Electrical safety training requirements

Under 1910.332(a), employees who face a risk of electric shock not reduced to a safe level by the electrical installation rules must be trained. See 1910.332(a).

• This includes the occupations listed in Table S-4 (for example, electricians, industrial machine operators, mechanics), unless their work does not bring them close enough to exposed parts operating at 50 volts or more to ground for a hazard to exist.
• Other employees who reasonably may be expected to face a comparable risk of injury from electrical hazards must also be trained.

Under 1910.332(b), training must cover the safety-related work practices in 1910.331 through 1910.335.

• Employers must train employees in and make them familiar with the specific practices in 1910.331 (scope and definitions), 1910.333 (selection and use of work practices), 1910.334 (selection and use of insulating equipment), and 1910.335 (safety-related work practices).

Under 1910.332(b)(2) and (b)(3), unqualified persons must be trained in electrically related safety practices necessary for their safety, while qualified persons must receive additional technical training to work on or near exposed energized parts. See 1910.332(b)(2) and 1910.332(b)(3).

• Unqualified persons: training covers any electrically related safety practices not specifically in 1910.331–335 but necessary for their safety.
• Qualified persons: must have at minimum the specialized skills in 1910.332(b)(3)(i)-(iii).

Under 1910.332(b)(3)(i)-(iii), qualified persons must be trained to (1) distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of equipment, (2) determine the nominal voltage of exposed live parts, and (3) know the clearance distances in 1910.333(c).

• See 1910.332(b)(3)(i)-(iii) for the exact wording.
• These skills are required for a person to be considered a "qualified person" under this subpart.

Under 1910.332(c), training may be classroom or on-the-job, and the degree of training must be determined by the risk to the employee. See 1910.332(c).

• Employers can use formal classroom sessions, hands-on job training, or a blend of both.
• Employers must assess hazard exposure and tailor the amount and depth of training to the level of risk employees actually face.

Under 1910.332(a) and Table S-4, blue-collar supervisors are listed as a category that typically faces a higher-than-normal risk, but they only need training if their work or the work they supervise brings them close enough to exposed parts operating at 50 volts or more to ground for a hazard to exist. See 1910.332(a).

• Table S-4 explicitly notes workers in listed groups do not need training if their duties do not bring them close to exposed energized parts at 50 volts or more to ground.
• Employers should evaluate actual tasks and exposures before deciding whether to train supervisors in this category.

Under 1910.332(b), yes—employees covered by paragraph (a) who are not qualified must also be trained in any electrically related safety practices not specifically addressed by 1910.331–1910.335 that are necessary for their safety. See 1910.332(b).

• That means employers must identify job-specific electrical hazards and provide training beyond the listed sections when needed.

Under 1910.332(b)(3) and Note 2, yes—qualified persons whose work on energized equipment involves direct contact or contact by means of tools or materials must also have the training needed to meet 1910.333(c)(2).

• 1910.333(c)(2) contains additional requirements for work on energized parts, and affected qualified employees must be trained to perform those specific protective measures safely.

Under 1910.332(b)(3)(ii), it means qualified persons must be trained to identify and determine the nominal voltage levels of exposed live parts they will encounter so they can select appropriate protective methods. See 1910.332(b)(3)(ii).

• Training should teach how to read nameplates, schematic diagrams, voltmeters, and other sources of information and how to verify de-energized conditions when required by the work.
• Knowing nominal voltage is essential for selecting correct insulating equipment, PPE, and determining clearance distances in 1910.333(c).

Under 1910.332(b)(3)(iii) and 1910.333(c), qualified persons must know the required approach and clearance distances associated with the nominal voltages to which they'll be exposed. See 1910.333(c).

• Training should cover the specific distances for restricted and limited approach boundaries and the conditions for permissive approach when using insulated tools or PPE (as detailed in 1910.333(c)).
• Understanding these distances ensures workers maintain safe separation from energized parts or use appropriate protective measures.

Under 1910.332(c), yes—classroom-only training is an acceptable method, but employers must ensure the amount and type of training match the risk to the employee. See 1910.332(c).

• For many hands-on tasks, combining classroom instruction with on-the-job training is a better way to confirm practical skills.

Under 1910.332, the standard does not explicitly require written training records; it requires that employees be trained and familiar with the safety-related work practices. See 1910.332.

