I think that you have to establish exactly what is meant by "infeasible" when determining whether you are permitted to work on any energized equipment 50 volts or more. NFPA 70E 130.1(A)(2) and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.333(a) both emphatically state that "no live work" is to be performed unless it is considered diagnostic or is performed due to "infeasibility." The infeasibility has to be related to life safety concerns and not because of inconvenient or economic implications. Try substantiating that a shut down would create a greater "hazard" because an integral part of a continuous industrial process would stop production. Production in most cases is not related to life safety it is economic. OSHA and NFPA 70E are saying that using the appropriate PPE does not by itself justify the "live work." Unless this language is understood by everyone and consistently enforced by regulatory agencies, those who strive to comply will be put out of business as less than scrupulous contractors will take advantage of the opportunity to keep busy completing live work tasks without "feasibility" justification. Bill Benard
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