Electrical protective equipment

Overview

There are two Oregon OSHA rules that set requirements for electrical protective equipment: 1910.137 (for general industry) and 1926.97 (for the construction industry), which have essentially the same requirements. Like any other type of PPE, electrical protective equipment is necessary when your employees are exposed to an electrical hazard that you cannot eliminate or control any other way. Also, like any other PPE, electrical protective equipment is only a barrier between the hazard and the worker. When the equipment does not properly fit a worker or the worker does not use it correctly, the worker risks exposure.

Employees working in areas where there are potential electrical hazards must be provided with, and must use, electrical protective equipment that is appropriate for the body and the work performed.

All available content

Publications

Checklists
- Electrical safety
  Checklist for electrical safety.
  English
Fact sheets
- Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI)
  Describes GFCI requirements in construction, details how GFCIs protect workers from electrocution, and addresses common errors.
  English 10/25/2005
References
- Rules with requirements
  We get many calls and emails from employers asking the same question. It begins: “Which of your rules have requirements for…” You can finish the sentence with words like “recordkeeping,” “employee training,” and “written documents.” To answer those questions, we’ve organized these rules requirements into a filterable, sortable, searchable table.
  English 05/10/2019

Education and training

PESO
- La Construcción Residencial: Techado
  Residential Construction: Roofing
  Del programa PESO para la seguridad en la construcción residencial - PESO English-Spanish residential construction safety training
  Training program English Spanish 10/14/2020
- La Construcción Residencial: Acabado de Exteriores
  Residential Construction: Exterior Finishing
  Del programa PESO para la seguridad en la construcción residencial - PESO English-Spanish residential construction safety training
  Training program English Spanish 10/14/2020

Rules and rule-related

Final Rules
- Division 2, Subdivision I, Personal Protective Equipment
  Administrative Order 2-2023 Word version
- Division 2, Subdivision S, Electrical
  3-2015 Word version
- Division 3, Subdivision E, Personal Protective & Life Saving Equipment
  Administrative Order 2-2023 Word version
- Division 3, Subdivision K, Electrical
  2-2007 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision I, Protective Equipment
  Administrative Order 2-2023 Word version
Interpretations
- Clarification of GFCI standard
  06/11/2003
- Installing protective rubber equipment on 12.5 kV lines using rubber gloves and sleeves
  12/14/2017
- Usage of GFCI's on construction sites
  05/14/2004
Program Directives
- Electrical Equipment Used in Wetwells
  Purpose: To provide guidelines for determining the appropriate type of electrical equipment for use in confined spaces containing waste water with organic matter.
  A-074 03/09/2001
- Electrical Product Approval
  Purpose: The purpose of this directive is to inform all Oregon OSHA personnel of recognized Electrical Testing Laboratories.
  A-022 01/16/2013
- Electrical Safety
  Purpose: To provide inspection guidelines relating to OR-OSHA's rules addressing work practices and procedures for electrical safety.
  A-164 10/21/1993

Video Resources

Borrow from the Resource Center

Watch Online

English
- NIOSH Arc Flash Awareness
  Arc Flash Awareness parts 1, 2, and 3 from NIOSH. An arc flash is the sudden release of electrical energy through the air when a high-voltage gap exists and there is a breakdown between conductors.
  Language: English Length: 8:13, 9:33, and 8:07 minutes