Electrical Contractor Safety Manual

What Should an Electrical Contractor Safety Manual Include?

The contents of an Electrical Contractor Safety Manual should reflect the work the company actually performs.

A contractor installing electrical systems during new construction may have different exposures than a service electrician troubleshooting equipment in an occupied facility. Contractors performing industrial electrical work may encounter hazardous energy, arc-flash hazards, complex equipment, confined spaces, elevated work, and process-related hazards that are not routinely encountered by a residential electrical contractor.

The manual should begin with the company’s core safety-management requirements and commonly applicable construction safety programs, then incorporate additional programs based on the contractor’s operations.

Core Safety Programs for Electrical Contractors

Electrical contractors share many of the same fundamental workplace hazards and safety responsibilities as other construction employers.

A comprehensive safety manual may include core programs addressing:

• Accident and Incident Investigation.
• Emergency Action Plan.
• Fire Prevention.
• First Aid.
• Hand and Power Tool Safety.
• Hazard Communication.
• Housekeeping
• Job Safety Analysis (JSA/JHA).
• Manual Lifting and Material Handling.
• Personal Protective Equipment.
• Slips, Trips and Falls.
• Walking-Working Surfaces.
• Electrical Safety.
• Ladder and Stairway Safety.

The manual should also establish responsibilities for management, supervisors, employees, competent and qualified persons, hazard identification, workplace inspections, safety training, hazard correction, incident reporting, recordkeeping, and ongoing review of the company’s safety programs.

Electrical Safety

Electrical Safety is a fundamental program for electrical contractors.

Employees may encounter hazards associated with energized conductors and circuit parts, temporary power, electrical installations, portable equipment, extension cords, generators, panels, switchgear, overhead power lines, underground electrical systems, and other sources of electrical energy.

Company procedures should address the electrical hazards applicable to the work being performed and establish requirements for qualified and unqualified employees.

Safe work practices should emphasize de-energization whenever required and appropriate, protection from contact with energized parts, appropriate equipment and PPE, inspections, grounding, guarding, approach restrictions, and other applicable electrical-safety requirements.

Arc Flash and NFPA 70E

Electrical contractors performing work where employees may be exposed to energized electrical conductors or circuit parts may need detailed electrical safe-work practices addressing shock and arc-flash hazards.

An Arc Flash/NFPA 70E program may address subjects such as:

• Electrical hazard identification.
• Qualified-person requirements.
• Shock risk assessment.
• Arc-flash risk assessment.
• Approach boundaries.
• Establishing an electrically safe work condition.
• Energized work requirements.
• Electrical PPE.
• Arc-rated clothing.
• Insulated tools and equipment.
• Job briefings.
• Equipment labeling where applicable.
• Inspection and maintenance of protective equipment.
• Employee training.

The program should be appropriate for the electrical systems and work performed by the contractor rather than included simply because the company performs electrical work.

Lockout/Tagout and Hazardous Energy

Electrical contractors frequently perform work requiring equipment or systems to be de-energized before installation, maintenance, repair, servicing, or troubleshooting activities.

Applicable hazardous-energy procedures should establish methods for shutting down equipment, isolating energy sources, applying locks and tags, verifying isolation, controlling stored or residual energy, and safely restoring equipment to service.

The specific requirements depend on the type of work and the standards applicable to the operation.

Electrical contractors working at customer facilities should also establish procedures for coordinating hazardous-energy-control responsibilities with the host employer when necessary.

Qualified and Unqualified Employees

Electrical safety responsibilities differ according to the employee’s training, knowledge, duties, and exposure to electrical hazards.

Employees who perform work requiring qualified-person status should receive the training necessary to recognize electrical hazards and safely perform their assigned work.

Employees who are not qualified to perform electrical work should understand the electrical hazards they may encounter and the restrictions that apply to their activities.

A job title alone should not be relied upon to establish whether an employee is qualified for a particular electrical task.

De-Energizing Electrical Equipment

When electrical equipment or circuits must be de-energized before employees perform work, procedures should establish how the equipment will be placed in a safe condition and verified before work begins.

Depending on the work, this may include:

• Identifying energy sources.
• Interrupting the load.
• Opening disconnecting devices.
• Applying lockout/tagout devices.
• Releasing or controlling stored energy.
• Testing for absence of voltage.
• Verifying test instruments as appropriate.
• Applying grounding where required.
• Controlling access to the work area.

Electrical conductors and circuit parts should not be treated as de-energized until the applicable steps for establishing a safe work condition have been completed.

Energized Electrical Work

Work involving exposed energized electrical conductors or circuit parts requires careful evaluation and should not be performed merely for convenience.

