Electrical—Safety-Related Work Practices (Program)

29 CFR 1910.332-335—Electrical

Scope/Application: This standard applies when employees work on or near exposed energized parts.

The following standard is referenced in 1910.333—Selection and Use of Work Practices:

 29 CFR 1910.147—The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)

Note: The Electrical Safety-Related Work Practice Program (Electrical Safety Program) required by 29 CFR
1910.333—Selection and Use of Work Practices can include lockout/tagout procedures or the lockout/tagout
procedures can be included in the Energy Control Program required by 29 CFR 1910.147—The Control of
Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout).

Standard Requirements for 29 CFR 1910.332-335—Electrical:

 Programs/Plans: Electrical Safety Program—Safe Work Practices and Procedures
 Procedures/Practices/Controls: Safety related work practices (Include in your Electrical Safety
“Program”) Documented)
 Training: Initially
 Inspections: Visual inspections as needed; periodically
 Recordkeeping: Program (Procedures)

Example Program: The following example program may be modified to be site-specific to the organization. Please
reference 29 CFR 1910.332-335—Electrical to ensure that all requirements are being met.

Electrical—Safety-Related Work Practices and Procedures (Program)

Purpose

Safety-related work practices will be in use by our employees to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting
from either direct or indirect electrical contact, when work is performed near or on equipment or circuits that are or
may be energized. The specific safety-related work practices will be consistent with the nature and extent of the
associated electrical hazards. The content of this electrical safe work practice is as required in 29 CFR 1910.331–
335—Electrical.

This program covers the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment that have not been placed in an
electrically safe working condition and the installation/removal of main disconnect switches on bus ducts.
Conductors and parts of electric equipment that have been de-energized but have not been locked out or tagged will
be treated as energized parts. Any machine or equipment that has not been shut down per our lockout/tagout
procedures will not be considered to be electrically safe.

Covered Employees

The provisions of these procedures cover electrical safety-related work practices for both qualified persons (those
who have training in avoiding the electrical hazards of working on or near exposed-energized parts) and unqualified
persons (those with little or no such training) working on, near or with the following installations:

 Premises Wiring—Installations of electric conductors and equipment within or on buildings or other

structures, and on other premises such as yards, parking and other lots, and industrial substations.
 Wiring for Connections to Supply—Installations of conductors that connect to the supply of electricity.
 Other Wiring—Installations of other outside conductors on the premises.
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Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices

Note: This document is intended to be consistent with existing OSHA standards; therefore, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent with a
standard, then the OSHA standard should be followed.
  Optical Fiber Cable—Installations of optical fiber cable where such installations are made along with
electric conductors.
 Bus Duct Switches—Installation and removal of bus duct switches on energized busses.

Qualified person—(i.e., those permitted to work on or near exposed energized parts) will at a minimum, be trained
in and familiar with the following:

 The skills and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of electric equipment.
 The skills and techniques necessary to determine the nominal voltage of exposed live parts.

Training

The training contained in this document apply to employees who face a risk of shock that is not reduced to a safe
level by the installation as required by the National Electrical Code (NEC) and 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S—Electrical.

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.

Employees who are covered by the scope of this policy, but who are not qualified persons will also be trained in and
familiar with any electrical safety-related practices not specifically addressed but which are necessary for their
safety.

The training required will be of the classroom or on-the-job type (preferably both). The degree of training provided
will be determined by the risk to the employee.

Selection and Use of Work Practices

Safety-related work practices will be used to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or
indirect electrical contacts, when work is performed near or on equipment or circuits that are or may be energized.
The specific safety-related work practices will be consistent with the nature and extent of the associated electrical
hazards:

 De-energized parts—Live parts to which an employee may be exposed will be de-energized before the
employee works on or near them, unless the employer can demonstrate that de-energizing introduces
additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitations. Live
parts that operate at less than 50 volts to ground need not be de-energized if there will not be increased
exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electric arcs.
 Energized parts—If the exposed live parts are not de-energized (i.e., for reasons of increased or additional
hazards or infeasibility), other safety-related work practices will be used to protect employees who may be
exposed to the electrical hazards involved. Such work practices will protect employees against contact with
energized circuit parts directly with any part of their body or indirectly through some other conductive
object. When working on energized parts, the appropriate PPE will be used.

Note: Examples of work that may be performed on or near energized circuit parts because of infeasibility due to
equipment design or operational limitations include testing of electric circuits that can only be performed with the
circuit energized (troubleshooting) and work on circuits that form an integral part of a continuous industrial
process that would otherwise need to be shut down completely to permit work on one circuit or piece of equipment.

