Is arc flash training required by OSHA?

While OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) does not have a specific standard that requires arc flash training, OSHA’s general duty clause requires employers to provide a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. This means that employers must assess the hazards in their workplace and provide training to employees to ensure they can perform their jobs safely.

In the context of arc flash, OSHA requires employers to conduct a hazard assessment to determine if the employees are exposed to the hazards of an electrical arc. If they are, they must ensure that employees are adequately trained, and that appropriate safety-related work practices are implemented. The training must be “regular and frequent,” and employers must verify that the employee understands the training. If an employee does not understand the training, the employer must provide additional training until the employee does understand.

OSHA’s electrical standards (29 CFR 1910.333, 1910.335, and 1926.416, for example) require employers to provide employees with safety-related work practices and training for working on or near electrical equipment. This includes information and training on the skills and techniques necessary for safe work performance and the recognition, avoidance, and prevention of electrical hazards. This could include arc flash hazard assessment, protective clothing and equipment, emergency planning, and procedures for de-energizing electrical circuits before working on them.

While OSHA does not have a specific standard for arc flash training, it does require employers to evaluate the hazards in their workplace and provide regular and frequent training to employees to protect them from recognized hazards, including the hazards of an arc flash. It’s important to note that OSHA standards and regulations are minimum requirements, so even if OSHA does not require a specific type of training, employers should strive to provide more frequent and comprehensive training to ensure the safety of their employees not to exceed three years per the NFPA 70E Standard.