• Although 1910.332 does not mandate written records, documenting training is a widely accepted best practice to prove compliance and to schedule refresher training or follow-ups when employee knowledge gaps are identified.

Under 1910.332(b)(3) and its Note 1, yes—a non-electrician can be a "qualified person" if they have the training required by paragraph (b)(3) to distinguish live parts, determine nominal voltages, and know clearance distances. See 1910.332(b)(3).

• The title (e.g., electrician) is not determinative; the determining factor is whether the person has the specific training and demonstrated skills required by the standard.

Under 1910.332(a), employers must train other employees not listed in Table S-4 if they reasonably may be expected to face a comparable risk of injury from electric shock or other electrical hazards. See 1910.332(a).

• Employers should perform a job hazard analysis to identify tasks that bring workers close to energized parts (50 volts or more to ground) and provide training when comparable risk exists.
• Document the hazard assessment to support training decisions.

Under 1910.332(b)(1) and the referenced sections, employees who perform or are affected by electrical servicing must be trained in the safety-related work practices, which include lockout/tagout procedures when those practices apply; see 1910.332(b)(1) and 1910.333.

• If the work involves servicing or maintenance that requires isolation of electrical energy, training must cover energy control procedures consistent with 1910.333 and the lockout/tagout standard (29 CFR 1910.147) even though 1910.332 itself focuses on electrical safety practices.

Under 1910.332(c), the degree and frequency of training are determined by the risk to the employee, so training should be repeated when job duties, equipment, or workplace conditions change such that risk increases or employee proficiency is uncertain. See 1910.332(c).

• Employers should retrain employees whenever there is evidence that the employee's knowledge or work performance indicates retraining is needed.

Under 1910.332(b)(1), employees shall be trained in and familiar with the safety-related work practices in 1910.331–1910.335 that pertain to their respective job assignments. See 1910.332(b)(1).

• That means an employee who never performs electrical work still needs training on the parts of those sections that apply to their job (for example, safe work distances or procedures to stay clear of exposed live parts).

Under 1910.332(c), employers may use outside or vendor-provided classroom or on-the-job training, but the employer remains responsible for ensuring the training meets the degree of training determined by employee risk. See 1910.332(c).

• Employers should verify the provider's content covers the applicable practices in 1910.331–335 and that employees demonstrate competency after training.

Under 1910.332 Note 1, a person is considered a "qualified person" for 1910.331–1910.335 only if they have the training required by paragraph (b)(3) of 1910.332. See 1910.332(b)(3) Note 1.

• The qualification is based on demonstrated training and skills (distinguishing live parts, determining nominal voltage, and knowing clearance distances), not merely a job title.

Under 1910.332(b)(3)(i), employers should provide classroom instruction and hands-on demonstrations that teach employees how to identify covers, enclosures, nameplates, and insulation that indicate exposed live parts and how to use test equipment to verify energized conditions. See 1910.332(b)(3)(i).

• Include practical exercises such as equipment walkdowns, recognition of exposed vs. non-exposed components, and supervised use of testing instruments.
• Document competency checks to show employees can reliably distinguish exposed live parts.

Under 1910.332(b)(3)(ii), employers should train qualified employees to read equipment nameplates, single-line diagrams, and to use appropriate voltage-testing instruments to determine nominal voltages for each exposed part they may encounter. See 1910.332(b)(3)(ii).

• Training should cover recognizing multiple sources (e.g., backup generators, parallel feeders) and verifying de-energized states where required by 1910.333.
• Emphasize procedures to isolate, tag, and verify each source before performing work.

Under 1910.332 and 1910.333(c)(2), training must include the protective techniques and equipment required when tools or materials make contact with energized parts, such as use of insulated tools, protective clothing, and barriers. See 1910.332(b)(3) Note 2.

• Training should cover selection and maintenance of insulating tools, minimum approach distances, and safe work sequencing to minimize exposure.
• Include hands-on demonstration and verification of competence before permitting unsupervised work on energized parts.

Under 1910.332(a), the employer with control over the workplace must ensure employees who face electrical risks are trained; when contract or temporary workers are used, the host employer and/or the staffing employer must ensure those workers receive training appropriate to the hazards they face. See 1910.332(a).

• Employers should clarify responsibility in contracts and verify that temporary or contract workers have received and demonstrated the required training before assigning them electrical exposure tasks.