Roll Up! Electrical Safety in Construction

ROLL Electrical Safety UP! In Construction ToolboxTalk

Electrical hazards affect more than just electricians. In fact, 74% of workplace electrical fatalities occur in non-electrical occupations. Many employees may not be trained to perform electrical work and may not recognize electrical hazards.

Electrical work should only be assigned to qualified DID YOU KNOW? employees as they are trained to work on or near 10 occupations accounted for most workplace energized parts. They have the knowledge, skills, electrical fatalities. They include electricians, and training to perform electrical work. A competent laborers (except construction), construction person is someone who can identify hazards and has laborers, electrical power installers & repairers, the authority to correct them. tree trimming, electricians’ apprentices, HVAC To prevent injury when using electrical equipment, mechanics, roofers, heavy truck drivers, and employees should: painters in construction or maintenance.

Eliminate/Substitute Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) y Have qualified employees de-energize electrical circuits whenever feasible before beginning work y Wear appropriate PPE to ensure protection to eliminate hazards. against electrical hazards.

Use Engineering Controls Work Practices y Ensure qualified employees use lockout/ y Avoid working in wet conditions to reduce the tagout (LOTO) devices to prevent circuits from risk of electrical shock. accidentally becoming energized during work. y Prevent overloads by avoiding the use of multiple y Have qualified employees use a voltage tools or equipment plugged into a single outlet. tester to confirm that the de-energized circuit y Do not daisy-chain multiple extension does not have any voltage present due to back cords together, as this increases the risk of feed or induced voltage. overheating and electrical fires. y Employ insulated tools specifically designed for y Maintain a 10-foot clearance from overhead electrical work. power lines when working outdoors, including Use Administrative Controls when using long tools or equipment such as scaffolding or ladders. y Assign electrical work only to qualified y Use only three-prong plugs, ensuring the ground employees: Workers must be properly trained to prong is intact to reduce shock hazards. work on or near energized parts. y Assess risks before starting: Consider potential y Select extension cords with adequate ratings hazards and evaluate if you possess the necessary for the tools being used. Underrated cords can knowledge, tools, and experience. overheat and lead to electrical fires. y Regularly test Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters y Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safety (GFCI) using their test buttons, ensuring they are and operation when using electrical power tools. not supplying power to other outlets. y Inspect cords before each use to ensure that y Inspect tools before use: Check for signs of insulation is intact. Use cords marked “S” (hard service) instead of “SJ” (junior hard service) to

OSHA 4496-02 2026 damage, such as cracked casings or missing/broken parts, to prevent electrical shock or fire hazards. minimize risk of damage.

• OSHA.gov/electrical • 1-800-321-OSHA (6742)