OSHA Launches Electric Power Safety eTool

March 19, 2010
Approximately 80 workers die from electric shock each year while working on electrical equipment or related utility operations. To help prevent such deaths, OSHA recently published the Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Standard eTool.

Recent deaths have illustrated the dangers of working with electric power. For example, a worker installing decorative lights on a tree was electrocuted after touching a high-powered overhead electrical line. Another worker was electrocuted after contacting an overhead high-voltage line with a portable light tower while working at a water main repair site.

“We cannot allow these tragedies to continue,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels. “This eTool informs employers of their obligation to protect electrical workers from serious injuries and death, and also lets workers know the preventive steps their employers must take to assure worker safety.”

This eTool addresses OSHA’s standard and explains preventive measures for protecting workers’ safety and health such as providing personal protective equipment, using lockout/tagout procedures to prevent startup of energized equipment and following safety requirements when working on or near power lines.

OSHA’s eTools are stand-alone, interactive Web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics that include modules for answering questions and providing advice on how OSHA regulations apply to users’ worksites.

For more information and to downloand the eTool, visit http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/electric_power/index.html.

About the Author

Laura Walter

Laura Walter was formerly senior editor of EHS Today. She is a subject matter expert in EHS compliance and government issues and has covered a variety of topics relating to occupational safety and health. Her writing has earned awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) and APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. Her debut novel, Body of Stars (Dutton) was published in 2021.

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