When energized work is permitted and necessary, the contractor should establish appropriate electrical safe-work practices, hazard assessments, boundaries, PPE, tools, job planning, and authorization requirements based on the work being performed and applicable requirements.

Employees performing the work must be qualified for the electrical hazards and tasks involved.

Electrical Personal Protective Equipment

PPE should be selected according to the hazards employees may encounter.

Electrical work may require specialized PPE in addition to the basic construction PPE used on the jobsite.

Depending on the task and hazard assessment, electrical PPE may include:

• Voltage-rated gloves with appropriate protectors.
• Arc-rated clothing.
• Face shields or arc-flash hoods.
• Safety glasses or goggles.
• Hard hats.
• Hearing protection.
• Insulating equipment.
• Safety footwear.
• Fall-protection equipment.
• Other protective equipment appropriate for the hazard.

Electrical protective equipment should be properly inspected, maintained, stored, and tested when required.

Temporary Power, Extension Cords and GFCIs

Electrical contractors frequently install, maintain, or work around temporary electrical systems during construction.

The safety manual should address applicable requirements for temporary wiring, extension cords, grounding, Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs), assured equipment grounding conductor programs when used, electrical panels, receptacles, portable tools, lighting, and protection of electrical equipment from damage.

Damaged cords, plugs, receptacles, tools, or electrical equipment should be removed from service until appropriately repaired or replaced.

Overhead Power Lines

Electrical contractors may work around overhead power lines while using ladders, aerial lifts, cranes, trucks, material-handling equipment, long conductive materials, and other equipment capable of contacting energized lines.

Work planning should identify overhead electrical hazards before work begins.

Appropriate clearances, work practices, equipment restrictions, barriers, de-energization arrangements, utility coordination, spotters, and other controls should be established as applicable.

Underground Electrical Utilities

Excavation, trenching, directional boring, grounding work, conduit installation, and other activities may expose electrical contractors to underground utilities.

Existing utility locations should be evaluated before excavation or penetration activities begin.

The contractor should establish procedures for utility locating, marking, excavation, hand exposure where required, equipment operation, and response to damaged or unidentified utilities.

When electrical contractors perform excavation work themselves, additional Excavation and Trenching safety procedures may apply.

Fall Protection and Elevated Electrical Work

Electrical contractors frequently work from ladders, scaffolds, aerial lifts, scissor lifts, platforms, roofs, structural members, and other elevated locations.

Fall hazards should be evaluated independently of the electrical hazards associated with the work.

Applicable procedures may include:

• Fall Protection.
• Ladder and Stairway Safety.
• Scaffolding
• Aerial/Boom Lift Safety.
• Scissor Lift Safety.
• Walking-Working Surfaces.

Electrical hazards should also be considered when selecting and positioning access equipment.

Aerial Lifts and Scissor Lifts

Electrical installation frequently requires employees to perform overhead work from mobile elevating work platforms.

Procedures should address equipment inspection, authorization, operator responsibilities, work-area conditions, overhead hazards, fall protection where applicable, equipment movement, tip-over hazards, pedestrian exposure, and electrical hazards.

Special consideration should be given to overhead power lines and other energized electrical equipment.

Hand and Power Tools

Electrical contractors use numerous hand and power tools, including drills, saws, grinders, knockout tools, conduit equipment, testing instruments, and portable electrical tools.

Tools should be appropriate for the task, maintained in safe condition, inspected as necessary, and used according to manufacturer requirements.

When work is performed near electrical hazards, employees should use tools and test equipment appropriate for the electrical conditions involved.

Job Safety Analysis for Electrical Work

A Job Safety Analysis (JSA/JHA) can help electrical contractors identify hazards and controls before beginning a particular task.

An electrical JSA may evaluate hazards involving:

• Electrical energy.
• Arc flash.
• Falls.
• Ladders and lifts.
• Tools.
• Material handling.
• Overhead work.
• Other contractors.
• Vehicle or equipment movement.
• Confined spaces.
• Hazardous locations.
• Environmental conditions.

The JSA should reflect the actual task and workplace conditions.

When work conditions, equipment, personnel, or procedures change significantly, the hazard analysis should be reviewed and revised as appropriate.

Additional Safety Programs for Electrical Contractors

Electrical hazards may be the defining exposure of the trade, but they are not the only hazards electrical contractors encounter.

