National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 3

Addressing the Wildfire Crisis at NFPA Conference & Expo

The threat of wildfire in the U.S. and around the world is becoming increasingly prevalent and dangerous, posing greater risks to people and property. NFPA® works with organizations everywhere to raise awareness about the ways to reduce the risk of wildfire hazards. At this year’s Conference & Expo there are several great sessions that delve into wildfire issues including the relationship between wildfire and building codes, public education, testing and research, evacuation planning, community resilience, and more.At an early morning session on Monday, Robert Marshall from Whisker Labs and Bob Roper from Western Fire Chiefsspoke to an engaged audience about the role utility companies play in wildfire ignitions. According to the speakers, about 10 percent of wildfires are caused by ignitions from downed power lines or faulty electric transmission lines, and power lines have been involved about 50 percent of the most damaging California fires, including the Dixie, Camp, and Kincade fires.Marshall and Roper emphasized the need for more preventative measures, such as establishing a state warning control center to help monitor transmission systems to detect home electrical hazards like electrical faults or loose electrical connections that could ultimately lead to a wildfire. A good approach to this challenge, Roper said, is having the ability to predict and prevent the failure of transmission systems and equipment on the grid by using data to inform response. Roper went on to say that home sensors, developed by Ting, part of Whisker Labs, a Maryland technology company whose specialty is uncovering home hazards using data and sensor science to enhance safety, are bringing solutions to the forefront. While the data is most often used in real time, helping stop a fire before it happens, documenting all home electrical fires and providing insights on the type of home, location, and other data points associated with the home provides us with teachable moments that can inform what we do in the future.“It’s all about prevention and bringing homeowners, fire organizations, utilities, and other groups together to share learnings and help prevent more tragedies from happening,” said Marshall. “The more data we have, the better intel we can share, and that puts us in a much better position to help everyone.”Dive deeper into the subject by listening to an October 2022 podcast episode hosted by NFPA Journal editor Jesse Roman. In the episode, Jesse speaks to author and Wall Street Journal energy reporter Katherine Blunt, whose book California Burning takes a deep dive into how the actions of Pacific Gas & Electric, the changing climate, and state energy policy are contributing to the overall wildfire problem in California.  While at the Conference, don’t forget to stop by the public education kiosk at the NFPA booth to speak to NFPA staff from the Wildfire division. They can help answer any questions you have, including information about our flagship wildfire programs, Firewise USA® and Outthink Wildfire™.

The World of the Fire Protection Handbook Comes to the NFPA Conference & Expo

As you may have heard, NFPA has released the 21st edition of its flagship publication, the Fire Protection Handbook (FPH). It’s been 15 years since NFPA has released a new edition and the response has been positively overwhelming. Dubbed the most comprehensive, one-of-a-kind guide for fire and life safety students and professionals, the guide features content reflecting the very latest fire protection and fire safety information, research and data, emerging technologies, and safety practices. Since 1896, the FPH (previously called the Handbook of the Underwriter’s Bureau of New England) has been supporting practitioners as they advance in their careers, providing them with the answers they need to their fire protection questions.If you want to learn more about the handbook or are thinking about purchasing this latest edition for yourself or your office, library, or department, you won’t want to miss a special NFPA Conference & Expo® session happening today (Tuesday) at 11 a.m. in Oceanside D.During the session, Kristin Bigda, NFPA publications strategy director, and Jonathan Hart, NFPA technical lead for Engineering Technical Services, will take your questions and talk about how the world of fire protection has changed in the nearly two decades since the last edition of the FPH was published, and how this evolution is reflected in the many chapters of the 21st edition of the handbook. Interested in real world application? They’ll also provide examples of how the FPH is helping professionals everywhere grow their confidence and understanding of fire safety practices in our ever-changing workplace environment.Did you know that the handbook also forms the required body of knowledge for candidates pursuing the NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) exam? The CFPS is internationally recognized as the gold standard in certification for fire protection professionals to demonstrate their proficiency in fire safety, protection, prevention, and suppression technologies.Effective January 2024, the CFPS certification exam will be based on the new edition of the Fire Protection Handbook, but until then, the exam will continue to be based on the 20th edition of the handbook. Please note that if you’re a fire protection professional who wishes to certify before the updated exam is launched, you can schedule to take the exam before January. For more information about the CFPS certification and the upcoming exam updates, visit nfpa.org/cfps.For those of you who have ordered a copy of the handbook to be delivered here at the Conference, don’t forget to pick it up at the NFPA Marketplace, right outside the Expo Hall in the Shoreline Foyer. A special offer is available for participants here at the Conference. If you buy now, you’ll get 10 percent off the Fire Protection Handbook (NFPA members receive an additional 10 percent discount). And while you’re in the Marketplace, take a moment to check out all the great NFPA merchandise and view some of the other NFPA publications of interest to you. We look forward to seeing you there!

