out of the session. We will discuss the following topics
• The importance of safety and Reliability in electrical asset operations:
o Safety and Reliability are essential for any operation and how they can impact the bottom line.
• The benefits of operator-driven programs:
o The advantages of empowering operators to take ownership of their equipment and processes include increased safety, reduced downtime, and improved productivity.
• Program Training and support:
o Overview of the training and support that will need to be provided to the operators and how to analyze performance data.
• ODSR Program Management:
o Introduce devices and solutions and how they enable operators to quickly identify potential issues and take action to prevent problems before they occur.
• Program Implementation and follow-up:
o Explain the program's implementation process, including integrating existing systems and how performance data will be tracked and analyzed.
• Case studies/Success stories:
o Real-world examples of how ODSR programs have helped other companies improve safety and Reliability and helped them see real results in their bottom line.
• How ODSR can help drive the success of IIoT programs and Industry 4.0 initiatives
• Q&A: Reserve time for questions and answers doubts from the audience.

Overall, the key point of the workshop is to convey the value of an ODSR program and how it can help the attendees improve their electrical asset management plans.
6Friday March 8
1:00PM to 5:00PM
Lloyd GordonWorking Safely with Electric VehiclesWorking on the battery energy storage and complete assemblies of electric vehicles presents several unique challenges, including energized work, compact battery banks, and risk of shock, arc flash, and fire. Working on the battery banks requires special training and procedures, and this work is often done at the factory or by specially trained workers. There is no current worker safety standard for this work. Thus, training and procedures may be unique to one class or vehicle (passenger, bus, industrial, or marine). The National Institute for Automobile Service Excellence (ASE) has developed a level 1 and 2 certification for working on battery powered electrical vehicles and is developing a level 3.
This tutorial focuses on assembly, maintenance, and repair work on battery powered electric vehicle systems, including all classes of vehicles. Material to achieve ASE certification will be included. Working on the battery energy storage packs will be discussed. Also, dealing with failing and failed battery systems will be discussed.
Design requirements to minimize exposure will be discussed.
7Friday March 8
1:00PM to 5:00PM
Jay PrigmoreElectrical Failures - A Guide to Incident Response, Failure Analysis, and Potential Legal ProceedingsThis tutorial will cover 3-4 different types of electrical equipment incidents that can range from a SWGR arc flash incident, transformer gassing issue, generator stator-to-core failure, and an electric shock incident. It provides the background to the incidents, discusses the different responses, and explains why these responses are necessary. The Do’s and Don’ts both from a safety, engineering, operations, management, and legal perspective will be presented. Failure Analysis tools and Root Cause Analysis tools such as the Five Why’s method and 8D method serve the basis to identify root causes and prevent recurrent failures.

Best practices regarding each case histories initial incident’s response, securing the scene, evidence collection and retention, multi-party inspections (both non-destructive and destructive), and potential testimony concerns will be discussed. Communication methods best practices during a forensic investigation and access control for internal documents are also discussed.

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