Electrical Safety — General Industry
Electrical hazards in general industry range from low-voltage household current to high-voltage industrial systems. OSHA's general industry electrical standards (29 CFR 1910 Subpart S) cover electrical system design, wiring, electrical equipment, and safe work practices. NFPA 70E (Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace) is the consensus standard that OSHA references for electrical safe work practices. Electrical hazards include: electrocution (death from current passing through the body), electric shock (non-fatal, but can cause injuries from falls and burns), arc flash (explosive energy release causing severe burns and blast injuries), and electrical fires. Even household 120V current can be fatal if it passes through the heart.
NFPA 70E establishes approach boundaries for energized electrical work. The Limited Approach Boundary is the closest unqualified workers can approach energized conductors without an escort. The Restricted Approach Boundary (closer to the hazard) requires qualified workers with specific PPE and a plan. Inside the Arc Flash Boundary (determined by an arc flash hazard analysis), workers face the risk of second-degree burns — arc-rated PPE with the appropriate cal/cm² rating must be worn. De-energizing equipment before working on it (the default approach) is ALWAYS preferred over energized electrical work. If energized work must be performed, an Energized Electrical Work Permit is required.
Lockout/tagout under 29 CFR 1910.147 is the backbone of electrical safety for maintenance in general industry. The LOTO procedure: (1) Identify all energy sources, (2) Notify affected employees, (3) Shut down the equipment, (4) Isolate all energy sources (open disconnects), (5) Apply locks and tags, (6) Release or restrain stored energy (capacitors, springs, gravity), (7) Verify zero energy state (attempt restart, test with meter). GFCIs are required for temporary power and in wet locations. Arc flash hazard analyses must be performed for electrical systems in industrial facilities to determine PPE requirements and approach boundaries.