A Better Understanding of NFPA 70E: Part II – Be Vigilant When You Work in These Locations

Investigating several aspects of electrical fatalities can help employers move toward further decreasing them. The first thing being investigated in this series is where these fatalities occur. It is common for all employees to interact with electrical equipment during their workday, but it should be uncommon for an employee to be exposed to electrical hazards. However, fatalities have occurred at most work locations. The chart below shows the percentage of electrical fatalities by the workplace location, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. Unlike other BLS categories, there should not be much overlap when it comes to the location of a fatality, but there is some. I did not separate them out.I could not find a BLS definition of home as a workplace, but I expect that it includes trades that go to a home to conduct work (HVAC, plumbing, roofing, painting, groundskeeping, etc.) as well as a person working from home. Surprisingly, a home accounts for the most fatalities due to exposure to electricity (32%). An industrial facility is second at 29%. Even though the number of employees working from home increased from 19% in 2019 to 39% in 2020, this does not appear to have skewed the numbers. For example, home as a workplace accounted for 28% of workplace exposure to electricity fatalities in 2011. Home improvement, remodeling, repair, and landscaping businesses are often underregulated. In addition, small companies may be exempt from some OSHA regulations. These could be contributing factors for these home fatalities. These fatalities might also be due to many trades incorrectly considering a home to not be a workplace covered by NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®, or considering household voltage to not be an electrical hazard.RELATED: Register for a July 11 webinar from NFPA® on enhancing electrical safety in the workplaceWith all construction occupations accounting for 48% of electrical fatalities, I expected residential (10%) and non-residential construction sites (12%)—road construction being an example of another type of construction site—to account for the most fatalities on this chart. Combined, these two account for 22% of all electrical fatalities which makes them third for fatalities.The fourth location, streets and highways, was also unexpected. The fatalities (11%) are on par with non-residential construction sites (12%). Public buildings account for 9% of fatalities. Factories and farms are both slightly over 7% of electrical fatalities. Less than 1% of these fatalities occurred in office buildings.I don’t post these blogs just provide you something to read. These blogs are so that you can adjust the way you think and work. Make sure that you are aware of the electrical hazards when working at any location. Take the steps required in NFPA 70E and your company’s electrical safety program to protect yourself from becoming a fatality. Do not let your guard down if you work at a home for any reason. That nearly one-third of exposure to electricity fatalities occur while working at a home is probably as big of a surprise to you as it was to me.

