Thanks Ron, I was aware that you were also interested in 70E and appreciate your comments.
Here's a bit from the front matter in 70E that I would like opinions on too:
The seventh edition, published in 2004, reflects several significant changes to the document. The major changes emphasize safe work practices. Clarity and usability of the document were also enhanced. The name of the document was changed to NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. The entire document was reformatted to comply with the NEC Style Manual, providing a unique designation for each requirement. The existing parts were renamed as chapters and were reorganized with the safety-related work practices relocated to the front of the document to highlight the emphasis, followed by safety-related maintenance requirements, safety requirements for special equipment, and safety-related installation requirements. The chapter on safety-related work practices also was reorganized to emphasize working on live parts as the last alternative work practice. An energized electrical work permit and related requirements were incorporated into the document. Several definitions were modified or added to enhance usability of the document, and Chapter 4 was updated to correlate with the 2002 NEC.
Essential to the proper use of Chapter 4 of this standard is the understanding that it is not intended to be applied as a design, installation, modification, or construction standard for an electrical installation or system. Its content has been intentionally limited in comparison to the content of the NEC in order to apply to an electrical installation or system as part of an
employee’s workplace. This standard is compatible with corresponding provisions of the NEC, but is not intended to, nor can it, be used in lieu of the NEC. It can be debated that all of the requirements of the NEC, when traced through a chain of events, may relate to an electrical hazard, but, for practical purposes, inclusion has not been made of those provisions that, in general, are not directly associated with employee safety. In determining what provisions should be included in Chapter 4, the following guidelines were used:
(1) Its provisions should give protection to the employee from electrical hazards.
(2) Its provisions should be excerpted from the NEC in a manner that maintains their intent as they apply to employee safety. In some cases it has been judged essential to the meaning of the excerpted passages to retain some material not applying to employee safety.
(3) The provisions should be selected in a manner that will reduce the need for frequent
revision, yet avoid technical obsolescence.
(4) Compliance with the provisions should be determined by means of an inspection during
the normal state of employee occupancy without removal of parts requiring shutdown of the electrical installation or by damaging the building structure or finish.
(5) The provisions should not be encumbered with unnecessary details.
(6) The provisions should be written to enhance their understanding by the employer and employee.
(7) The provisions must not add any requirements not found in the NEC, nor must the intent of the NEC be changed if the wording is changed.
Chapter 4 of NFPA 70E was therefore intended to serve a very specific need of OSHA
and is in no way intended to be used as a substitute for the NEC. Omission of any requirements presently in the NEC does not in any way affect the NEC, nor should these omitted requirements be considered as unimportant. They are essential to the NEC and its intended application, that is, its use by those who design, install, and inspect electrical installations.
NFPA 70E, on the other hand, is intended for use by employers, employees, and OSHA.
Please note that Chapter 4 was updated to correlate with the 2002 NEC.
Look here for some useful information concerning this subject:
http://www.ieisa.com/Arcblast.html [This message has been edited by Joe Tedesco (edited 06-28-2005).]
