Electrical Safety

Earlier this month at the IEEE Transmission & Distribution Conference, artificial intelligence was everywhere. The agenda covered neural networks (computer systems that learn to recognize patterns the way a brain does), predictive analytics, advanced fault detection, wildfire modeling, and automated inspection platforms. These technologies are set to become an important part of how the industry manages grid reliability and wildfire risk. But after sitting through presentation

Safety training doesn't just inform your workers. It changes how they act when it matters most. As a safety leader, you may be familiar with this scenario: Your team completed a safety training class, passed the assessment, and checked the box… and yet, one day, still made a risky choice in the field. It wasn't exactly carelessness. More like habit, time pressure, or the simple fact that the training never really landed. Electrical safety incidents are a stubborn problem. Reg

The short answer is: sometimes, and only under very specific conditions. The longer answer will be explained in this article. Understanding which characteristics make equipment either safe or unsafe is the difference between a reasonable work practice and a preventable tragedy. The default rule under both OSHA 1910.333 and NFPA 70E is crystal clear: de-energize before you work. Lockout/tagout exists for a reason, and the accident record for facilities that skip it is sobering

If you've spent any time in traditional electrical work, you know how to read a system. You understand the hazards and how to approach them. But when it comes to solar power, it's a whole different ballgame. These systems present unique hazards that workers and safety managers can't afford to overlook. Let’s walk through how they work, what makes them unique, and how to make sure your team is prepared to work on them safely. How a Photovoltaic (PV) System Works The difference

In many facilities, maintenance technicians routinely open electrical panels to perform inspections, diagnostics, or predictive maintenance tasks. Removing the cover may seem like a simple step in the process, whether it’s done to take measurements, check connections, or perform an infrared scan. But those first few minutes after opening an energized panel can be among the most dangerous moments in industrial maintenance. This is because electrical panels, motor control cente

At Guidant Power, most of our work with clients begins with a question: How safe is my system? A facility manager might need an arc flash study, or a safety team might schedule infrared inspections to get ahead of a failure. We visit the site, analyze their systems, uncover the risks, and deliver a report. Until now, that’s where our engagement ended, leaving the customer with a stack of recommendations and a new question: “This is great information! How do we fix it?” client

Electrical injuries account for 0.12% of “lost-time” workplace accidents. That number seems reassuring until you look at another stat: electrical safety accidents account for 6% of all workplace fatalities. Electrical safety incidents don’t show up often. But when they do, they can be catastrophic. This asymmetry is exactly what makes electrical risk different from every other safety category, and it is why hospitals and healthcare facilities, in particular, are dangerously u

Electrical safety is not just a task list. It is an interconnected system that works together to keep your facilities running and your people safe every day.

Most executives do not ignore electrical risk because they are careless. They ignore it because the danger is silent. A facility can operate for years without a serious electrical incident and still be one mistake away from catastrophe. The silence creates overconfidence. Then the luck runs out. I experienced that exact situation in 2012, and it changed my life and outlook as a leader. It is also why I wrote the recent article in NETA World, “From Luck to Leadership: Why Z

“You found a hotspot caused by a loose wire in my electrical equipment? I just tightened that wire! And how did the screw come loose?” Sometimes, an Infrared (IR) Thermography Electrical Safety Inspection report shows “hotspots” in equipment that appears to be working just fine. However, even if a screw is tightened perfectly on day one, there are forces that work to loosen it over time, in very small increments, even despite regular maintenance. Screws in electrical equipme

If you work around electrical equipment, you’ve probably noticed that arc flash labels don’t all look the same. Some have orange headers with the word “WARNING” in black. Others have red headers with the word “DANGER” in white. So which one is correct? Are there codes or standards that require one over the other? The short answer is yes – but which label to use is not always obvious. In the article below, we will explore some of the reasons for this uncertainty. Where Arc Fla

Update to article published in 2019 to Rozel site We are often asked: “Does your electrical safety training qualify or certify someone to work on electrical equipment?” It's a logical question to ask. The short answer is no, and here’s why. The electrical safety regulation that all general industry employers must follow is OSHA 1910 Subpart S. Many U.S. employers also implement an electrical safety program that complies with NFPA 70E. In either case, the requirements for qual

As an executive, you make decisions every day about where to invest limited resources. Most of those decisions likely follow a familiar logic: fix what’s broken, improve what’s visible, and invest where returns are obvious. Electrical safety doesn't neatly fit that calculation. Although it's no less crucial to overall workplace safety, its real costs often remain invisible until after an incident occurs. And by then, the cost curve has already spiked. I have a personal reason

NEC® Requirements, Explained The National Electrical Code® (NEC®) Section 408.4 requires panel schedules and circuit directories to include enough detail so that anyone—whether it’s a building occupant, maintenance worker, or service technician—can easily locate the correct overcurrent device for a given circuit or area. This requirement exists for one simple reason: clarity saves time, and time saves lives when working around electrical equipment. Panel Schedules vs. Circuit

How to spot electrical and mechanical problems long before they become dangerous or expensive Infrared (IR) thermography inspections use specialized cameras to detect heat patterns and reveal risks that aren’t visible to the naked eye. It’s like getting an X-ray of your electrical and mechanical systems without shutting anything down. Infrared inspections matter to several key roles: facility managers, QA/QC managers, operations leaders, and EHS professionals all have someth

Every few years, facilities ask us the same question: “Why isn’t the update a fraction of the original price? Can’t you just rerun the old data?” It’s a fair question. And the answer is important for leaders, EHS managers, facility teams, and anyone responsible for electrical safety. Arc flash studies aren’t “one-and-done.” NFPA 70E and NFPA 70B both require a review at least every five years — and the reasons are practical, not bureaucratic. Electrical systems drift, utiliti

By Jesse Walker, Electrical Technician at Guidant Power When I board a 6 a.m. flight on Monday, my luggage isn’t exactly typical. Two 50-lb checked bags, a duffel, and a backpack. By Friday, those labels will be on energized equipment across a facility I’d never seen on Monday morning. That’s the job: travel, observe, document, verify, and keep people safe. My Background I’ve been an electrician since high school. Years in residential and commercial work, then a decade on the

A better way to verify absence of voltage It’s easy to trust a familiar tool, especially one you use every day. But even the most reliable voltmeter can fail without warning, so it's important to know what to do if it happens. Risks of Voltmeter Failure A damaged lead, a wrong setting, or an internal fault can turn a routine task into a life-threatening situation. Many shocks, arc flashes, and electrocutions have occurred because a voltmeter gave a false “zero” reading — indi

NEC 2026 Section 110.16 update series As companies rush to meet the expanded labeling requirements in NEC 2026 Section 110.16 , many electrical contractors ask this question: “Do you handle arc flash calculations in-house, or bring in an expert?” We've heard it time and again: "do we really need an arc flash analysis in (x) scenario?", and this question gives us pause. Many do not realize that “figuring it out” using software or online tools is far from easy . And when it com

NEC 2026 Section 110.16 update series You see an arc flash label on a piece of equipment — it looks professional, durable, and official. But can you trust the numbers printed on it? As the NEC 2026 Section 110.16 update expands labeling requirements , more equipment will carry arc flash stickers. Unfortunately, not all of them are based on valid engineering data. A label applied without proper calculations is worse than useless, because it gives a false sense of safety. This