Online Course · Physical Hazards
Electrical Safety: General Awareness Training
Most employees never open an electrical panel, yet nearly all of them plug in tools, run cords and work near energized equipment. This course teaches non-electricians to recognize and avoid electrical hazards.
Electrical Safety Awareness Training for Unqualified Workers
OSHA separates workers into two groups for electrical safety. Qualified persons have the training to work on or near exposed energized parts. Everyone else is considered unqualified and must still be trained in the electrically related safe work practices needed for their jobs. This electrical safety awareness training course is written for that second, much larger group.
It covers how electricity injures people, the most common hazards in offices, plants, warehouses and job sites, and the boundaries unqualified workers must not cross. It does not teach electrical work and does not make anyone a qualified person.
How Electricity Causes Harm
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Shock
Current passing through the body can disrupt heart rhythm, burn tissue and cause loss of muscle control, even at household voltages.
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Arc flash and blast
A fault can release intense heat, light, pressure and molten metal in a fraction of a second.
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Fire
Overloaded circuits, damaged insulation and loose connections are common ignition sources.
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Secondary injuries
A minor shock can cause a fall from a ladder or a reflex into moving machinery.
Everyday Hazards Learners Learn to Spot
- Frayed, cut, spliced or pinched cords and plugs with missing ground pins
- Extension cords used as permanent wiring or run under doors and rugs
- Daisy-chained power strips and overloaded outlets
- Missing GFCI protection in wet or outdoor locations
- Blocked electrical panels; keep at least 3 feet of clear working space in front of them
- Open panel covers, missing knockouts and exposed wiring
- Overhead power lines near ladders, booms, scaffolds and long tools
Boundaries for Unqualified Workers
Under OSHA's electrical work practice rules in 29 CFR 1910.331 to 1910.335, unqualified employees must not work on or near exposed energized parts. Around overhead lines, they and anything conductive they handle must stay at least 10 feet away from lines up to 50 kV, with greater distances at higher voltages. In construction, 1926 Subpart K and the crane standard in Subpart CC apply.
Workers also learn what lockout/tagout means for them. They must never remove another person's lock or tag or try to restart equipment that has been locked out. Our Lockout/Tagout awareness course covers that role in more detail.
If Someone Is Being Shocked
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Do not touch them
You could become part of the circuit.
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Cut the power if you can
Use the breaker, switch or emergency stop if it is safe and you know where it is.
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Call 911
Electrical injuries can affect the heart even when burns look minor.
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Begin CPR if needed
Once the person is clear of the source and not breathing normally, start CPR and send for an AED.
Who Should Take This Course
- Production, warehouse and office employees who use powered equipment
- Custodial and facility staff who move furniture, cords and equipment
- Construction trades other than electricians
- Landscaping and tree crews working near overhead lines
- Supervisors who assign work around electrical equipment
Rolling It Out
Assign the course online to all employees exposed to electrical hazards and track completions. Then walk the floor: point out your panels, GFCIs, emergency stops and any overhead lines on your property. Employees who will work on energized equipment need far more, including qualified-person training and NFPA 70E practices; see our qualified electrical worker page.
Electrical Safety Awareness FAQs
Is low voltage safe?
Not necessarily. Standard 120-volt circuits can kill under the wrong conditions, such as wet skin or a path through the chest.
What does a GFCI do?
A ground-fault circuit interrupter senses current leaking to ground, for example through a person, and cuts power in a fraction of a second.
Does this course meet OSHA training for unqualified persons?
It covers the general content. Employers should add instruction on hazards and procedures specific to each worker's job.
Can I reset a tripped breaker myself?
Follow your site's rules. A breaker that trips repeatedly is signaling a fault or overload, so report it rather than resetting it again and again, and never tape or block a breaker in the on position.