Safety and safety training are at the heart of successful work. This is especially true when individuals work with materials or elements that are naturally dangerous, such as electricity. There are a number of circumstances that might cause an employee to be exposed to potential shock hazards. There are some employees who have received training and who are qualified to work on electrical equipment. These would include electrical workers, electricians, and other workers in this field. There are also workers who are not trained or who are not qualified to work with electricity but still may find themselves at risk of being exposed to electrical shock hazards. These can be first responders, janitors, and those who operate heavy equipment. All of these individuals benefit from arc flash training.
Many employees are required to have training in electrical shock and arc flash hazards. This training must meet the requirements laid out by OSHA and other governmental agencies designed to protect the health and safety of workers. What some employers may not know is that in many circumstances employees need to be retrained on a three year basis. This is the default. Training could happen more frequently, but it must be done a minimum of once every three years.
There are other circumstances that may require additional training. For example, if an inspection shows that employees are not complying with safe work practices, they may need to be retrained. Or if new technology or new equipment are introduced in the work environment and these require a change in work and safety procedures, they may need to have their training updated. If an employee who has already received training finds themselves temporarily working in an area that requires safety-related work practices outside of the normal scope of their work, they may need to be retrained.
Employers need to be vigilant in monitoring the work habits of their employees. If it becomes clear that an employee does not have a firm grasp on electrical safety or if their duties have changed, additional training may be required.
