What is NFPA 70E?

By R.W. Hurst, The Electricity Forum

The risks of shock, electrocution, arc flash, and arc blast are a significant health and safety concern in the workplace. Many electrical incidents could have been prevented through compliance with the latest safety codes and nfpa standards. NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, is a critical national fire protection association nfpa document to help provide a working area for employees that is safe from unacceptable risk associated with the use of electricity in the workplace. With the release of the latest edition for 2021, NFPA 70E clearly establishes safe work practices that use policies, procedures, and program controls to reduce these risks to an acceptable level.

The core objective is practical, accomplishable electrical safety that helps ensure the employee goes home safe at the end of the day. The risk controls discussed in this standard are intended to be sound, viable, workable applications of safety procedures and policies to be implemented by both the employer and employee. The requirements at the heart of NFPA 70E are suitable for use and implementation by agencies and employers charged with the responsibility of electrical safety plan development, implementation, and maintenance.?

The National Fire Protection Association developed this standard which governs best electrical safety work practices to help protect industrial electricians from electric arc flash and arc blast explosions, which often result in potential injury and death.?As a result, OSHA has referenced the NFPA 70e. In fact, many organizations have now designed an NFPA 70E Compliance Guide to help protect their electrical personnel from the hazards associated with arc flash.

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