Safety for the Nonelectrical Worker: Extending Electrical Safety Programs to Incude All On-Site Workers

Roughly 50% of electrical incidents involve workers whose primary function is not electrical in nature. As a result, companies have been encouraged to "address electrical safety for all workers and not just workers whose job responsibilities involve working on or near energized electrical circuits" [1]. In this article, a program is presented that includes specific briefings to nonelectrical workers as well as to workers who may need to perform their normal activities in proximity to energized electrical conductors. The program uses a targeted approach to specific areas, such as welding, excavating, rigging, chart reading, switching cord-and-plug equipment, and several other general areas, to point out hazards that may exist and how to avoid them.