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Arc Flash OSHA Requirements

Arc flash can occur when electricians work on equipment they incorrectly believe is deactivated or that is damaged or defective. The resulting blast can have the destructive force of several sticks of dynamite and release heat at temperatures above 5000 degrees F, causing severe burns. Even 10 feet away, workers may be thrown through the air by the arc's destructive force. Its blinding light and deafening noise can cause permanent injury. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) holds employers responsible for worker and workplace safety. Its regulations cover arc flash risks indirectly within the rules governing electrical work.

  1. OSHA Standards 29-CFR, Part 1910, Subpart S

    • Section 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1910, Subpart S sets forth OSHA's labor rules for workplace safety around electricity. These rules mandate de-energizing equipment before it is serviced and using lockout/tagout procedures to mark it while it is powered down.

    OSHA and Arc Flash

    • OSHA does not regulate arc flash in explicit terms. However, its rules clearly establish employers' responsibility for workplace safety, requiring them to identify and label electrical hazards and make sure employees are protected from them.

    Safety Measures

    • Along with labeling potential hazards, employers are responsible for providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to shield workers from exposure to electrical current. Since arc flash is a risk of electrical exposure, OSHA's regulations cover it indirectly.

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