Electrical Safety in the Workplace: The Rules and the Program
Updated October 14, 2026
Electrical safety in the workplace is set by two sets of OSHA rules: 29 CFR 1926 Subpart K on construction sites and 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S in general industry, with NFPA 70E as the consensus standard most employers follow for energized work. No OSHA standard is titled "electrical safety program," but the duties one collects are mandatory. On construction sites they come from 29 CFR 1926 Subpart K: ground-fault protection under 1926.404, safe work practices near energized parts under 1926.416, lockout and tagging of circuits under 1926.417, and guarding of live parts under 1926.403. A written program pulls those duties, plus PPE selection and training, into one document, which is exactly what GCs and prequal reviewers ask trade contractors to produce.
The elements reviewers look for
| Program element | Where the duty comes from |
|---|---|
| GFCI protection or an assured equipment grounding conductor program for temporary power | 29 CFR 1926.404(b)(1) |
| Cord and equipment condition: no worn or frayed cords, cords protected from damage | 29 CFR 1926.416 |
| No work near energized parts unless workers are protected; barriers and guarding | 29 CFR 1926.416 and 1926.403 |
| Deenergizing, lockout, and tagging of circuits before work on them | 29 CFR 1926.417 (construction); 29 CFR 1910.147 for servicing your own equipment |
| Temporary wiring and lighting installed to the standard | 29 CFR 1926.405 |
| PPE selected from a documented hazard assessment | 29 CFR 1910.132 |
| Training crews to recognize and avoid electrical hazards | 29 CFR 1926.21 |
Electrical safety regulations at a glance
| Rule | What it covers | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| 29 CFR 1926 Subpart K | Electrical installations and safety-related work practices on construction sites: GFCI or assured grounding, guarding, temporary wiring, working near energized parts, lockout and tagging of circuits | Construction work |
| 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S | Design and installation of electrical systems, and safety-related work practices for qualified and unqualified workers | General industry: shops, plants, warehouses, and maintenance work |
| 29 CFR 1910.333 | Deenergize live parts before working on or near them unless that is infeasible or adds hazards; lockout and tagging; only qualified persons work on parts that are not deenergized | General industry work on or near electrical equipment |
| 29 CFR 1910.334 | Use of portable cord- and plug-connected equipment and extension cords: handling, visual inspection, and grounding | General industry |
| 29 CFR 1910.147 | Lockout/tagout of machines and equipment during servicing and maintenance | General industry, including a contractor servicing its own equipment |
| NFPA 70E | Energized work justification and permits, arc flash risk assessment, and arc-rated PPE | A consensus standard, not an OSHA regulation; often required by contract and treated as the recognized practice for energized work |
Every trade needs this, not just electricians
Electrocution is one of the OSHA Focus Four, and the everyday exposures are not wiring work: damaged extension cords, missing GFCI protection on temporary power, tools used in wet conditions. If your crew plugs in a saw, the GFCI and cord rules in Subpart K apply to you, and a reviewer will expect your program to say how you meet them.
For electrical contractors the bar is higher. Reviewers expect the program to state when circuits are deenergized before work, how lockout and tagging is applied under 1926.417, and who is qualified to work near energized parts.
Where arc flash and NFPA 70E fit
OSHA’s electrical standards set the legal duties, and NFPA 70E is the industry consensus standard most GCs and safety managers use for the details of energized work: justifying it, permitting it, and choosing arc-rated PPE. NFPA 70E is not itself an OSHA regulation, but a program that ignores it will draw questions on any commercial site, so most written programs reference it for energized work procedures.
Why a blank template does not survive review
A downloaded template gives you headings. Reviewers look for your voltage classes, your equipment, your GFCI method (breakers, cord sets, or an assured grounding program with tested and color-coded cords), and citations that exist. A program that never says who is qualified and who is not reads as unfinished, because it is.
TailgateDocs generates a Written Safety Program built for your trade for $149, with every citation checked against a verified OSHA standards table before delivery, and free revisions within 24 hours if a reviewer asks for changes.
Common questions
▸Does OSHA require a written electrical safety program?
No standard names one, but the underlying duties are mandatory, and several of them, like the assured equipment grounding conductor program under 1926.404(b)(1), must be in writing themselves. GCs, ISNetworld, and Avetta may ask for a written electrical safety program from trade contractors regardless.
▸What is the GFCI requirement on construction sites?
Under 1926.404(b)(1), 120-volt, 15- and 20-amp receptacles that are not part of the permanent wiring must have GFCI protection, or the employer must run an assured equipment grounding conductor program with documented cord inspections and tests.
▸Is NFPA 70E training required by law?
NFPA 70E is a consensus standard, not an OSHA regulation. OSHA cites the hazard under its own electrical standards, and inspectors and GCs treat NFPA 70E practices as the recognized way to control energized work, so most commercial sites require it by contract.
▸Do I need this if my electricians are licensed?
Yes. Licensing covers the person; the program covers the company: how circuits get locked out, how cords are inspected, what PPE is issued, and how crews are trained. Reviewers ask for the document, not the licenses alone.
Official sources
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