Small Business Self-Evaluation Checklist: Electrical

Engineers, electricians, and other professionals work with electricity directly, including working on overhead lines, cable harnesses, and circuit assemblies. Others, such as office workers and salespeople, work with electricity indirectly and may also be exposed to electrical hazards. Many of theses workers are killed or injured each year due to electrical hazards; however, most of these accidents are preventable.

A wide variety of possible solutions can be implemented to reduce or eliminate the risk of injury associated with electrical work. Examples of solutions include the use of insulation, guarding, grounding, electrical protective devices, and safe work practices.

This “Client Handout” provides small business owners a means of identifying potential problem areas that may occur when working with electricity. Any question answered “No” should be thoroughly investigated and corrective actions taken.

Questions	Yes	No	N/A
Are procedures and policies written that cover work with electricity?
Are workers trained in safe and effective ways to work with electricity?
Does the company specify compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations for all contracted electrical work?
Are all employees required to report, as soon as practical, any obvious hazard to life or property observed in connection with electrical equipment or lines?
Are employees instructed to make preliminary inspections and/or appropriate tests to determine what conditions exist before starting work on electrical equipment or lines?
When electrical equipment or lines are to be serviced, maintained or adjusted, are necessary switches opened, and locked-out or tagged as required by OSHA?
Are portable electrical tools and equipment grounded or of the double-insulated type?
Are electrical appliances, such as vacuum cleaners, polishers, and vending machines, grounded?
Do extension cords have a grounding conductor?
Are multiple plug adapters prohibited?
Are ground-fault circuit interrupters installed on each temporary circuit at locations where construction, demolition, modifications, alterations, or excavations are being performed?
Do the electrical installations in hazardous dust or vapor areas meet the National Electric Code (NEC) for hazardous locations?
Are exposed wiring and cords with frayed or deteriorated insulation repaired or replaced?
Are flexible cords and cable free of splices or tape?
Are clamps or other securing means provided on flexible cords or cables at plugs, receptacles, tools, equipment, etc., and is the cord jacket securely held in place?
Are all cord, cable, and raceway connections intact and secure?
In wet or damp locations, are electrical tools and equipment appropriate for the use?
Are the locations of electrical power lines and cables (e.g., overhead, underground, underfloor, other side of walls, etc.) determined before digging, drilling, or similar work is begun?
Is the use of measuring tapes, ropes, handlines, or other devices, which have metallic thread woven into the fabric, prohibited where they could come in contact with energized parts of equipment or circuit conductors?
Is the use of metal ladders prohibited in areas where the ladder or the person using the ladder could come in contact with energized parts of equipment, fixtures, or circuit conductors?
Are all disconnecting switches and circuit breakers labeled to indicate their use or equipment served?
Are circuit disconnecting means always opened before fuses are replaced?
Do all interior wiring systems include provisions for grounding metal parts of electrical raceways, equipment, and enclosures?
Is sufficient access and working space provided and maintained around all electrical equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance?
Are all unused openings (including conduit knockouts) in electrical enclosures and fittings closed with appropriate covers, plugs, or plates?
Are disconnecting switches for electrical motors, in excess of two horsepower, capable of opening the circuit when the motor is in a stalled condition, without exploding?
Is each motor disconnecting switch or circuit breakers located so that it is within sight of a worker standing at the motor control device (i.e., controller)?
Is the controller disconnecting means capable of being locked in the open position or is a separate disconnecting means installed in the circuit that it is within sight of a worker standing at the motor?
Are employees who regularly work on or around energized electrical equipment or lines instructed in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) methods?
Are employees prohibited from working alone on energized lines or equipment over 6 volts?