Electrical Safety an Important Focus at NFPA Conference & Expo

For professionals who use the NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code®, and NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®, on a regular basis, you know the importance both play when it comes to the installation of safe electrical systems and the safety of workers. But did you know that NFPA 70B, Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance, also plays a key role in creating a safe working environment?That was the focus of an early morning session today at the NFPA Conference & Expo® here in Las Vegas. David Weszely and Jay Smith of the SEAM Group, a global leader in energized asset performance, said while changes to the latest edition of 70E are few, 70B is “new,” as it recently transitioned from a recommended practice to a standard, meaning it can now be both utilized and enforced in facilities.According to Weszely, “As a standard, it means that the condition of maintenance for electrical equipment is recognized as a hazard. That’s important. If equipment is not maintained, you’re going to have equipment failure and people are going to get hurt. You start to see how everything is connected.”NFPA commonly refers to the grouping of the NEC, 70E, and 70B, as “the cycle of safety.” NFPA senior electrical content specialist, Corey Hannahs, explains it this way in a blog: “While each piece of the cycle covers a specific area, they must be used in unison in order to provide the safest electrical system possible, being installed in the safest manner. NFPA 70B deals with electrical equipment maintenance, NFPA 70 stipulates the installation rules that are necessary for a proper installation, and NFPA 70E provides the safe work practices necessary to ensure that the installation and maintenance is done safely by the individuals performing the work. When the three are used simultaneously, and correctly, they provide for a complete electrical safety cycle. When one or more pieces are missing, it leaves the door open for catastrophic accidents—even death.”During the hour-long session, Smith and Weszely touched on several topics related to workplace safety, including regulations set forth by OSHA, arc flash assessments, preventive maintenance, infrared inspections, and lockout/tagout procedures.Both Weszely and Smith maintain that it takes everyone working together to create a safe working environment. Whether you’re a technician, operations leader, maintenance or safety professional, the health and safety of workers is everyone’s responsibility, regardless of your role. And training, they say, is the key to getting us all there.While this particular session has now ended, the discussions around electrical safety are continuing. At this year’s Conference & Expo, we’ve put together an informative lineup of sessions and events that delve into a wide range of topics related to electrical safety.This morning, Brandon Schroeder’s powerful session, “Believe in Safety: An Arc Flash Survivor’s Perspective” held the audience captive. Brandon has been a regular guest at our Conference. His personal story of surviving an arc flash explosion while on the job in 2011 is one that all electrical professionals should hear. With passion for the importance of investing in and believing in safety, Brandon started his own company dedicated to sharing the message of electrical workplace safety to hundreds of professionals and organizations across the country every year.As electrical professionals, working safely allows you to return home unharmed after every shift. It’s up to everyone to apply the knowledge we’ve learned to our everyday tasks and to share this knowledge with others. At 2 p.m. PT today in Lagoon GH, join colleagues to learn more about OSHA’s electrical safety requirements in the workplace. If you manage a team, this session will explain how your company can help provide an electrical risk-free workplace for everyone involved in a project.Looking to network with other electrical safety specialists? You’ll want to visit the Electrical Safety Pavilion located on the Expo floor adjacent to the Service Center area. Here you can meet with industry colleagues, check out products, and talk to other companies interested in electrical safety.But the conversation doesn’t finish at C&E. On July 11, join NFPA for a special “How to Enhance Workplace Electrical Safety at Your Company” webinar that will take a closer look at the latest statistics on electrical injuries and deaths in the workplace, and include a discussion about why investing both time and money into safety training for employees is critical. Following the one-hour webinar, which starts at 1 p.m. EST, participants can take advantage of the number of NFPA resources and free information available. Register now and join us for this important conversation.  With so much at stake, it’s important that electrical professionals get the information, training, and resources they need to do their job well and with safety top of mind. Visit the C&E website or your NFPA C&E app to find more electrical safety-related sessions and events tailored for both your professional and individual needs. 

ESS Presentations at NFPA C&E Address a Wide Range of Issues, Including the Hazards They Present and Tactical Approaches for Mitigation

With the growing prevalence of energy storage systems (ESS), fire departments have responded to an increasing number of associated incidents, presenting new challenges for firefighters. At Responding to Residential ESS Incidents: Tactical Considerations, an educational session on Monday morning at the NFPA Conference & Expo® (C&E), Sean DeCrane, IAFF Health and Safety Operational Services; Adam Barowy, UL Solutions; and Alex Schraiber, UL Solutions, provided an overview of two research projects that establish size-up and tactical considerations for responding to residential ESS failures.DeCrane, who served as the primary presenter, reinforced that first responders need to be adequately prepared to respond to incidents now and in the future as these technologies continue to advance and change. “There are no hard and fast rules for doing this,” DeCrane said. “We need to give firefighters the best information that can be provided so that we can help them make informed decisions that enable them to protect themselves and their crews.”An NFPA Journal article, “ESS Prep,” by Angelo Verzoni highlights improved ESS training and regulation as keys to a safe coexistence with this evolving and complex hazard.In addition, a series of ESS educational sessions hosted at C&E are addressing ESS and lithium-ion batteries from various angles. Today’s Energy Storage Systems and Microgrid Resiliency session covers what constitutes a smart grid and how it can help achieve electrical system resiliency in small-, medium-, and large-scale applications. Attendees will hear how energy management systems are finding more use in business today and how NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code®, can help manage and control electrical loads.ESS Lifecycle Considerations: From Pre-Planning to Decommissioning, also held today, features a diverse group of experts discussing the roles, responsibilities, and considerations for ESS projects over their lifecycle, from the preplanning phase to design, installation, and operation to decommissioning (with and without failure). This panel discussion offers perspectives from manufacturers, AHJs, FPEs/consultants, developer/installer/maintainers, and insurance and fire service.These are just a few of the many lithium-ion and ESS presentations hosted at C&E this week, reflecting the many risks they present in today’s world. To learn more about ESS, visit nfpa.org/ESS.

