Before each task, ask what could put you in contact with electricity: power lines overhead, missing ground-fault protection, a broken path to ground, equipment used the wrong way, or damaged and misused cords. OSHA lists these as the most frequent causes of electrical injuries. If your task involves any of these hazards, stop and ask your supervisor what protections are required. Do not open electrical equipment or go near exposed energized parts without the required training, authorization and supervision.
The five OSHA lists
- Contact with power lines. Ladders, conduit and lifts near overhead lines.
- Lack of ground-fault protection. Portable tools and cords without the protection your site requires.
- Path to ground missing or discontinuous. A missing ground prong or a broken grounding path.
- Equipment not used in the manner prescribed. Tools and equipment used outside their listing or instructions.
- Improper use of extension and flexible cords. Damaged cords, cords run through doorways or used in place of fixed wiring.
Free tool: today’s task hazard check
Tick anything that is part of today’s task. Nothing is saved.
Today my task involves
OSHA 10 online: use an OSHA-authorized provider
OSHA's Outreach Training Program teaches hazard awareness. OSHA says the program is voluntary and does not meet the training requirements for any OSHA standard, so your employer still trains you for your tasks. OSHA says it cannot validate training from vendors other than the ones it lists.
OSHA-authorized online Outreach Training providers
The official list of online providers. Choose the construction course if you work on construction sites.
The same list for Spanish-language providers
OSHA keeps a separate Spanish page of authorized online providers.
Electrical safety references
Starting your first year as a Texas apprentice? The US$19 Texas First-Year Electrical Apprentice Kit gives you printable pages for the first months on the job: a tool-check card, a who-to-ask list with a short stop-and-ask script, emergency-contact and heat-and-rest cards, plus a Tool budget sheet and a Tool inventory sheet (CSV).
Log your Texas Journeyman hours free. A free Tsai Electro account keeps your supervised hours, your online practice scores and your exam date in one place. Start with a five-question check to see which topic to practice next.
Reading about hazards is not a substitute for your employer's training on your tasks.
Ugly's Electrical Safety and NFPA 70E, 2024 Edition (Jones and Bartlett)
A pocket spiral guide to the 2024 NFPA 70E workplace electrical safety standard. 5th edition.
As an Amazon Associate, Tsai Electro earns from qualifying purchases.
See Ugly's Electrical Safety on AmazonNFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, 2024 Edition
The standard itself from NFPA.
Prices and stock change on Amazon, so check the listing before you buy.
Sources
- OSHA Electrical safety topic page
- OSHA Outreach Training Program
- OSHA-authorized online Outreach Training providers
Product details come from the Amazon listing for each product, checked October 16, 2026. Prices change, so check the listing.
