Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program

ASSURED EQUIPMENT GROUNDING CONDUCTOR PROGRAM

In response to the OSHA- Standard CFR 1926.404 and 1910.309 (c) (3), COMPANY NAME has developed an assured grounding program.

SCOPE

This procedure describes the requirements to assure the installation and maintenance of equipment grounding conductors for temporary wiring on construction sites.

POLICY

Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI's) are not required for 120-volt single-phase, 15- and

20-ampere receptacle outlets WHERE ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THIS PROCEDURE ARE IMPLEMENTED AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE employees shall not use any equipment which has not met the requirements of this procedure.

This program shall have the following minimum requirements:

·  A written copy of this program, which shall be available at the jobsite for inspection and copying by the OSHA Inspector and any affected employee.

REQUIREMENTS

Equipment grounding conductors shall be installed and maintained in accordance with this procedure.

Installation - Equipment grounding conductors shall be installed as follows:

·  All 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles shall be of the grounding type and their contacts shall be grounded by connection to the equipment grounding conductor of the circuit supplying the receptacles in accordance with the applicable requirements of the National Electrical Code.

·  All 120-volt cord sets (extension cords) shall have an equipment grounding conductor which shall be connected to the grounding contacts of the connector on each end of the cord.

·  The exposed noncurrent-carrying metal parts of 120 volt cord and plug connected tools and equipment that are likely to become energized shall be grounded in accordance with the applicable requirements of the National Electrical Code.

Visual Inspection

·  Employees shall be instructed to visually inspect receptacles, flexible cord sets (extension cords), except those that are fixed and not exposed to damage, and equipment connected by cord and plug before each day's use for external defects such as deformed or missing pins for insulation damage and for indication of possible internal damage. Visual inspections are necessary for receptacles and sets which are fixed and not exposed to damage. Where there is evidence of damage, the item shall be taken out of service and tagged until tests and any required repairs have been made.

TESTING

COMPANY NAME will test all 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles which are not a part of the permanent wiring of the building or structure, 120-volt flexible cord sets, and 120-volt cord- and plug-connected equipment required to be grounded shall be tested as follows:

Testing Schedule - All required tests shall be performed by a competent person:

·  Before first use.

·  Before equipment is returned to service following any repairs.

·  Before equipment is used after any incident which can be reasonably suspected to have caused damage (for example, when a cord set is run over).

·  At intervals not to exceed 3 months, except that cord sets and receptacles which are fixed and not exposed to damage shall be tested at intervals not exceeding six months.

Test Records - Test verification shall be by means of numeric or color coded marking tape on the receptacle, cord set or equipment to identify that it has passed the test and to indicate the date (month).

Recording of testing will be by three copy logs. The record must indicate which equipment passed the test and the date it was tested or the interval for which it was tested.

One copy will be RETAINED at the jobsite with two copies transmitted to the office.

WINTER - White

SPRING - Green

SUMMER - Red

FALL - Orange

USE OF ELECTRIC CIRCUIT TESTING DEVICES

A suggested testing procedure is as follows:

·  Receptacle - Use receptacle tester to determine correct connections to terminals.

·  Cord Sets - First, plug the cord into a properly wired receptacle which has been tested as above. Then plug receptacle tester into the cord connector (female device) or cord set to determine both continuity of grounding conductor and correct connections to terminals.

·  Cord and Plug - Connected Equipment - Use continuity tester. Connect or touch one terminal of continuity tester to the metal frame of the equipment or tool and the other terminal to the grounding prong of the attachment cap plug at the end of the cord. An audible (bell) or visual (light) signal of the tester indicates that there is continuity of the grounding conductor. Although not required by OSHA, it is suggested that this test also be made between the metal frame and each of the other two prongs of the attachment cap plug. If there is a signal from this test, it indicates a possible ground fault and the tool should be checked further.