U.S. Civilian Fire Death Rates Present Concerning Trends

The United States has made remarkable progress in fire safety since 1980, witnessing a decrease in both fires and fire-related deaths. This positive trend can be attributed to various factors, including improved building codes, enhanced fire suppression systems, increased awareness, and better fire prevention strategies.To gain deeper insights into recent trends, NFPA® recently released the report Fire Loss in the United States During 2021, which highlights fire incidents and deaths in recent years. Its findings highlight the increase in reported fire incidents and related fatalities as well as the importance of promoting fire prevention, education, and preparedness efforts. It also sheds light on the disconcerting increase in the rate of injuries and deaths in reported home fires since 1980.As NFPA Fire Analysis Research Manager Shelby Hall and NFPA Director of Research Birgitte Messerschmidt discussed during the NFPA C&E session Civilian Fire Death Rate Trends from 1980 - 2021, the findings call for urgent attention and emphasize the need for enhanced fire safety measures.According to the report, the rate of injury and death in reported home fires is higher now than it was in 1980. While improvements have been made in fire prevention and safety measures, the data reveals that these efforts have not been sufficient to control the rising casualties. The estimate of total fires in 2021 was 55% lower than in 1980, while fire death and injury estimates were 42% and 44% lower, respectively, over the same period. In 2021, local fire departments, including departments protecting towns, townships, cities, and counties, responded to an estimated 1,353,500 fires in the U.S. These fires caused an estimated 3,800 civilian deaths, 14,700 civilian injuries, and $15.9 billion in direct property damage. Meanwhile, direct property damage decreased by 30 percent compared to the property damage in 2020.“Tackling this alarming trend requires a concerted effort involving education, regulatory measures, technological advancements, and community engagement,” said Messerschmidt. “Understanding the underlying causes and developing comprehensive solutions is paramount to reducing these incidents and protecting lives.”

NFPA General Session Spotlights Embracing Digital Transformation for Enhanced Safety

In an inspiring speech at the General Session of the annual NFPA Conference and Expo® in Las Vegas, NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley called for embracing digital transformation and evolving safety measures to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.  Speaking to a diverse audience from all 50 states and more than 60 countries, Pauley discussed the profound impact of digital transformation on everyday activities and emphasized the necessity of adapting to these changes to create value for users, improve efficiency, and achieve better outcomes. He highlighted the statistics, revealing that digital transformation initiatives are expected to attract $2.3 trillion in spending this year, with 90% of executives believing it will fundamentally alter their industries.  Pauley also stressed the need for advanced safety measures alongside new technologies, specifically mentioning lithium-ion batteries powering an array of devices and large-scale energy storage systems worldwide. He drew attention to tragic incidents and pointed to NFPA's role in mitigating these risks through the development of standards, training professionals, and conducting research. The CEO also spotlighted the persistent threats of home fires and wildfires. He reported an upward trend in home fire deaths over the last decade, with approximately 75% of fire deaths occurring in homes. He argued for the implementation of working smoke alarms and sprinklers, mentioning the NFPA Fire and Life Safety Ecosystem's role in facilitating this. Pauley also touched upon the association's Outthink Wildfire initiative, which encourages stronger policy action in wildfire-prone regions. Turning to NFPA's own journey in digital transformation, Pauley detailed the evolution of the association's flagship digital platform, NFPA LiNK. The platform, housing nearly 1500 of NFPA's codes and standards in multiple languages, provides real-time, easy access to safety regulations and has expanded considerably since its inception. It supports companies, government entities, and individuals alike in their pursuit of digital transformation. Pauley also spoke about NFPA's digital push in its training and certification programs, mentioning the availability of over 300 online courses and introducing an augmented reality learning experience for wildfire mitigation. NFPA's online electric vehicle training program has now reached over three hundred thousand first responders. Lastly, the CEO announced a revamped NFPA website, set to provide a seamless, intuitive user experience with enhanced search capabilities and an integrated translation platform when it goes live later this summer. He urged attendees to provide feedback on the new site at the NFPA booth at the Expo.In closing, Pauley underscored NFPA's resolve to tackle the fire, life, and electrical safety challenges of our times, highlighting the community's integral role in this journey. He ended his address with an inclusive call to action: "It’s a Big World. Let’s Protect it Together."

