Compliant electrical OSHA safety training is designed for industrial, commercial and institutional electricians, technicians, and engineers. They must be properly trained in all aspects of safety, maintenance, and operating procedures in order to do their jobs properly on complex electrical equipment and systems today.

Job Hazard Analysis

How do employers know what kind of compliant electrical OSHA safety training their employees require? They conduct a job/task analysis and a task hazards analysis to evaluate the work situation of all their employees to determine whether they face a risk of electrical shock or other electrical hazards on the job. This is done by carefully studying and recording each step of a job, identifying the tasks and elements that make up the job, identifying existing or potential hazards, and determining the best way to perform the job and to reduce or eliminate the hazards.

Performing the hazards analysis is not optional. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1) requires employers to “assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).” OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132(f)(1) also requires employers to train every employee who is required to use PPE.

A job hazard analysis can do a great deal toward reducing accidents and injuries in the workplace, but it is only effective if it is reviewed and updated periodically. Even if the job has not changed, a review may detect hazards that were missed in an earlier analysis.

Any time a job/task or hazard analysis is revised, all employees affected by the changes should be trained in the new job, personal protective equipment, or work methods. A job/task and hazards analysis can also be used to train new employees on job steps and any related task hazards.

Specific Training Requirements

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.332(a) states that its 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 1910.303 through 1910.308.” The Preamble of Subpart S, “Electrical Standards Federal Register,” further notes that "employees are required to be trained in the safety-related work practices of this standard, as well as any other practices necessary for safety from electrical hazards." And the OSHA Directorate of Compliance Program, STD 1-16.7 states that "all employees who face a risk of electric shock, burns or other related injuries, not reduced to a safe level by the installation safety requirements of Subpart S, must be trained in safety-related work practices required by 29 CFR 1910.331-.335."

Systems and equipment that are normally enclosed or otherwise inaccessible to employees, as required by the installation standard, or at voltages less than 50 volts to ground, are considered to be reduced to a safe level. However, when an enclosure cover is removed or opened for inspection or maintenance of the energized components, the employee faces a risk of electric shock, so the training and work practice requirements of 1910.331-.335 apply.

OSHA provides a list of typical occupational categories that fall into the training and safe work practice requirements of 1910.331-.335 in Table S-4 and clarifies this requirement in a note stating that “employees in occupations listed in Table S?4 face such a risk and are required to be trained. Other employees who also may reasonably be expected to face comparable risk of injury due to electric shock or other electrical hazards must also be trained.” Electrical hazards are recognizably dangerous electrical conditions, such as exposed energized parts and unguarded electric equipment that may become energized unexpectedly.

TABLE S-4

Typical Occupational Categories of Employees Facing a Higher-Than-Normal Risk of Electrical Accident

OCCUPATION

• Blue collar supervisors 1
• Electrical and electronic engineers 1
• Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers 1
• Electrical and electronic technicians 1
• Electricians
• Industrial machine operators 1
• Material handling equipment operators 1
• Mechanics and repairers 1
• Painters 1
• Riggers and roustabouts 1
• Stationary engineers 1
• Welders

1. Workers in these groups do not need to be trained if their work or the work of those they supervise does not bring them or their employees close enough to exposed parts of electric circuits operating at 50 volts or more to ground for a hazard to exist.

This OSHA electrical safety training program is designed to meet the minimum mandated requirements specified in OSHA 29CFR 1910.331 to 335 for those employees classified as "qualified" which work on or near exposed electrical parts operating at 50 volts or more, or for those employees classified as "unqualified" but are exposed to electrical hazards during their job duties. This also includes those who supervise both qualified and unqualified personnel who are exposed to electrical parts operating at 50V or more.

What you will learn

• Identify the hazards of electrical shock, arc and blast
• The proper care and use of personal protective equipment according to OSHA and ASTM
• Understand OSHA-mandated requirements for performing energized and de-energized work
• Specific requirements for electrical hazardous energy control per 1910.147 and 1910.333
• Additional safety requirements per 1910.303 and 1910.331-.335
• Safe workspaces and approach distances

Who Should Attend

Industrial and commercial employees identified by OSHA as facing a higher than normal risk of electrical accidents as listed in Table S-4 of 1910.332. These classifications include supervisors, electricians, engineers, repair personnel, technicians, painters, welders, assemblers, linemen, journeymen and servicemen.

Contents of OSHA Standards 1910.331-1910.335

Electrical - Safety-Related Work Practices: Scope - OSHA Standard 1910.331

• Section 1910.331(a) - Covered Work by Both Qualified and Unqualified Persons
• Section 1910.331(b) - Other Covered Work by Unqualified Persons
• Section 1910.331(c) - Excluded Work by Qualified Persons

Electrical - Safety-Related Work Practices: Training - OSHA Standard 1910.332

• Section 1910.332(a) - Scope
• Section 1910.332(b) - Content of Training
• Section 1910.332(c) - Type of Training

Electrical - Safety-Related Work Practices: Selection and Use of Work Practices - OSHA Standard 1910.333

• Section 1910.333(a) - General
• Section 1910.333(b) - Working on or near Exposed Deenergized Parts
• Section 1910.333(c) - Working on or near Exposed Energized Parts

Electrical - Safety-Related Work Practices: Use of Equipment - OSHA Standard 1910.334

• Section 1910.334(a) - Portable Electric Equipment
• Section 1910.334(b) - Electric Power and Lighting Circuits
• Section 1910.334(c) - Test Instruments and Equipment
• Section 1910.334(d) - Occasional Use of Flammable or Ignitable Materials

Electrical - Safety-Related Work Practices: Safeguards for Personnel Protection - OSHA Standard 1910.335

• Section 1910.335(a) - Use of Protective Equipment
• Section 1910.335(b) - Alerting Techniques

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