Safety-related Work Practices - CSA Z462:24

Jim Roberts

Jim Roberts brings over 43 years of experience in the electrical field. A graduate from the Georgian College Electrical Engineering program, he started his career at Toronto Hydro Electrical Systems as a High Voltage Underground Cable Fault Technician then proceeded to Toronto Transit Commission where he obtained his red seal 309A el...

Safety-related Work Practices - CSA Z462:24

By Jim Roberts,

The CSA Z462:2024 update includes several significant changes and additions to safety-related work practices, ensuring comprehensive protection and compliance in workplace electrical safety. Here are the detailed updates:

1. Tools and Equipment

  • Clause 6.3.4: Emphasizes the use of insulating hand tools for battery terminations, specifying the selection of length and insulation to minimize inadvertent contact. This change aims to reduce the risk of electrical shock when working with batteries.

2. Safety-related Work Practices for Specific Equipment

  • Lasers:
    • Clause 6.4: Introduces significant content additions and language updates concerning the safe use of lasers in electrical work. These updates are adapted from NFPA 70E 2024 Edition and ensure that workers are protected from the specific hazards associated with laser use.
  • Power Electronic Equipment:
    • Clause 6.5: Adds new safety-related work practices for power electronic equipment, incorporating content from NFPA 70E. This includes identifying electrical hazards and establishing safe working conditions around such equipment.
  • Capacitors:
    • Clause 6.7: Introduces new requirements specifically for working with capacitors, including procedures to safely discharge stored energy and mitigate associated risks. Annex W supports this clause with detailed figures, tables, and equations.

3. Establishing Electrically Safe Work Conditions

  • Verification of Absence of Voltage: A critical update requires verification of an electrically safe work condition by testing each phase conductor or circuit part for the absence of voltage at each point of work rather than upstream. This ensures that all potential sources of electrical energy are de-energized before work begins.

4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

  • Leather Protectors: Renamed to "Protectors" to include new materials that enhance protection, such as cut-resistant fabrics. The standard ASTM F3258 now covers these non-leather protectors, providing flexibility in PPE choices while maintaining safety standards.

5. Emergency Response and Job Safety Planning

  • Emergency Response Plans: New requirements mandate the inclusion of emergency response plans in job safety planning. This aligns with the need for contact release training for all qualified electrical workers, ensuring preparedness for electrical incidents.

6. Exemptions for Energized Electrical Work Permit

  • Clause 4.3.2.3: Expands the list of activities exempted from requiring an energized electrical work permit. This streamlines procedures for specific tasks, reducing administrative burdens while maintaining safety.

7. Battery and Capacitor Safety

  • Energy Thresholds and Safety Practices: Updates to safety requirements related to batteries include revised energy thresholds and added information on battery risk assessment. These updates ensure that workers are aware of and can mitigate the risks associated with working on or near batteries and capacitors.

These updates reflect the latest advancements in electrical safety and provide clearer, more detailed guidelines to enhance worker protection and compliance with workplace safety standards. Employers must integrate these changes into their safety programs, ensuring that all workers are trained and equipped according to the updated CSA Z462 standard.

To learn more and improve your understanding of electrical safety, explore our specialized courses:

These courses provide practical training and essential knowledge to ensure your team’s compliance with CSA Z462 and workplace safety standards.

Discover other updates and changes that came with the recent CSA Z462:24 update:

https://www.canada-training-group.ca/mind-your-safety/97/updates-and-changes-that-came-with-the-recent-csa-z462-24-update

Discover other updates and changes that came with the recent CSA Z462:24 update:

https://www.canada-training-group.ca/mind-your-safety/97/updates-and-changes-that-came-with-the-recent-csa-z462-24-update