NFPA announces recipients of its Stars at Night awards gala in Las Vegas

NFPA held its Stars at Night awards gala in Las Vegas to honor the individuals who have distinguished themselves across seven unique award categories. These awards, which represent the utmost recognition bestowed by NFPA and the Fire Protection Research Foundation, celebrate the dedication, ingenuity, and a relentless spirit of service that each of them has shown in the name of fire and life safety.Following are the awards presented and the recipients of each:Fire & Life Safety Educator of the YearJessica Xenakis, life safety education coordinator with the Virginia Beach Fire Department, received the 2023 Fire & Life Safety Educator of the Year Award for her innovative fire safety education efforts.2022 Fire Protection Research Foundation MedalJerry Back, Casey Grant, Edward Hawthorne, and Noah Lieb received the 2022 Fire Protection Research Foundation Medal, recognizing the outstanding contributions for their project “Firefighting Foams: A Fire Service Roadmap.”Harry C. Bigglestone AwardJens Kristensen, Benjamin Jacobs, and Grunde Jomaas are the winners of the 2023 Harry C. Bigglestone Award, which is given annually for a paper published in Fire Technology that best represents excellence in communicating fire protection concepts.The Standards MedalDaniel J. O'Connor, a technical fellow at Jensen Hughes and a member of the 2023 NFPA Standards Council, received the prestigious Standards Medal, which recognizes outstanding contributions to fire safety and the development of NFPA codes and standards.James M. Shannon Advocacy MedalChief Ron Siarnicki received the 2023 James M. Shannon Advocacy Medal, which honors individuals who fervently champion fire safety through advocacy, much like past NFPA Jim Shannon, a tireless fire safety advocate.2023 Distinguished Service Award Dr. James Milke, professor and chair of the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at the University of Maryland, received the 2023 Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes extraordinary achievements and longstanding commitment to the NFPA mission.DiNenno PrizeGöran Sundholm, Jerry Back, Jack Mawhinney, and Magnus Arvidson received the Philip J. DiNenno Prize, which celebrates extraordinary contributions to fire safety, recognizing technological innovations impacting building, fire, and electrical safety.Congratulations to all last night’s award recipients – each of them has helped make our world a safer place to live and work. 

Updated 2022 edition of NFPA 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments, now published and available

NFPA has now published an updated 2022 edition of NFPA 1582, which includes the changes from TIA 1582-22-1, establishing a single set of medical requirements and evaluations that are equally applicable to both members and candidates. This updated version can be found on NFPA LiNK, NFPAFree Access, and as hardcopies.   NFPA 1582 is a standard that provides information and guidance for physicians and other health care providers responsible for fire department occupational medical programs. The medical requirements are intended to be part of an evaluation to ensure that candidates and current members are capable of performing their required duties and reduce the risk of occupational injuries and illnesses.The 2022 edition of NFPA 1582 originally had different medical requirements for “candidates” (those who want to join a fire department or members looking to join a new department) and “members” (current active firefighters). Significantly, there were certain identified health conditions (Category A Medical Conditions) which were applicable only to candidates and   precluded a person from getting a job as a firefighter. The TIA was developed by a Task Group, which included medical doctors, attorneys from FEMA, IAFF, and others. It essentially created a single set of medical requirements that applied equally to both members and candidates and tracked closely to the requirements for members. The TIA failed ballot, but the FEMA Director of the Office of Civil Rights and two medical doctors appealed to the Standards Council to issue the TIA. The NFPA Standards Council issued the TIA in April in Decision #23-2, and for more background, see my initial blog.In the Council’s decision to issue the TIA, it pointed to the standards development record being “replete with documentation and comments reflecting a concern that NFPA 1582 violates civil rights laws, exposes AHJs to risk by using a potentially discriminatory standard, and unfairly affects people applying for a job or looking to apply for a job in a new department.” During the hearing on the appeal, FEMA indicated that if NFPA 1582 was not amended to comply with civil rights laws, it may take action that would affect federal funding to fire departments. The Council sought to address these potentially significant legal and federal funding risks to fire departments throughout the country and stated:“This is an untenable position for fire departments, candidates and members; and to the extent NFPA 1582 is potentially used as an instrument of discrimination, the Council is compelled to take action and issue the TIA that rectifies this immediate concern.” It should be noted that the Technical Committee on Emergency Responders Occupational Health continues their work on the next edition requirements which will be consolidated into NFPA 1580, Standard for Emergency Responder Occupational Health and Wellness, with a First Draft being open for Public Comments by October 26, 2023 at www.nfpa.org/1580next.

