Establishing an electrical safety program

Reducing and even eliminating exposure to electrical hazards requires continuous attention. An overall electrical safety program must be implemented that emphasizes specific areas of concern. The program must be well thought out. People who are well-versed in safety standards and procedures must write the program. Program authors should include safety professionals, technical professionals and practitioners. And the program must be published and readily available to all employees.

The following are three good reasons for practicing electrical safety:
• personal reasons, which affect us as caring individuals and employers;
• business reasons, because safety makes good business sense;
• regulatory and legal reasons, because violations can result in fines and/or imprisonment.

An essential element in an effective electrical safety program is training. From both a legal and effective point of view, training records are important.

Training should be based on the program and procedures in place within an organization. The training should focus on increasing knowledge and understanding of electrical hazards and on how to avoid exposure to these hazards.

As a person completes a specific segment of training, a record should be established and maintained.

An electrical safety program should accomplish the following objectives:
• Make personnel aware of the rules, responsibilities and procedures for working safely in an electrical environment.
• Demonstrate the employer’s intention to fully comply with federal law.
• Document general requirements and guidelines to provide workplace facilities free from unauthorized exposure to electrical hazards.
• Document general requirements and guidelines to direct the activities of personnel who could be either deliberately or accidentally exposed to electrical hazards.
• Encourage and make it easier for each employee to be responsible for his or her own electrical safety self-discipline.

Information taken from Cooper Bussmann’s Safety BASIC training program.

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