Depending on the company’s operations, additional safety programs may include:

• Aerial and Boom Lift Safety.
• Asbestos Awareness.
• Bloodborne Pathogens.
• Cold Stress.
• Compressed Gas Cylinders.
• Confined Space.
• Crane and Rigging Safety.
• Driving and Fleet Safety.
• Excavation, Trenching and Shoring.
• Fall Protection.
• Fatigue Management.
• Forklift Safety.
• Hearing Conservation.
• Heat Stress Prevention.
• Heavy Equipment.
• Lead Awareness.
• Respiratory Protection.
• Scaffolding.
• Scissor Lift Safety.
• Silica Exposure.
• Spill Prevention and Response.
• Traffic Control.
• Underground Utilities.
• Vehicle Maintenance.
• Welding, Cutting and Hot Work.
• Working Alone.
• Working in Occupied Areas.
• Workplace Security.
• Other programs applicable to the contractor’s work.

The goal is not to include every available safety program. The manual should contain the programs that reasonably apply to the contractor’s employees, equipment, work environments, and exposures.

Residential, Commercial and Industrial Electrical Contractors

Electrical contractors should consider the type of work they perform when determining which safety programs belong in their manual.

Residential Electrical Contractors

Residential electricians may perform service work, panel replacements, remodeling, new construction, troubleshooting, attic and crawl-space work, ladder work, and installation of electrical equipment.

Relevant hazards may include electrical energy, ladders, falls, confined or restricted spaces, heat, tools, manual material handling, silica or asbestos exposure during disturbance of building materials, and working in occupied locations.

Commercial Electrical Contractors

Commercial electrical work may involve new construction, tenant improvements, temporary power, aerial lifts, overhead installations, large electrical systems, multiple contractors, material handling, and changing jobsite conditions.

Fall protection, lift safety, temporary electrical systems, contractor coordination, and pre-task planning can become particularly important.

Industrial Electrical Contractors

Industrial electrical contractors may encounter complex electrical systems, higher-energy equipment, machinery, hazardous energy, process equipment, confined spaces, hazardous locations, industrial vehicles, and host-employer requirements.

These operations may require more extensive procedures for electrical safe work practices, lockout/tagout, arc-flash protection, contractor coordination, permitting, and specialized PPE.

Electrical Contractors Working at Customer Facilities

Service and industrial electrical contractors frequently perform work at facilities controlled by another employer.

Before work begins, relevant safety information should be exchanged when necessary.

This may include:

• Known electrical hazards.
• Hazardous-energy-control procedures.
• Emergency requirements.
• Restricted areas.
• Site access requirements.
• Hazardous chemicals or processes.
• Required PPE.
• Permit requirements.
• Facility-specific safety rules.
• Other hazards capable of affecting contractor employees.

Electrical contractors should also communicate hazards created by their work when those hazards could affect the host employer or other contractors.

Electrical Safety Training and Documentation

Employees should receive training appropriate for their assigned work and the hazards they may encounter.

Training requirements vary according to the employee’s duties and applicable standards. Electrical contractors should maintain documentation required by OSHA standards, company policy, customer requirements, or other applicable requirements.

Toolbox talks can reinforce electrical safe-work practices but should not be considered a substitute for required electrical training or qualification.

Electrical Contractor Safety Manual vs. Electrical Safety Program

An Electrical Contractor Safety Manual addresses the company’s overall workplace safety system and the range of hazards its employees encounter.

An Electrical Safety Program focuses specifically on electrical hazards and electrical safe-work practices.

For an electrical contractor, the Electrical Safety Program is therefore an important component of the larger safety manual rather than necessarily a replacement for it.

The complete manual may also contain Fall Protection, Lockout/Tagout, Hazard Communication, PPE, Emergency Action, Ladder Safety, Aerial Lift, Respiratory Protection, and other programs applicable to the company’s operations.

Building an Electrical Contractor Safety Manual

A practical Electrical Contractor Safety Manual begins with fundamental construction safety requirements and then adds programs based on the contractor’s work.

The company should consider:

• Residential, commercial, industrial, or utility work performed.
• Voltage and electrical systems encountered.
• Energized electrical exposures.
• Tools and equipment used.
• Ladders, lifts, scaffolds, and elevated work.
• Excavation and underground utility work.
• Customer and host-employer environments.
• Employee occupational exposures.
• Applicable OSHA standards.
• Customer and contractor-prequalification requirements.

This approach produces a manual that addresses electrical work while also covering the many other workplace hazards electrical contractors encounter.

Customized Safety Manuals for Electrical Contractors

Electrical contractors can request a customized Construction Safety Manual containing the Core Safety Programs and additional programs applicable to their electrical work, equipment, hazards, and workplace environments.

Programs can be selected according to the company’s actual operations, allowing the safety manual to address residential, commercial, industrial, or other electrical contracting activities without being filled with unrelated programs.

Individual safety programs can also be selected when an electrical contractor needs to add or update a particular program within an existing manual.