The Updated NFPA 70E Standard: Bridging the Gap Between Compliance and Electrical Safety
The NFPA 70E Technical Committee has published its 2024 revisions to the standard, prioritizing safety and adaptability over mere compliance
- By Xavier Alcaraz
- Jun 11, 2024
NFPA 70E, known as the “Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace,” plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of workers handling electrical systems. While still a voluntary standard issued by the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 70E helps companies and employees comply with OSHA 1910 Subpart S and OSHA 1926 Subpart K. It establishes guidelines for safe work practices to proactively identify and mitigate risks associated with electrical hazards, such as shock, arc flash, and arc blast. The core objective of NFPA 70E is to provide a practical framework that ensures worker safety when dealing with electrical systems.
The NFPA 70E Technical Committee has now published its 2024 revisions to the standard to focus more on hazard identification, risk assessment, and aligning with the hierarchy of controls to ensure electrically safe work conditions. Although no specific or individual market or regulatory event spurred NFPA to draft this revision, industry experts note that these updates remind employees and employers of best practices in the face of potential complacency.
The theme of the 2024 revisions is proactive hazard control and mitigation. They underscore the responsibility of both the employer and employees to maintain safety. (For an example, see “Informative Annex O, Employee Safety-Related Design Concepts and Facility Owner Responsibilities.”) If violations are found (through inspection or incident reporting), OSHA may issue citations referencing the NFPA 70E standard. Additionally, the code states that it can be applied by other governmental entities that may have regulatory influence/control over electrically-related systems. It also notes that it can be used by insurance companies that may wish to inspect facilities for coverage or liability-related issues. (See section 90.4 Enforcement.)
Updating NFPA 70E and Key Changes for Employers
Because the NFPA 70E 2024 updates prioritize safety and adaptability over mere compliance, these changes are expected to help reduce injuries, foster a strong safety culture, and align the standard with industry advancements. The updated standard stresses the need for employers to be explicit in their policies and procedures. This is especially necessary as safety compliance becomes a larger regulatory emphasis. Additionally, as younger generations enter the workforce, employers may need to adapt to the potential influence of changing employment patterns.
This article originally appeared in the June 2024 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.