Preparing for Safe Electrical Disaster Recovery During Hurricane Season Using NFPA 70B

Hurricane season is officially upon us. Although the period can often begin earlier and run later, June 1 through November 30 is  “hurricane season” as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). When an impending hurricane is expected to reach landfall, the days prior can be chaotic as those who may be affected scramble to protect their homes and businesses as much as possible. Belongings are secured, windows and doors are boarded up to combat strong winds, and sandbags are placed as barriers to the forthcoming inrush of massive amounts of water. Preparedness is clearly the focus in driving the best possible outcome at a challenging time. After the storm has subsided, the recovery process begins. But planning for recovery can, and should, happen well in advance of the hurricane ever showing up on radar screens. An important area to consider for recovery is electrical systems. Electrical power is a key component in reestablishing normalcy for many areas recovering from a severe storm. However, before electrical systems can be brought back online, it must be verified that restoring power can be done safely and does not pose any additional risks. A great resource for establishing a plan for analyzing and making any necessary repairs to electrical systems during disaster recovery is Annex K of NFPA 70B, Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance. Although Annex K is not part of the specific requirements of NFPA 70B, it is an invaluable resource for those recovering from a catastrophic event. It lists and elaborates on 11 sequential event phases that should be addressed prior to returning an electrical system to operation post-event. Those disaster event phases are broken down as:1.     Initial event2.     Securing the facility to limit damage3.     Mobilization of recovery personnel4.     Developing a safety plan5.     Temporary and emergency power generation6.     Initial damage assessment7.     Documentation8.     Equipment9.     Reenergization of the facility10.  System commissioning11.  Project summaryRecovery necessity can be driven by natural disasters or human-made disasters. Fire, for example, is an event that can happen from a lightning strike (natural) or from arson (human made).  Natural events consist of floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes. Regardless of the cause of the event, there are commonalities in the types of damage that can occur to facilities. Structural damage is likely to occur during all events, although it may escalate during an earthquake. Water damage is common in floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. But water damage also occurs regularly in fires where a significant amount of water is used to put the fire out. As is well understood, water and electricity do not mix, so special attention must be paid to electrical equipment that has been exposed to water before attempting to reenergize. When the onset of an event like a hurricane is inevitable, the preparation leading up to it can influence how much recovery is needed. Securing the facility properly can help offset the amount of damage that is done. Boarding up windows and doors as well as placing sandbags to try and stop water are all helpful and commonly done in preparation. There are also electrical-specific preparation steps that should be considered, such as deenergizing equipment as well as elevating or removing critical equipment altogether. Personnel to assist with recovery are a key part of the equation, and a plan to engage those who are needed to help must be put in place well in advance. Both in-house personnel and outsourced personnel should be considered as part of the recovery plan. Companies that offer their services for recovery can be contracted with ahead of time in order to ensure they are available when the need arises. It is also important to keep in mind, especially when it comes to electrical work, the need for qualified persons to perform specific work. The determination of the need for a qualified person is based on the specific task being performed. If a particular task requires a qualified person, that need must be met whether or not the laborer is supplied in house or by an outsourced contractor. So, it is important to verify that any company that is contracted with has qualified individuals on staff. A site-specific safety plan should be in place before any potential disaster occurs. The plan should include typical electrical safety items such as lockout/tagout (LOTO), test before touch, application of safety grounds, and proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Because a disaster can introduce new safety concerns, there are also other safety considerations that need to be addressed and integrated into the safety plan, such as air quality, structural issues to the facility, and any potential chemical or biohazard spill. It is likely that there will be other unique, site-specific hazards that arise that personnel must be aware of, as well as any additional PPE needs that may arise due to those hazards. These additional safety concerns should be addressed