NFPA 70E, the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, is a consensus standard from the National Fire Protection Association that defines safe work practices to protect workers from electrical shock, arc flash, and arc blast hazards.

Who has to comply with NFPA 70E?

Employers whose workers install, operate, or maintain energized electrical equipment. OSHA enforces workplace electrical safety and recognizes NFPA 70E as an industry method for meeting its requirements.

What is an arc flash risk assessment?

A process that identifies arc flash hazards, estimates the likelihood and severity of injury, and determines protective measures - including arc flash boundaries, required PPE, and equipment labeling.

How often is NFPA 70E training required?

NFPA 70E requires retraining of affected employees at intervals not to exceed three years, and also when job changes, new procedures, or observed noncompliance make it necessary.

NFPA 70E Basics: Electrical Safety in the Workplace

Q: What is an electrically safe work condition?

A state in which equipment is disconnected, locked out and tagged out, tested for the absence of voltage, and grounded where required. NFPA 70E requires establishing it before work whenever it is feasible to de-energize.

NFPA 70E, the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, is published by the National Fire Protection Association and defines the safe work practices that protect workers from electrical shock, arc flash, and arc blast hazards. OSHA enforces electrical safety in the workplace and recognizes NFPA 70E as an industry-accepted method of compliance.

Core concepts

Electrically safe work condition - de-energize, lock out/tag out, test for absence of voltage, and ground where required before working, whenever feasible.
Arc flash risk assessment - identify hazards, estimate likelihood and severity, and set boundaries, PPE, and labeling.
Hierarchy of risk controls - elimination, substitution, engineering controls, awareness, administrative controls, and PPE (in that order of preference).
Equipment labeling - energized equipment likely to be worked on while energized should carry a label with nominal voltage, arc flash boundary, and incident energy or PPE category.

Frequently asked questions

What is an electrically safe work condition?

Equipment disconnected, locked/tagged out, verified de-energized by testing, and grounded where needed. It is the preferred state for work; energized work requires justification and additional controls.

How often is training required?

Retraining at intervals not exceeding three years, and whenever changes in job, procedures, or observed practices warrant it.

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