Electrical Safety Tips: AEGCP vs. GFCI
Do You Know The Differences in Electrical Safety Options?
Electrical safety is crucial on any jobsite, not only for the workers but also for materials and equipment. Accidents involving electricity are common on jobsites. What can you do to prevent electrical injuries? When is comes to electrical safety there are two options to implement. Knowing these options and the differences between them can keep your workers and jobsite safe.
Electrical safety is particularly important in environments that rely on temporary power sources. Implementing an Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program (AEGCP) is not only an OSHA and NFPA 70E requirement but also a critical step in preventing electrical shocks, injuries, and fatalities.
A Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter, or GFCI, is a fast-acting circuit breaker designed to shut off electric power in the event of a ground-fault within as little as 1/40 of a second. The GFCI is rated to trip quickly enough to prevent an electrical incident.
What is the difference between the two electrical safety options?
Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program (AEGCP)
An AEGCP is a written company procedure or program that requires periodic testing of all equipment-grounding conductors of cord sets and of those connected to receptacles to ensure no faults will occur. AEGCPs are safety tools used to prevent electrical accidents caused by arc flashes in electrical equipment. They provide a checklist of safety measures including circuit breakers, grounding conductors, and equipment inspections.
Your company must keep records of the continuity and terminal connection tests. Moreover, a designated competent person must continuously enforce the AEGCP at the site. OSHA also provides guidance on the type of electrical safety testing equipment that must be used for specific jobs.
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)
A GFCI will detect an electrical imbalance between the energized conductor and the return neutral conductor. An imbalance occurs, for instance, when the current leaks from a tool through the body of a person who is grounded. At this point, the GFCI would trip and immediately stop the flow of power. GFCIs are available as portable devices or can be installed in a circuit. This is essentially a hardware requirement.
When a GFCI cannot be used due to design or because it creates a greater hazard by interrupting power for temporary wiring methods or extension cord sets providing power to portable electric tools, then a documented Assured Equipment-Grounding Conductor Program (AEGCP) is required to be maintained and implemented.
For construction applications, there are several types of GFCIs available, with some variations:
Receptacle Type:
The Receptacle Type incorporates a GFCI device within one or more receptacle outlets.
Portable Type:
Portable Type GFCIs come in several styles, all designed for easy transport. Some are designed to plug into existing non-GFCI outlets, or connect with a cord and plug arrangement.
Connected Type:
The Cord-Connected Type of GFCI is an attachment plug incorporating the GFCI module.
OSHA provides more information on these types of GCFI’s
OSHA’s electrical safety standards are designed to protect employees exposed to dangers such as electric shock, electrocution, fires, and explosions. Many workers are simply not aware of the potential electrical hazards present in their job site, which makes them more vulnerable to the danger of electrocution.
Don’t Delay- Get Started With Compliance Consultants, Inc, Today!
Compliance Consultants, Inc. encourages you not to overlook electrical safety on your job site. If you electrical safety gaps don’t delay in taking measures to prevent accidents.
Resources:
Here are electrical safety additional helpful tools from OSHA:
