Under NFPA 70E, when is energized work permitted and what safeguards are required?

• A. Only when de-energizing is not feasible, an energized work permit is issued, and appropriate hazard controls (PPE, barriers, tools, and measurements) are in place.
• B. Whenever a worker feels safe, no permit required.
• C. Only with gloves; no permit needed.
• D. Energized work is never permitted.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that NFPA 70E prioritizes eliminating exposure to live parts, and only allows energized work when de-energizing isn’t feasible. In that situation, the work must be performed under a documented energized work permit that specifies the task, the plan, and the controls to manage the arc flash and shock hazards.

Energized work is permitted only after it’s determined that de-energizing the equipment isn’t feasible. When that is the case, a formal energized work permit is issued, and the job proceeds with a defined set of safeguards. These safeguards include the right PPE chosen for the expected incident energy, protective barriers or boundaries to keep others away, insulated tools and equipment to reduce contact risk, and measurements or testing to verify and maintain the safe conditions while the work is underway. The permit ensures all of this is planned, authorized, and supervised, with clear roles and a backup plan if conditions change.

That’s why this option is the best: it reflects the required sequence (de-energize if feasible) and the need for an energized work permit plus the appropriate hazard controls. It’s not correct to say workers can proceed whenever they feel safe, or that only gloves are enough, or that energized work is never allowed, because NFPA 70E requires the documented permit and a full set of controls whenever live work is deemed necessary.