This guidance promotes safe work practices to reduce the risk of injuries associated with electrical hazards encountered during University operations. Electrical hazards may exist in offices, laboratories, maintenance shops, agricultural operations, construction activities, and other work areas where electrical equipment, machinery, or energized systems are used. Common electrical hazards include electric shock, arc flash, arc blast, burns, fire, explosion, and injuries resulting from damaged equipment, improper use, or unsafe work practices.
Employees shall only perform electrical work for which they have been authorized, trained, and qualified (when required). Electrical equipment shall be used in accordance with manufacturer instructions, established standard operating procedures (SOPs), and applicable University safety requirements. Employees shall inspect electrical equipment before use, discontinue use of damaged or defective equipment, and report unsafe conditions to their supervisor. Employees shall not bypass electrical safety devices, remove protective covers, or perform work on energized electrical equipment unless authorized and qualified to do so.
EHS provides guidance, training, and resources to help University employees recognize electrical hazards, understand their responsibilities, and safely work with or around electrical systems and equipment. Training is provided based on an employee’s assigned job duties and may include Electrical Safety Awareness, Non-Qualified Electrical Worker, or Qualified Electrical Worker training, as applicable. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring employees complete the required training before performing work involving electrical hazards and for maintaining applicable training records.
Common Electrical Hazards
- Damaged electrical equipment – Frayed cords, damaged plugs, cracked insulation, exposed conductors, or defective electrical components that may result in electric shock, burns, or fire.
- Improper use of extension cords and power strips – Overloading electrical circuits, daisy-chaining power strips, using extension cords as permanent wiring, or using equipment beyond its rated capacity.
- Contact with energized electrical components – Exposure to energized conductors, electrical panels, outlets, or equipment capable of causing electric shock, arc flash, or arc blast.
- Wet or damp conditions – Using electrical equipment with wet hands or in wet environments without appropriate protection (i.e. GFCI outlets), increasing the risk of electrical shock.
- Improper grounding – Using damaged grounding conductors, defeating grounding features, or operating equipment without required grounding protection.
- Overhead and underground electrical hazards – Contact with energized utility lines or buried electrical infrastructure during maintenance, construction, landscaping, or excavation activities.
- Unauthorized electrical work – Installing, modifying, repairing, troubleshooting, or servicing electrical systems without the required authorization, training, or qualifications.
- Unexpected energization – Servicing or maintaining equipment without properly controlling hazardous electrical energy. Employees performing servicing or maintenance requiring hazardous energy control shall follow the University’s Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures.
Employees should submit a work order to the Physical Plant for damaged electrical equipment, exposed wiring, or any other electrical maintenance or repair needs. Observation of suspected unauthorized electrical work or hazardous electrical conditions should immediately notify EHS or appropriate University personnel (i.e. Public Safety). Workplace incidents, near misses, and safety concerns involving electrical hazards should be reported to EHS. If an incident results in a workplace injury or illness, it must also be reported to HR in accordance with university requirements.
