8 Best Practices to Promote Electricity Safety at Work
Written by Staff Writer
Electricity is everywhere on a job site and in a plant. That’s the problem. When something is always there, it’s easy to work around it instead of working safely with it.
A nicked extension cord, a missing cover plate, a wet floor near a tool or a rushed repair can turn into a shock, a burn or a flash incident in seconds. Have you ever seen someone just plug it in real quick because the task felt small?
What You’ll Learn in this Guide
You’ll get clear, job-ready habits that fit real work. We’ll cover these topics first.
- How to spot early warning signs on power and extension cords, tools, panels and temporary power
- Simple work practices that cut shock and arc risks
- Where lockout/tagout (LOTO) fits when equipment needs service
- What training and documentation help employers and crews stay organized
If your work includes general site risks beyond power, it also helps to understand physical hazards and how they overlap with electrical issues.
Before You Touch Anything Energized
Most electrical incidents don’t start with a dramatic mistake. They start with a normal day.
A worker grabs a corded tool that usually works fine. Someone opens a panel just for a second. A wet floor shows up near a temporary power setup, and nobody wants to be the person who shuts the task down.
Sound familiar? These are all common situations where people get hurt:
- Using damaged cords, homemade adapters or the wrong setup
- Working near exposed conductors, open panels or temporary wiring
- Carrying metal ladders or long materials too close to overhead power lines
- Cleaning, washing down or working in wet areas with powered tools
Want a structured way to build smarter habits? OSHA Education Center offers electrical safety training with clear rules and real examples.
Start with the Electrical Safety Rules that Prevent the Biggest Mistakes
The first move is knowing what safe looks like before the shift gets busy:
- Inspect power cords and plugs before use
- Keep covers in place on panels and junction boxes
- Use the right personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job, including PPE in construction when tasks involve temporary power or tool use
Why Build Better Habits Around Energized Work?
Remember, electricity is unforgiving because you often can’t see the hazard. Problems can sit there quietly until the exact wrong moment. That’s why smart crews build routines that catch problems early, before they turn into electrical shocks, arc flash events or fire hazards.
Need a quick refresher on what counts as an electrical hazard and why it matters? Start with this guide on electrical hazards.
It also helps to remember that electrical risks rarely show up alone. They pile onto other issues like tight spaces, moving equipment, heat, poor visibility from light fixtures and chemical exposure.
Now let’s get practical. The next eight best electricity practices are written for the situations you actually face at work, not perfect lab conditions.
Best Electrical Safety Tips That Reduce Electrical Risks
1. Start by Controlling the Energy, Not the Schedule
If electrical equipment can be de-energized, that’s usually the safest starting point. Working it live should never be the default.
Before you touch anything, pause and ask a simple question. Do we have to be near energized parts right now, or is this just faster?
If lockout tagout is part of the job, build a consistent routine around it. This electrical safety lockout tagout certificate course is a solid way to learn the sequence and documentation expectations.
2. Treat Temporary Power like Permanent Power
Temporary setups are where shortcuts sneak in. That’s also where conditions change fast, especially in construction.
A few habits go a long way.
- Keep electrical cords elevated when possible
- Protect cords from pinch points and sharp edges
- Use covers or ramps when cords cross walkways
- Keep connections out of water and mud
3. Inspect Power Cords, Power Strips and Plugs Like You Mean It
A quick glance is not an inspection. Train your eyes to look for the stuff that fails first.
Check for these red flags.
- Cracked insulation or exposed conductors
- Loose prongs or a missing grounding pin
- Burn marks near the plug or tool housing
- Tape repairs, especially near the strain relief
When something looks questionable, tag it out and remove it from service. No debates in the moment. That’s how you keep a small defect from becoming an electric shock.
4. Keep Panels, Disconnects and Breakers Accessible
This sounds basic until you see a panel blocked by stock, trash cans or material staging. In an emergency, seconds matter.
Make it normal to protect access to:
- Electrical panels
- Disconnect switches
- Emergency shutoffs
- Breaker boxes
If you’re building a program and need proof of learning for workers or job requirements, an electrical certificate course can give a clear, documented credential.
5. Use the Right Protection for Electrical Equipment, and Know What It Actually Does
PPE is not a force field. It reduces risk when it’s selected correctly and used with the right procedures.
In many workplaces, electrical work intersects with construction PPE basics, too. A good PPE routine usually includes:
- Matching gloves to the task and voltage exposure
- Using eye and face protection when there’s potential for arc or flying debris
- Keeping gear clean, dry and inspected
6. Use Ground-Fault Protection When Required, and Treat Damp and Outdoor Work as High-Risk
Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) save lives, but only if they’re used correctly. Don’t assume a device is protected just because it plugs into a modern-looking outlet.
Build a simple check into the day. Test the GFCI at the start of the shift, and after any power disruption.
Here’s the reality: Wet gloves, sweaty hands and conductive surfaces change the game. If your work environment shifts from dry to damp, your risk profile changes with it.
7. Separate Qualified Work from Helper Tasks
A lot of injuries happen when someone is just helping near exposed parts or open panels. You don’t have to be holding the conductor to be in the danger zone.
Set expectations for roles:
- Who is the qualified person for this task?
- Who is allowed near exposed energized parts, and how will you control access to the area?
- Who is watching the workspace and controlling foot traffic?
If you manage licensed electricians or you’re building your own career path, these online electrician training courses can help reinforce trade-specific electrical knowledge in a format that fits a busy schedule.
8. Plan for the Worst, Expect the Best
Electrical incidents can lead to electrical fires. That means extinguishers, access, inspection and training matter.
If you’re not sure what compliance looks like for portable extinguishers at your site, this resource breaks down key requirements and maintenance basics for fire extinguishers.
And if you’re thinking, “We already talked about this once,” ask yourself a better question: If something sparked today, would everyone know what to do in the first 10 seconds?
Rules That Shape Safer Electrical Work
If you work around wiring, panels, powered tools or temporary power, your day is already tied to electrical rules from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). In general industry, that’s covered under 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S. In construction, it’s covered under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart K.
Lockout/Tagout Is Where Many Teams Get in Trouble
LOTO is the process of controlling hazardous energy so equipment can’t start up while you’re working on it. OSHA’s standard is 29 CFR 1910.147, and it’s a big one for maintenance, troubleshooting and servicing.
Before anyone touches an energized component, you should be able to answer yes to a few simple questions:
- Do we know every energy source, including stored energy?
- Do we have the right locks, tags and devices on hand?
- Did someone verify zero energy, not just switch it off?
Start Today and Stay Safe
Do you need a clean way to document training for a job requirement or a safety program file? That’s where a course and a downloadable certificate of completion help.
If you also need OSHA-authorized Outreach training, we offer OSHA-authorized Outreach training through the University of South Florida, including OSHA 10-Hour Construction training and OSHA 30-Hour Construction training.
Are you ready to protect your worksite? Follow electrical safety rules and get everyone home safe and sound.