Lockout/Tagout

While any employee is exposed to contact with parts of fixed electric equipment or circuits that have been de-
energized, the circuits energizing the parts will be locked out or tagged (or both) in accordance with the
requirements of this paragraph in the following order:
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Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices

Note: This document is intended to be consistent with existing OSHA standards; therefore, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent with a
standard, then the OSHA standard should be followed.
  Procedures will be in place before equipment may be de-energized.
 Circuits and equipment to be worked on will be disconnected from all electrical energy sources.
 Stored electrical energy that poses a hazard to workers will be released.
 Stored nonelectrical energy in devices that could re-energize electric circuit parts will be blocked or
relieved to the extent that the circuit parts could not be accidentally energized by the device.
 A lock and a tag will be placed on each disconnecting means used to de-energize circuits and equipment on
which work is to be performed, except as provided below.
 Each tag will contain a statement prohibiting unauthorized operation of the disconnecting means and
removal of the tag.
 If a lock cannot be applied, or if the employer can demonstrate that tagging procedures will provide a level
of safety equivalent to that obtained by the use of a lock, a tag may be used without a lock.
 A tag used without a lock as permitted above, will be supplemented by at least one additional safety
measure that provides a level of safety equivalent to that obtained by the use of a lock. Examples include
the removal of an isolating circuit element, blocking of a controlling switch or opening of an extra
disconnecting device.
 A lock may be placed without a tag only under the following conditions:
 Only one circuit or piece of equipment is de-energized.
 The lockout period does not extend beyond the work shift.
 Employees exposed to the hazards associated with re-energizing the circuit or equipment are familiar
with this procedure.
 Before any circuits or equipment can be considered and worked as de-energized:
 A qualified person will operate the equipment operating controls or otherwise verify that the
equipment cannot be restarted.
 A qualified person will use test equipment to test the circuit elements and electrical parts of equipment
to which employees will be exposed and will verify that the circuit elements and equipment parts are
de-energized.
 Before circuits and equipment are re-energized, even temporarily, the following requirements will be met,
in the order given:
 A qualified person will conduct tests and visual inspections, as necessary, to verify that all tools,
electrical jumpers, shorts, grounds and other such devices have been removed so that the circuits and
equipment can be safely energized.
 Employees exposed to the hazards associated with re-energizing the circuit or equipment will be
warned to stay clear of circuits and equipment.
 Each lock and tag will be removed by the employee who applied it or under his or her direct
supervision. However, if the employee is absent from the workplace, then the lock or tag may be
removed by a qualified person designated to perform this task provided that the employer ensures that
the employee who applied the lock or tag is not available at the workplace and is aware that the lock or
tag has been removed before he or she resumes work at that workplace.
 There will be a visual determination that all employees are clear of the circuits and equipment.

Working on or Near Energized Equipment

This section applies to work performed on exposed live parts (involving either direct contact or contact by means of
tools or materials) or near enough to them for employees to be exposed to any hazard they present.

Only qualified persons may work on electric circuit parts or equipment that has not been de-energized under the
procedures of these standards. Such individuals will be capable of working safely on energized circuits and will be
familiar with the proper use of special precautionary techniques, personal protective equipment, insulating and
shielding materials, and insulated tools.

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Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices

Note: This document is intended to be consistent with existing OSHA standards; therefore, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent with a
standard, then the OSHA standard should be followed.
 Illumination—Employees may not enter spaces containing exposed energized parts unless illumination is provided
that enables the employees to perform the work safely. Where lack of illumination or an obstruction precludes
observation of the work to be performed, employees may not perform tasks near exposed energized parts.
Employees may not reach blindly into areas that may contain energized parts.

Conductive Materials and Equipment—Conductive materials and equipment that are in contact with any part of an
employee’s body will be handled in a manner that will prevent them from contacting exposed energized conductors
or circuit parts. If an employee must handle long dimensional conductive objects (such as ducts or pipes) in areas
with live parts, the hazard must be minimized by the use of insulation, guarding or material handling techniques.

Note: Nonconductive fish tapes must be used when pulling wire through conduit that contains energized conductors
or when entering an enclosure with exposed live parts.

