Electrical Safety

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Electricity behaves the same no matter what country you are in. It doesn’t matter whether you are in the Americas or Europe, Asia or Africa. It also doesn’t matter whether you are an electrician, a researcher, an engineer, or even an office worker who performs occasional household repairs. If you make contact with a hazardous live circuit part, your life will be at risk. In this sense, mere compliance to local national regulations matters less than understanding basic electrical safety principles.

Principle 1: Work only on dead equipment whenever possible

Principle 2: Lock it out to prevent reenergization

Principle 3: Test it before you touch

Principle 4: Ensure you have the proper qualifications

Electrical equipment:

  • All Berkeley Lab unlisted (not UL or NRTL approved) electrical equipment must be inspected and approved before it can be used.

  • All LBNL fabricated or modified listed electrical equipment must be inspected and approved before it can be used.

  • See PUB 3000, Chapter 14 for details about Berkeley Lab’s Electrical Equipment Safety Program.

  • Schedule an inspection BEFORE using unlisted or modified equipment via email: eesp@lbl.gov