Tips for Electrical Safety: AEGCP vs. GFCI
Do You Know The Differences in Electrical Safety?
Accidents involving electricity are common on construction jobsites. What can you do to prevent electrical injuries? When is comes to electrical safety do you know the difference between AEGCP and GFCI?
There are two options:
- Assured Equipment-Grounding Conductor Program (AEGCP)
- Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)
So, what is the difference between the two?
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. 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.
Whereas, 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.
OSHA’s electrical 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.
Resources:
Here is a link to OSHA’s website that might be useful:
https://www.osha.gov/electrical/construction
Here are additional tools from OSHA that you can use:
- Construction e-Tool: Electrical Incidents
- Construction e-Tool: Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program
- Construction e-Tool: Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFC)
Don’t Delay- Get Started Today!
Compliance Consultants, Inc. encourages you not to overlook electrical safety on your job site.
