No Room for Mistakes: Managing Human Error in Electrical Safety

(A Guide for Leaders and Safety Pros)

With electrical safety, mistakes are rarely minor. Unlike many other workplace risks, electrical errors often allow no second chances. A small lapse in judgment can result in a severe injury, equipment damage, or even a fatality.

That’s why NFPA 70E® emphasizes the role of human error in electrical incidents and requires employers to account for it in risk assessments. And it’s why facility and operations leaders must do more than “check the box” on compliance. They must actively support safety teams with training, checklists, and inspections — because when workers know leadership has their back, safety becomes part of the culture.

The Electrician’s Pencil Doesn’t Have an Eraser

This is an old saying: the electrician’s pencil doesn’t have an eraser. Once a mistake is made, it often cannot be undone.

• Dropping a screwdriver into energized equipment

• Opening the wrong switch

• Testing a high-voltage circuit with the wrong-rated meter

These aren’t small “oops” moments. They can trigger catastrophic failures, arc flashes, or electrocutions in a fraction of a second.

Even experienced professionals are not immune. Human error is natural — but in electrical work, the stakes are so high that even one misstep can be devastating.

For leaders: This is why safety programs must be funded and reinforced. Workers need time for safety briefings, access to inspections, and up-to-date training.

What Is an Error Precursor?

An error precursor is a condition that makes mistakes more likely. NFPA 70E® Annex Q identifies several common ones:

1. Time pressure – rushing to finish a job.

2. High workload – fatigue from juggling too many tasks.

3. Distractions – interruptions that break focus.

4. Inexperience – lack of proficiency with equipment.

5. Stress – deadlines, peers, or supervisors applying pressure.

6. Complacency – assuming “this job is just like the last one.”

For safety leaders, identifying these precursors is step one. For facility managers, the key takeaway is this: when crews are rushed, fatigued, or distracted, risks multiply. Your role is to support them with the time and resources to do the job deliberately.

Core Human Performance Tools

NFPA 70E® and the Human Performance (HP) community both recognize: human error can’t be eliminated, but it can be anticipated and managed. That’s where proven tools come in:

• Pre-Job Briefs – short team conversations before starting work.

• Self-Check (STAR) – Stop, Think, Act, Review before any critical step.

• Three-Way Communication – repeat and confirm instructions to prevent misunderstandings.

• Stop When Unsure – empower workers to halt tasks if conditions look unsafe.

• Questioning Attitude – ask, “Do I know this for sure?” before acting.

• Peer Check – a second qualified worker verifies critical steps.

• Procedure Adherence – follow written procedures step by step.

  
  

For leaders: These tools only work if you make space for them. That means giving workers time to brief, confirming they have the right PPE and instruments, and backing up stop-work authority.

The Power of the Pre-Job Brief

Of all the tools, the pre-job brief may be the most powerful. Done well, it’s more than a formality — it’s a culture-building moment.

In a pre-job brief, the crew reviews:

• Individual roles

• Hazards involved

• Controls and safe work practices

It’s also the time to spot error-likely situations:

• Is this a first-time task?

• Is the equipment unfamiliar?

• Is anyone uncertain about the next step?

These conversations don’t just improve safety — they often improve efficiency, too.

For facility managers: The five minutes you “lose” in a pre-job brief can prevent five weeks of downtime from an avoidable incident.

Start Small, Build Habit

Adopting every human performance tool at once can feel overwhelming. The best approach is to start small:

• Make daily pre-job briefs standard practice.

• Use STAR before switching or testing.

Once these become second nature, add peer checks, questioning attitudes, and structured communication. Over time, they stop being “extra steps” and simply become “how we work safely.”

Action Checklists

For Safety Leaders

• Incorporate pre-job briefs into every shift.

• Use STAR before switching or testing.

• Identify error precursors (time pressure, distractions, fatigue) before starting work.

• Encourage peer checks for breaker operation or voltage testing.

• Share near-miss reports as teaching tools.

For Facility & Operations Leaders

• Fund annual electrical safety training and refreshers.

• Back up stop-work authority: make it clear no one will be punished for refusing unsafe work.

• Support regular infrared inspections and arc flash analyses.

• Review safety metrics (near misses, corrective actions) quarterly.

• Encourage your teams to “pause for safety” — and mean it.

Final Word: Prevention Is the Only Correction

Human error will always be part of the equation. The difference is whether an error leads to tragedy or becomes a learning opportunity.

For safety leaders, the tools are there: checklists, training, inspections, and NFPA 70E® guidance. For facility managers and executives, the role is just as vital: provide the resources, reinforce the culture, and make safety non-negotiable.

Because when it comes to electricity, you don’t always get a second chance. Prevention isn’t just smart; it’s the only correction. As always, let us know if we can help make your facility safer.

70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®, NFPA 70®, NEC®, and National Electrical Code® are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. All rights reserved. This informational material is not affiliated with nor has it been reviewed or approved by the NFPA.