 Portable ladders—Portable ladders must be of the nonconductive type (wood or fiberglass) if they are used
where the employee or the ladder could contact exposed energized parts.
 Conductive apparel—Conductive articles of jewelry and clothing (such as bands, bracelets, rings, key
chains, necklaces, metalized aprons, cloth with conductive thread or metal headgear) may not be worn if
they might contact exposed energized parts unless they are rendered nonconductive by covering, wrapping
or other insulating means.
 Housekeeping duties—Where live parts present an electrical contact hazard, employees may not perform
housekeeping duties in such close proximity to the parts that there is a possibility of contact unless
adequate safeguards (such as insulating equipment or barriers) are provided. Electrically conductive
cleaning materials may not be used in proximity to energized parts unless procedures are followed which
will prevent electrical contact.
 Interlocks—Only a qualified person following the requirements of this section may defeat an electrical
safety interlock, and then only temporarily while he or she is working on the equipment. The interlock
system will be returned to its operable condition when this work is completed.
 Confined or enclosed work spaces—When an employee works in a confined or enclosed space (such as a
manhole or vault) that contains exposed energized parts, the employer will provide, and the employee will
use, protective shields, protective barriers or insulating materials as necessary to avoid inadvertent contact
with these parts. Doors, hinged panels and the like will be secured to prevent their swinging into an
employee and causing the employee to contact exposed energized parts.
 Overhead lines—Employees will not work on or near (within 12 feet) overhead lines. This
12-foot barrier includes any conductive object in that space. OSHA provides specific instructions regarding
work on overhead lines. Refer to 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3)—Selection and Use of Work Practices for more
detail.

Use of Equipment

Portable Electric Equipment—This section applies to the use of cord-and-plug connected equipment, including
flexible cord sets (extension cords).

Extension Cord Use

 Employees using extension cords (drop cords) to power tools and/or equipment for the performance of
construction, maintenance, repair or demolition will use GFCI protection. This pertains to any part of the
company, both inside and outside.
 All extension cords must be grounding type, made with UL listed parts, and be in good physical condition.
 Extension cords may not be lengthened or repaired with tape.
 Power outlet strips are for equipment needing surge protection (e.g., computers).
 Extension cords will not be run through holes in walls, ceilings or floors.
 Extension cords may not be plugged into power strips. Power strips may not be connected to each other
(i.e., “piggy-backed”).
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Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices

Note: This document is intended to be consistent with existing OSHA standards; therefore, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent with a
standard, then the OSHA standard should be followed.
  An extension cord should not be run across high traffic areas or used in applications where potential
damage to the cord might occur:
 The use of an extension cord must not create a trip hazard.
 Extension cords will not be attached to building surfaces or used in lieu of fixed wiring of a structure.
 Extension cords will not be run through doorways or windows or concealed behind walls, ceilings or
floors.

Handling—Portable equipment will be handled in a manner that will not cause damage. Flexible electric cords
connected to equipment may not be used for raising or lowering the equipment. Flexible cords may not be fastened
with staples or otherwise hung in such a fashion as could damage the outer jacket or insulation.

Visual Inspection—Portable cord-and-plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) will be
visually inspected before use on any shift for external defects and evidence of possible internal damage:

 Cord-and-plug connected equipment and extension cords that remain connected once they are put in place
and are not exposed to damage need not be visually inspected until they are relocated.
 Defective or damaged items will be removed from service until repaired.

Grounding Type Equipment—A flexible cord used with grounding type equipment will contain an equipment
grounding conductor:

 Attachment plugs and receptacles may not be connected or altered in a manner that would prevent proper
continuity of the equipment grounding conductor at the point where plugs are attached to receptacles.
Additionally, these devices may not be altered to allow the grounding pole of a plug to be inserted into slots
intended for connection to the current carrying conductors.
 Adapters (i.e., “cheaters”) that interrupt the continuity of the equipment grounding connection may not be
used.

Conductive Work Locations—Portable electric equipment and flexible cords used in highly conductive work
locations (such as those inundated with water or other conductive liquids) or in job locations where employees are
likely to contact water or conductive liquids will be approved for those locations.

Connecting Attachment Plugs—Employees’ hands may not be wet when plugging and unplugging flexible cords
and cord and plug-connected equipment, if energized equipment is involved.

 Energized plug and receptacle connections may be handled only with insulating protective equipment if the
condition of the connection could provide a conducting path to the employee’s hand.
 Locking type connectors will be properly secured after connection.

Electric Power and Lighting Circuits

Routine Opening and Closing of Circuits—Load-rated switches, circuit breakers or other devices specifically
designed as disconnecting means will be used for the opening, reversing or closing of circuits under load conditions.
Cable connectors not of the load break type, fuses, terminal lugs and cable splice connections will not be used for
such purposes, except in an emergency.

