This presentation will provide an overview of the methods and techniques that should be included in the design and installation of electrical systems to enhance safety and improve resiliency, efficiency, and sustainability. The core focus will be on ways to mitigate the impacts of natural and human-made disasters, climate change, and the scarcity of resources in the coming decades. Advanced and emerging technology such as augmented reality, blockchain cryptography, machine learning, additive manufacturing, cybersecurity, and connected transportation will be explored during the session. Past case studies will be analyzed along with the potential opportunities and challenges the electronic industry will face in the future.

Electrical injury can be associated with cognitive and behavioral health changes that often persist and are not well understood. In addition to physical concerns and chronic pain, problems with emotion regulation and cognitive difficulties can develop and if not adequately treated, these symptoms can interfere with the survivor’s functioning and quality of life. The focus of this presentation will be on the neuropsychological issues that can arise following electrical shock injuries based on research conducted over two decades at the Chicago Electrical Trauma Rehabilitation Institute.

This presentation addresses OSHA’s use of NFPA 70E in setting standards and enforcing electrical safety standards and the general duty clause. The presentation steps through the history of the Agency’s use of national consensus standards in rulemaking, starting with the initial adoption of standards, such as the National Electrical Code, without rulemaking. Today OSHA uses consensus documents as the underlying basis of regulations or as incorporations by reference, and the presentation explains the difference. The use of NFPA 70E in current standards is highlighted and detailed. Finally, the presentation goes over the Agency’s reliance on NFPA 70E in enforcing electrical safety standards and the general duty clause, discussing the how’s and why’s of enforcement in this context.

Our world is no longer recognizable from the one that existed when the National Electrical Code® first came to be. In fact, the speed of change that has occurred in the last 30 years has altered the electrical landscape in a way that has safety experts doing all they can to adapt codes and standards to this rapidly evolving environment. Join this roundtable discussion to hear just how the electrical landscape is changing. Topics being discussed include cybersecurity, power over Ethernet, alternative energy sources, electric vehicles, and more! The panelists will be experts from many different aspects of the electrical industry and will be available to answer questions.

Traditional grid-based power delivery is being adapted to incorporate many renewal power technologies. Distributed energy resources (DER) such as wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, and energy storage systems are utilized to supplement power from the utility-based grid system. These sources are also used within microgrids to ensure continuous power even when disconnected from the traditional grid. Deployment of distributed generation utilizing renewable energy systems along with conventional power sources is driving the evaluation and installation of microgrid systems. Over the past several cycles, codes and standards such as NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code®, and NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Code, have begun to introduce microgrids by establishing installation requirements. This session will discuss DER impact on power delivery and walk through the basics of a microgrid system, including practical considerations and examples based on successful installation experience.

This presentation is a summary of data collected from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on electrical incidents in occupational settings. By comparing the numbers based on geographic location, type of occupation, and commitment to electrical safety training we can see certain trends in the amount and severity of injuries due to electrical hazards. Recognizing these trends helps us develop actionable plans to reduce the incident numbers and drive a positive safety culture. This presentation also aims to show just how private enterprise can apply these lessons learned in order to avoid the negative ramifications that accompany an occupational injury from electrical hazards.

Prioritizing safety within an organization can be challenging because everyone must have a vested interest, the appropriate knowledge and the skill of applying that knowledge. In this session you will hear real examples from individuals who are responsible for electrical safety and who have implemented electrical safety training and credentialing within their organizations. They will share their experiences in: overcoming challenges of implementing and maintaining electrical safety training, the importance of outside contractors having the same level of electrical safety knowledge as employees, the positive effects that electrical safety training and work practices have within their organizations.

A new technology, fault managed power distribution, is being developed for residential and commercial power distribution and is purported to be advantageous to conventional distribution. The concept behind this technology is the use of monitoring and control systems to limit the amount of energy available during a fault to mitigate the risks of fire and electric shock. It has been proposed that cabling for these systems does not need to use conduit, armored cable, or other robust physical protection, with monitoring and control providing hazard mitigation. This potentially results in lower installation costs, increased configuration flexibility, and smaller physical cable size. The outcome is simpler electrical installations in settings that were previously inherently difficult. Covered are aspects of the technology, relation to electrical codes, and electric shock hazards within the scope of the technology. It is, however, understood that other hazards beyond electric shock require analysis.

Anything and everything you wanted to know about electrical safety and NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®, is fair game during this live virtual session where you drive the conversation. Panelists consist of NFPA staff, NFPA 70E committee members, and other select subject matter experts in the field of electrical safety. Tune in and ask your questions to the panel and get answers from the people that know electrical safety like the back of their hand.