The NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace^®, helps enterprises mitigate worker exposure to electrical hazards in order to avoid injuries and incidents. Many of the electrical incidents that occur in the workplace could have been prevented with proper NFPA 70E® training. However, training is often de-prioritized as many enterprises believe it interferes with productivity and that it’s just another unnecessary expense. They may know that training improves safety, but they may not realize that it also keeps workers current on the NFPA 70E Standard, which reduces compliance risks. They also may not realize that having a safe workforce is also a productive workforce, which positively impacts the return on investment.

If any of the above benefits have you considering NFPA 70E training, continue reading to learn the key training topics that will help protect your workers, assets, and your bottom-line.

Read the full Electrical Safety in Workplace article to learn the six keys to NFPA 70E Training.

NFPA 70E® Key Training Topics

NFPA 70E training is critical for your electrical workers to handle energized assets safely.

Since thousands of workers are hurt every year by arc flashes, training heavily focuses on arc flash safety, specifically:

• Identifying arc flash causes – Understanding how an arc flash occurs and its causes is key for mitigating future incidents. Causes can include equipment failure, excessive dust or corrosion, and even human error.


• Recognizing equipment with arc flash potential – To determine and confirm arc flash potential, an assessment or arc flash hazard analysis should be performed on equipment 50V or higher.


• Understanding arc flash labeling – Labeling is required for any piece of electrical equipment that may need examination, adjustment, service or maintenance while energized, creating the potential for an arc flash incident to occur. Electrical workers need to know how to read these labels and understand how it affects the work of the person performing the diagnostics, as well as the risk to nearby coworkers.


• Interpreting and documenting meter readings – The Standard requires qualified employees to have documented training on how to use a meter and how to interpret all indications coming from the metering device. Meter readings can vary greatly depending on where the meter is placed, such as if you’re testing a 480 system, a phase to phase or phase to ground procedure.

Training also includes establishing electrically safe work conditions, elements of a risk assessment, the difference between electrical hazards and risks, and the intent and limitations of personal protective equipment (PPE) required by 70E.

The Right Balance to Make Training More Effective

There are many NFPA 70E training options available to your enterprise, but not just any classroom training will do. The proper training, which proves to be more effective long-term, involves a balance of instruction. Your workers should have opportunities to learn from your veteran workforce, those who have decades of on-the-job knowledge and who have seen an arc flash or escaped a near miss. They should also learn from experts in the field like SEAM Group who have a diverse electrical background, are skilled in NFPA 70E training, and can guide your enterprise on energized asset optimization, while also improving electrical safety. Getting both certified trainers and your workforce onboard will only set your enterprise up for success, helping protect your workers from harm, while making your enterprise a safer place to work.

Read the full article on NFPA 70E training considerations and to learn more about providing training for your electrical workers, contact SEAM Group.