Reclosing Circuits After Protective Device Operation—After a circuit is de-energized by a circuit protective
device, the circuit may not be manually re-energized until it has been determined that the equipment and circuit can
be safely energized. The repetitive manual reclosing of circuit breakers or re-energizing circuits through replaced
fuses is prohibited.

Note: Circuit breakers or fuses can only be energized after an overload condition has been determined. If a fault
condition exists, the circuit must be tested and determined safe before the circuit can be energized. Circuit breakers
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Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices

Note: This document is intended to be consistent with existing OSHA standards; therefore, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent with a
standard, then the OSHA standard should be followed.
 can be reset; however, repetitive reclosing is prohibited. The problem should be traced to the root cause if a circuit
breaker trips twice in succession.

Overcurrent Protection Modification

Overcurrent protection of circuits and conductors may not be modified, even on a temporary basis, beyond that
allowed in the installation safety requirements for overcurrent protection.

Test Instruments and Equipment

 Use—Only qualified persons may perform testing work on electric circuits or equipment.
 Visual inspection—Test instruments and equipment and all associated test leads, cables, power cords,
probes and connectors will be visually inspected for external defects and damage before the equipment is
used. If there is a defect or evidence of damage that might expose an employee to injury, the defective or
damaged item will be removed from service, and no employee may use it until necessary repairs and tests
to render the equipment safe have been made.
 Rating of equipment—Test instruments and equipment and their accessories will be rated for the circuits
and equipment to which they will be connected and will be designed for the environment in which they will
be used.

Occasional Use of Flammable or Ignitable Materials

Where flammable materials are present only occasionally, electric equipment capable of igniting them will not be
used unless measures are taken to prevent hazardous conditions from developing.

Safeguard for Personnel Protection

Personal Protective Equipment—Employees working in areas where there are potential electrical hazards will be
provided with and will use electrical protective equipment that is appropriate for the specific parts of the body to be
protected and for the work to be performed:

 Protective equipment will be maintained in a safe, reliable condition and will be periodically inspected or
tested, as required by 29 CFR 1910.137—Electrical Protective Devices.
 If the insulating capability of protective equipment may be subject to damage during use, the insulating
material will be protected. (For example, an outer covering of leather is sometimes used for the protection
of rubber insulating material.)
 Employees will wear nonconductive head protection wherever there is a danger of head injury from electric
shock or bums due to contact with exposed energized parts.
 Employees will wear protective equipment for the eyes or face wherever there is danger of injury to the
eyes or face from electric arcs or flashes or from flying objects resulting from electrical explosion.

When working near exposed energized conductors or circuit parts, each employee will use insulated tools or
handling equipment if the tools or handling equipment might make contact with such conductors or parts. If the
insulating capability of insulated tools or handling equipment is subject to damage, the insulating material will be
protected:

 Fuse handling equipment, insulated for the circuit voltage, will be used to remove or install fuses when the
fuse terminals are energized.
 Ropes and handlines used near exposed energized parts will be nonconductive.
 Protective shields, protective barriers or insulating materials will be used to protect each employee from
shock, burns or other electrically related injuries while that employee is working near exposed energized
parts that might be accidentally contacted or where dangerous electric heating or arcing might occur. When

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Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices

Note: This document is intended to be consistent with existing OSHA standards; therefore, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent with a
standard, then the OSHA standard should be followed.
 normally enclosed live parts are exposed for maintenance or repair, they will be guarded to protect
unqualified persons from contact with live parts.

Note: Cabinet doors and electrical enclosures should be kept closed. If, however, this is not possible due to the
conditions that follow, additional precautions must be taken to minimize the extent of the hazard.

This section covers situations where:

 Energized equipment is exposed and must be left unattended.

 The scope of the energized equipment is so large that the person working cannot monitor it.
 The equipment cannot otherwise be guarded against accidental intrusion by a passerby.

Alerting Techniques—The following alerting techniques will be used to warn and protect employees from hazards
that could cause injury due to electric shock, burns or failure of electric equipment parts:

 Safety signs, safety symbols or accident prevention tags will be used where necessary to warn employees
about electrical hazards that may endanger them, as required.
 Barricades will be used in conjunction with safety signs where it is necessary to prevent or limit employee
access to work areas exposing employees to un-insulated energized conductors or circuit parts. Conductive
barricades may not be used where they might cause an electrical contact hazard.
 Attendant—If signs and barricades do not provide sufficient warning and protection from electrical
hazards, an attendant will be stationed to warn and protect employees.

Safe Work Practices

 Know the equipment and potential hazards—Define the scope of work.

