Bonding and grounding: preserve the path

Leader: review the source and site procedures before presenting. Adapt this briefing to today’s task and the crew’s language and training needs. This is an original educational talk, not OSHA-issued training or certification.

Start the conversation

Several enclosures and raceways have been moved during a renovation, and the crew is preparing the installation for review.

Key talking points

• Discuss the purpose of the intended fault-current path and how the installation preserves it. Do not assume metal parts are effectively connected simply because they touch or appear mechanically secure.
• Use the specified listed fittings, conductors, and installation methods. Paint, loose fittings, missing hardware, or modifications can interfere with the intended arrangement and require qualified assessment.
• Do not remove an existing grounding or bonding connection as a convenient way to move equipment. Establish the work scope and safe condition before changing any part of the system.
• Have qualified personnel complete the required inspection and testing under the approved procedure. Visual appearance alone does not establish the performance of the whole protective path.
• Record unresolved findings and keep the installation from being accepted prematurely. A future crew needs an accurate account of what was inspected, corrected, and still requires attention.
• Crew exercise: apply this discussion to one actual location in today's assignment. Describe the sequence from preparation through cleanup, identify who could be affected, and agree what must be in place before the first person starts. Use a drawing or a safe observation point; do not create an exposure for the demonstration.
• Make the decision practical: name the person who will resolve missing information and confirm the controls. If the planned conditions change, stop the affected activity and obtain a revised plan. At the next briefing, review whether the agreed action was completed and what the crew learned.

Ask the crew

1. What is the most important hazard in our version of this task?
2. What would make us stop and ask for a revised plan?

Before work starts

Identify one task-specific improvement, assign a responsible person, and confirm it is in place before the affected work begins.