Many people work in hazardous industries and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) works tirelessly to promote safety in the workplace. As part of the regulations they put in place, an NFPA 70e Certification is specifically designed for individuals who may be exposed to arcing events or blasts during their work day.
Electricians, welders, electrical engineers and many other workers are identified as ‘high-risk’ and should receive this comprehensive training for their own safety. The NFPA 70 e certification covers multiple electrical hazards which can result in serious injury or fatality. Electrical safety training is a fundamental part of minimizing and preventing on the job exposure to dangerous electrical hazards for many professionals. Here’s what you need to know about the NFPA 70e Certification class.
What is NFPA 70e Certification?
This certification was originally developed to help employees avoid all serious manners of electrical hazards in the workplace. It was designed at OSHA’s request specifically targeting shock, electrocution, arc flash, and arc blast safety. This comprehensive training is invaluable in many industries today covering safety requirements and regulations put in place by OSHA. Workers should be trained in safe work and electrical practices along with any changes to the NFPA 70e standard every 3 years.
What’s included in the training?
The certification focuses on the practical application of safety standards, especially those associated with arc flash and arc blasts. It covers risk assessment as well as interpreting labels and disconnecting switches safely. Employees will learn about working near live parts along with the current ratings for transformers. Understanding electrical shock hazards and arc ratings is also included.
Workers who complete the course will understand the general requirements for safe work practices with electricity as well as the potential hazards of an arc flash event. They will learn all about choosing and caring for the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as arc flash calculations and mitigating hazards.
Qualified Workers
Workers who are qualified based on NFPA 70e Certification are trained to recognize specific electrical hazards and take precautionary measures to avoid an injury event. They understand how to utilize test equipment and how to identify exposed potentially live parts of electrical equipment. They learn how to calculate the nominal voltage of such live parts along with the extent of the present hazard.
Qualified workers gain the skills necessary to plan jobs safely utilizing the proper tools and personal protective equipment to perform the task. Even employees who work on low voltage systems or those who have recently changed job titles should receive updated NFPA 70e Certification training.
NFPA 70e Certification Training
The NFPA 70e Certification training may be completed online or in person and each has its advantages. While online training is more flexible and convenient, on-site training offers more interaction with a qualified instructor. Completion of this training increases hazard awareness, improves risk assessment, and reduces the likelihood of an electrical or arc flash injury in the workplace. The training ensures OSHA compliance and should be completed at least every 3 years. However, annual certification can improve risk assessment skills and increase protective measures in hazardous industries.