as much as possible in the safety plan ahead of time, and necessary PPE should be purchased and on site prior to any potential disaster taking place. With the loss of normal utility power regularly taking place during a disaster, temporary power is often utilized in order to reestablish critical systems and provide adequate lighting and power to work through the recovery process. Although the power may be temporary in nature, it still must be managed to reduce the risk of shock and arc flash hazards. There should be dedicated personnel in place responsible for temporary power, and all written standards and procedures for that work should be developed in advance. Back-feeding of equipment is something that should be thought out thoroughly and highlighted as part of the plan in order to manage worker exposure to electrical shock and arc flash hazards during the recovery process.  Initial damage after an event must be assessed by a site walk-through to determine equipment and system damage. All pertinent drawings and documentation should be made available to aid in this task. This will also require foresight to have the drawings and documents stored in a location on site where they will remain intact and accessible after the event or taken offsite for safe keeping and use after the event takes place. Creating electronic versions of these documents is also beneficial to ensure continued access as well as being able to share with multiple parties engaged in the restoration process. As a list of necessary repairs is created during the site walk-through, they should be prioritized into the following five categories and examples of equipment:·      Category 1: medium-voltage equipment including distribution transformers·      Category 2: low-voltage distribution equipment·      Category 3: electric motors·      Category 4: power and control wiring·      Category 5: balance of the plant electrical equipmentAs part of the disaster recovery process, it may be necessary to remove electrical equipment or components for reinstallation at a later time, if not replacement altogether. In order to properly manage the process, each modification that takes place should be documented. Some of the steps that should be taken and detailed are tagging equipment, labeling wiring, taking pictures and/or sketching diagrams, and creating a master electrical equipment document. The disaster recovery plan should be strategic about what equipment is brought back online first. The initial site walk-through, combined with the five prioritized categories listed above, should drive this strategy. Medium-voltage equipment typically serves as the backbone of the electrical power system for the facility and should be the primary focus of the initial recovery activities. Then, low-voltage equipment, motors, and power and control wiring should be attended to, in that order. Finally, any additional plant-specific electrical equipment that was not previously accounted for should be brought back into service. Reenergizing an entire facility with utility power after a disaster has occurred should be cautiously planned and methodically implemented. It may be beneficial, where possible, to reestablish utility power a little at a time in smaller sections of the building to better manage the process while testing electrical equipment for proper performance. Ideally, utility power should only be restored after all affected equipment has been repaired or replaced to prevent unintended energization of equipment. As part of reenergizing, proper performance and operation of electrical equipment should be validated through a period of monitoring to verify and document that proper operation has been restored. As a final step in the disaster recovery process, information should be gathered into a summary report that can be accessed for future reference. This information can be vital to reviewing the recovery as a whole to decide what was successful and what needs to be improved upon, in preparation for potential similar events in the future. Examples of useful information that should be documented are:·      As-found conditions of the electrical infrastructure·      Listing of equipment repaired or replaced·      Test results of all equipment tested before and after service or repairs·      Assessment of individual equipment condition·      Long-term equipment replacement planWithout question, Mother Nature has a mind of her own that cannot be controlled, and she can unleash her fury at any given moment. However, what can be controlled is preparedness for when that moment arises and having a thorough and strategic plan in place for a safe recovery from disasters, such as hurricanes. American polymath Benjamin Franklin once famously quipped, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” As we embark upon the 2023 hurricane season, the path to a successful recovery is to ensure we are prepared.NFPA® has several resources to help with recovery from natural disasters, including this Natural Disaster Electrical Equipment Checklist, which utilizes NFPA 70B to help determine whether equipment should be repaired or replaced, as well as additional information on emergency preparedness.