If you or your employees interact with electrical systems in your day-to-day work, you should pay extra attention to safety. That’s because you are constantly exposed to the risk of injury.
In the US, The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires all workers who may be exposed to an electrical hazard to receive electrical safety training. And NFPA 70E training is widely considered the industry standard for workplace compliance and safety.
What Exactly is NFPA 70E?
NFPA 70E is a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard designed to protect workers from the dangers surrounding electrical systems and equipment. The standard defines requirements for electrical safety programs, training, and personal protective equipment (PPE) use in electrical workspaces.
So, NFPA 70E employee training is critical in ensuring electrical safety in the workplace. As an employer, providing this training to your workers helps protect them against possible electrical hazards and injuries and you from the resulting liability.
Who Needs NFPA 70E Training & Certification?
NFPA 70E certification is recommended for electricians and any contractors whose job responsibilities involve working with electricity and puts them at risk of harm or injury from related accidents or incidents.
This encompasses anyone concerned about electrical safety, such as commercial and residential electricians, HVAC installers, electrical engineers, facility maintenance personnel, electrical inspectors, safety managers, electrical contractors, risk managers, mechanical engineers, project managers, and many more.
Now, NFPA 70E training is mandatory for the following:
Qualified Workers
Qualified workers possess the knowledge and skill required to construct, operate, repair, or maintain electrical systems and installations. So, these professionals already know the dangers of working with electricity and how to keep the risks low.
However, they require specialized 70E training, which typically includes how to use personal protective equipment (PPE), precautions to take while working in dangerous situations, how to identify exposed conductors or circuits, among other electrical hazards, etc.
Unqualified Workers
In this context, an unqualified worker is any employee who does not work on the electrical systems directly and does not have specialized electrical skills. However, they interact with electrical machines, tools, or appliances in their line of work. So, an unqualified person may be qualified in another specialty but unqualified in electrical work.
What to Expect from NFPA 70E Training
NFPA 70E training is technical and very hands-on, which means you will learn practically rather than sitting through a lecture. However, programs are typically personalized based on your workplace and the type of equipment in use.
The training is also not a one-off thing. Rather, workers must refresh their knowledge every three years to keep up with NFPA 70E updated standards. Retraining may also be required with a promotion or change of roles.
Get NFPA 70E Certification to Ensure Safety in The Workplace
Electrical hazards can lead to severe injury or even death. Anyone working with or around electrical systems and equipment should have the proper safety training. NFPA 70E is the accepted standard when it comes to electrical safety in the workplace.
So, get trained and certified for your safety and peace of mind.