 Submit the scope of work to your safety coordinator for approval.
 Analyze the hazards use engineered methods to mitigate hazards.
 Establish procedures as necessary.
 Use barricades or other means to prevent unqualified persons from crossing approach boundaries.
 Employees will employ insulating barriers to prevent themselves and others from leaning into or falling
into live parts and to prevent live parts that might become loose from contacting other employees.
 Employees will wear safety glasses.
 Employees will not wear metallic personal items (e.g., jewelry, glasses, watches) while working on or near
live parts.
 Employees will use non-conducting ladders when needed.
 Always assume a conductor is energized until proven otherwise.
 Employees will wear voltage rated gloves when using tools on or near live parts.
 Employees will use only PPE that is designed (approved or certified) for the hazard.
 Employees will use only insulated tools when working on or near live parts.
 Employees will use only tools and instruments that are designed for the system voltage.
 Employees will not bypass interlocks or safety devices that protect people against electrical shock except
when absolutely necessary and then only with written approval from their supervisor.
 Whenever possible, do not work alone.
 Safety watch is required when deemed so by your supervisor. This person will be CPR trained and be
familiar with removing all sources of power to the device being worked upon and have ready access to a
phone in order to call 911 in case of emergency.
 When operating circuit breakers or fused switches. ALWAYS stand to the side NEVER directly in front of
the device being operated.
 Employees should inspect electrical equipment for defective parts, faulty insulation, improper grounding,
loose connections, ground faults and unguarded live parts and should take appropriate remedial action
before working on or near live parts.
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Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices

Note: This document is intended to be consistent with existing OSHA standards; therefore, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent with a
standard, then the OSHA standard should be followed.
  Employees should work only where there is adequate clearance.
 Employees should not work on or near live parts that are in a hazardous location (e.g., in wet or damp areas
or where there are corrosive or flammable atmospheres).
 Restrict unnecessary people from being in the work area.

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Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices

Note: This document is intended to be consistent with existing OSHA standards; therefore, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent with a
standard, then the OSHA standard should be followed.
 Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices Self-Audit Checklist
Area: ____________________ Room: ____________ Date: _________ Audit Performed by: _____________

Yes No N/A Comments

Model written program available. _______________________
Training complete and documented. _______________________
Lockout/tagout program includes electrical safety-related work
practices. _______________________

Selection and Use of Work Practices

Yes No N/A Comments
Minimum safe work distances established when work involves
energized parts. _______________________
Illumination provided in all spaces containing exposed electrical
conductors. _______________________
Measures taken to avoid inadvertent contact with energized
parts in enclosed or confined spaces. _______________________
Measures taken to avoid inadvertent contact of conductive
materials or equipment with energized parts during handling. _______________________
Portable ladders have nonconductive side rails. _______________________
Conductive apparel not worn unless rendered nonconductive. _______________________
Measures taken to avoid inadvertent contact with energized
parts during housekeeping duties. _______________________
Electrical safety interlocks defeated only by a qualified person
following specific procedures. _______________________

Use of Equipment
Yes No N/A Comments
Procedures for handling portable equipment implemented. _______________________
Procedures for working with extension cords implemented. _______________________
Only qualified persons allowed to perform test work. _______________________
Measures taken to prevent hazards from the occasional use of
flammable materials near electrical equipment. _______________________

Safeguards for Personnel Protection

Yes No N/A Comments
Personal protective equipment appropriate for the electrical
hazard provided and used. _______________________
Insulated tools and handling equipment used for work
performed near exposed energized circuits. _______________________
Protective shields, barriers or insulating materials used near
exposed electrical circuits or where dangerous electric heating
or arcing may occur. _______________________
Appropriate alerting techniques used to warn and protect
workers. _______________________

9
Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices

Note: This document is intended to be consistent with existing OSHA standards; therefore, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent with a
standard, then the OSHA standard should be followed.
 Free Outreach Resources:
Safety and Health Programs and Plans (i.e., Example Programs to be Made Site-Specific)
A - Z Safety and Health Topics (i.e., Learn More About Safety and Health Topics)
Which Standards Apply? (Identify the Standards Applicable to Your Worksite)
Safety and Health Presentations (Downloadable Presentations to be Made Site-Specific)
OSH Training Calendar (i.e., Register for Webinars, In-Person Classroom Training, Virtual Events)
Streaming Video Services (On-Demand Training)
Request Outreach Services (i.e., Request Training, Booths, Guest Speaker)
AskOSH (Interpretations)

10
Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices

Note: This document is intended to be consistent with existing OSHA standards; therefore, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent with a
standard, then the OSHA standard should be followed.