The material in today’s Advisor is adapted from a course in TrainingToday’s Workplace Safety Library called “Electrical Safety—Unqualified Worker.”
This training session is designed for unqualified workers, such as machine operators, powered industrial truck operators, and construction workers, about electrical hazards. Additional training is required for qualified workers who are authorized to work on or near energized electrical equipment and wiring.
When the training is completed, unqualified workers who work near electrical systems and equipment will be able to:
- Understand the hazards of electricity.
- Identify and avoid common electrical hazards.
- Follow safe work practices around electrical equipment.
The Hazards
Almost 3 million workers in the United States are at risk every day from uncontrolled energy when servicing equipment—there are roughly 3,600 disabling and 4,000 nondisabling electrical contact injuries every year. Injuries include electrocution (causes death), electric shock (nonfatal), burns, and falls.
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has compiled the following list of typical occupational categories of employees who face a higher-than-normal risk of an electrical accident:
- Blue collar supervisors
- Electrical and electronic engineers
- Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers
- Electrical and electronic technicians
- Electricians
- Industrial machine operators
- Material-handling equipment operators
- Mechanics and repair persons
- Painters
- Riggers and roustabouts
- Stationary engineers
- Welders
General requirements
Federal OSHA’s electrical safety rules for general industry workplaces (29 CFR 1910, Subpart S) cover electrical safety requirements that are necessary for the practical safeguarding of employees in the workplace.
The rules include (We’ll cover these in tomorrow’s Advisor.):
- Design safety standards for electric utilization systems (all electric equipment and installations used to provide electric power for workplaces); and
- Safety-related work practices for both “qualified” and “unqualified” employees.
Qualified and Unqualified Person Defined
A “qualified person” is a person familiar with the construction and operation of the electrical equipment and the hazards involved. An “unqualified person” has no familiarization with or training in the construction and operation of the electrical equipment and hazards involved.
Training Requirements (29 CFR 1910.332)
Training requirements apply to employees who face a risk of electric shock that is not reduced to a safe level by the electrical installation requirements of the electrical systems rules. Employees must be trained in the specific safety work practices that apply to their respective work assignments. Employees must be trained in and familiar with the safety-related work practices that pertain to their respective job assignments.
Additional requirements for unqualified persons
Employees who are at risk of electric shock but who are not qualified persons must be trained in:
- Electricity-related safety practices
- Any electricity-related safety practices not specifically addressed in the OSHA rule but that are necessary for their safety
Additional requirements for qualified persons
Employees who are permitted to work on exposed, energized parts must be trained and familiar with:
- The skills and techniques necessary to distinguish between live parts and other parts of electric equipment
- The skills and techniques necessary to determine the nominal voltage of exposed live parts
- The clearance distances specified in the regulation and voltages to which the qualified person will be exposed
Qualified persons whose work on energized equipment involves either direct contact or contact by means of tools or materials must also have the training needed to work on electric circuit parts or equipment that has not been de-energized. Such persons shall be capable of working safely on energized circuits and shall be familiar with the proper use of special precautionary techniques, personal protective equipment, insulating and shielding materials, and insulated tools.
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Trainer qualifications
Training should be conducted by a qualified person thoroughly familiar with the electrical equipment and activities that are the focus of training.
Audience
Any employees who face a risk of electric shock that is not reduced to a safe level by the electrical equipment design safety and installation regulations.
Training frequency
Training should occur before the employee begins work on or near electrical equipment, when an employee is reassigned to work with electrical equipment for which he or she has not been trained, and whenever the employee demonstrates inadequate work practices.
State requirements
Alaska, California, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington have adopted electrical safety requirements that are stricter than federal requirements. Check the state’s regulations for more information.
In tomorrow’s Advisor, we’ll go over design safety standards and safety-related work practices, plus we will explore an effective online resource for training on dozens of key safety topics.