Training and qualifying your employees

Procedures alone cannot provide an improvement in electrical safety performance. Personnel who are exposed to electrical hazards must understand the basics of electrical hazards and safe work practices in order to implement the procedures. Training and qualifying your employees on these issues can be difficult and confusing. This article outlines a process for training employees on electrical safety issues. It will define "qualified" in terms that will satisfy the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and NFPA 70E of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) and also define the steps to meet the requirements of being qualified. The information contained in this article is the result of training the author has performed with electricians and nonelectrical personnel. The information is based upon the interpretation of the author. Employers should review the information and compare it to their interpretation of the regulations.