Free written program · 29 CFR 1910.301-399 / NFPA 70E
Electrical Safety Program Template for Work Planning
An electrical safety program assigns responsibility for electrical work, equipment condition, and protection against shock and arc hazards. This template addresses qualified workers, deenergized work, justified energized tasks, arc flash protection, and everyday equipment precautions. Owners and maintenance managers can organize their procedures with it, but electrical specialists must verify its technical examples against the installation, current standards, and equipment-specific hazard assessment.
The full electrical safety program template
Electrical Safety Program. Blanks in [brackets] are for your own details.
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Program establishing safe work practices for electrical equipment, arc flash protection, and qualified person requirements.
1. Purpose & Scope
This Electrical Safety Program establishes safe work practices to protect employees from electrical hazards at [Company Name]. It covers all work activities involving electrical equipment, systems, and components. Only Qualified Persons may work on or near exposed energized electrical conductors or circuit parts. This program meets OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S and NFPA 70E requirements.
2. Qualified vs. Unqualified Persons
Qualified Person: an employee trained in electrical safety, understands the equipment being worked on, and can identify and avoid electrical hazards. Qualified Persons may work on or near energized parts with appropriate PPE. Unqualified Person: all other employees. Must maintain safe approach distances from energized parts. For systems up to 300V: unqualified persons must stay at least 3 feet, 6 inches away from exposed energized parts. Approach distances increase with voltage.
3. De-Energized Work (Preferred Method)
The standard practice is to de-energize electrical equipment before working on it. Lockout/Tagout per 29 CFR 1910.147 and this company's LOTO program. Only work on energized equipment when:
- de-energizing creates additional hazards (life support, ventilation) or
- the task is infeasible with the equipment de-energized (testing, diagnostics). An Energized Electrical Work Permit is required for any justified energized work.
4. Arc Flash Protection
All electrical equipment must be labeled with arc flash hazard information per NFPA 70E. Labels include: available incident energy (cal/cm²), required PPE level, and safe approach boundaries. PPE categories: Category 1 (4 cal/cm²): FR shirt, safety glasses. Category 2 (8 cal/cm²): FR shirt/pants, face shield, hard hat. Category 3 (25 cal/cm²): FR coverall, arc-rated flash suit hood, insulated gloves. Category 4 (40 cal/cm²): multi-layer flash suit system. Above 40 cal/cm²: de-energize — no PPE protects at this level.
5. Safe Work Practices
General rules for all employees:
- Do not work on or near energized parts unless qualified and authorized.
- Inspect portable equipment and cords before each use.
- Use GFCIs in wet or damp locations.
- Do not use electrical equipment with frayed cords, missing ground prongs, or visible damage.
- Keep access to electrical panels clear (36" minimum clearance per NEC).
- Do not overload circuits — one device per outlet.
- Extension cords for temporary use only.
- Report all electrical hazards, shocks, and near-misses immediately.
The printable copy adds effective and review dates and approval signature lines for management and the safety manager.
A starting point, not legal advice. Have a qualified person check it against your site, your state's rules and the standard before you rely on it.
Electrical safety program: when it’s needed
OSHA’s general industry electrical rules are in 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S, including safety-related work practices in 1910.331–335. Section 1910.333(a)(1) requires deenergizing before work unless doing so creates additional or increased hazards or is infeasible because of equipment design or operational limitations. Only qualified persons may work on exposed energized parts. OSHA does not itself require a written electrical safety program by that name. NFPA 70E calls for one, but it is a consensus standard, not an OSHA regulation.
How to use this electrical safety program template
- Identify electrical tasks and assign qualified personnel based on their training, demonstrated skills, and familiarity with the equipment involved.
- Establish deenergization and verification procedures using the applicable electrical work rules, isolation points, and approved testing equipment.
- Define how workers document and review exceptions to deenergizing instead of treating schedule pressure as justification for energized work.
- Have an electrical specialist replace generic approach distances, arc flash labels, and PPE examples with installation-specific determinations.
- Set reporting and removal procedures for damaged cords or equipment, and teach non-electrical employees when to stop and call qualified help.
Before you use this electrical safety program template: what to fill in and check
- Equipment voltages, circuit sources, disconnect locations, and potential backfeeds or stored electrical energy.
- Qualified worker authorizations, training scope, test instruments, and insulating equipment inspection arrangements.
- Current arc flash assessment, applicable boundaries, labels, and task-specific protective equipment selections.
- Manufacturer instructions, adopted electrical codes, and the NFPA 70E edition used for company procedures.
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Electrical safety program questions
Is NFPA 70E an OSHA regulation?
No. NFPA 70E is a consensus standard addressing electrical safety in the workplace. OSHA’s enforceable general industry electrical provisions appear in 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S. NFPA 70E can help structure an electrical safety program and protective practices, but its provisions should not be described as OSHA regulations. Keep your procedures clear about which requirements come from law and which practices your company adopts.
When is energized electrical work allowed?
Under 29 CFR 1910.333(a)(1), live parts generally must be deenergized before employees work on or near them. The rule allows exceptions where deenergizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is infeasible because of equipment design or operational limitations. Convenience is not the same as infeasibility. Have qualified personnel evaluate the justification, necessary protection, and applicable procedures before approving the task.
What makes someone a qualified electrical worker?
Qualification depends on training and skills relevant to the equipment and hazards, not simply a job title. Under 29 CFR 1910.332, qualified persons need training in recognizing exposed live parts, determining nominal voltage, and understanding applicable clearance distances. Someone can be qualified for particular equipment without being qualified for every electrical system. Record the scope of authorization and avoid assigning unfamiliar energized tasks based only on experience elsewhere.