Why is Electrical Safety Training Important?

Training employees to work safely around electrical hazards is essential for maintaining workplace safety and compliance. Electricity is one of the most serious workplace hazards, capable of causing injuries or fatalities if workers are not properly trained.

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), there were 1,940 occupational fatalities due to contact with electricity between 2011 and 2023. In response to these dangers, OSHA mandates organizations to provide electrical safety training to protect workers from electrocution, shocks, arc flashes, explosions, and fires.

It is crucial to understand OSHA’s electrical safety training requirements and the types of electrical work employees can perform once properly trained. Offering additional training, such as Electrical Awareness Training, can further reduce risks associated with electrical hazards.

OSHA’s Electrical Standard Requirements

OSHA’s electrical safety standards outline comprehensive training requirements for employers to ensure that workers are properly prepared when working around electrical hazards.

OSHA mandates that only “qualified” workers can perform maintenance and repairs on electrical equipment. These qualified workers must be fully trained to identify exposed live electrical parts, their voltage, and the safety procedures required to work on live parts or near them.

Documenting employee training is essential to OSHA compliance. Use online training tracking software to efficiently manage and record electrical safety training. This software not only helps meet compliance but also generates training certificates upon successful course completion.

Even “non-qualified” workers who may be exposed to electrical hazards need Electrical Safety Awareness Training. This training focuses on recognizing exposed live parts, understanding voltage levels, and maintaining safe clearance distances.

NFPA 70E Certification Training

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) developed the NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace to help organizations comply with OSHA’s 1910 Subpart S and 1926 Subpart K electrical safety regulations.

Although obtaining NFPA 70E certification is not required by OSHA, it is an industry-recognized way to ensure compliance with OSHA’s electrical safety standards. Employers can offer NFPA 70E training to guarantee that their workers meet the necessary safety requirements.

Training programs that include NFPA 70E material—without offering certification—still provide valuable education that qualifies workers for electrical work and ensures that they meet the essential safety standards.

The Benefit of Additional Electrical Training

While meeting OSHA’s electrical safety requirements is necessary, it’s also vital to offer additional training to further safeguard employees from electrical hazards.

Many industries, such as construction, manufacturing, utilities, and transportation, face heightened risks of electrical injuries. Regular electrical safety training helps keep workers updated on best practices and emerging electrical safety standards.

It’s critical that employees are educated on electrical injury types, prevention methods, personal protective equipment (PPE), and lockout/tagout procedures. Offering recurring training sessions on these topics helps reduce workplace injuries and ensures compliance with OSHA’s most frequently violated standards, such as lockout/tagout violations.

Consider using a training guide to track mandatory and supplemental electrical safety courses. This proactive approach can also reduce the likelihood of costly OSHA citations.

Key Electrical Safety Training Topics & Tools

To meet OSHA’s electrical safety training requirements, it’s important to incorporate specific topics into your employee training program. Vector Solutions offers a wide variety of online courses that meet OSHA standards, such as:

• Electrical Safety (General)
• Electrical Safety Awareness
• Electrical Hazard Awareness
• Electric Shock
• Arc Flash Safety
• Changes to NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in 2024

While taking these courses is vital, keeping track of who has completed which course can be challenging, especially when using outdated methods like Excel spreadsheets, which are prone to errors.

Using specialized training management software can simplify this process, enabling you to track employee training progress, schedule recurring safety courses, and receive alerts when training is overdue.

By adopting an online electrical safety training solution, you can reduce the stress of tracking compliance and ensure your workers stay safe while working with electrical equipment.

Conclusion

Providing comprehensive Electrical Safety Training is a crucial investment in your workers’ health and safety. Whether you’re focusing on basic Electrical Awareness Training or advanced NFPA 70E Certification Training, keeping your workforce educated on electrical hazards can save lives and prevent costly injuries.

Contact us today to learn more about our online electrical safety training courses and keep your workers safe and compliant.