Electrical Safety for Employees

Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Explain how electrical shock occurs: current flowing through the body from contact with an energised conductor while grounded, and the factors that determine severity (current magnitude, pathway through body, duration of contact, skin condition).
• Identify common electrical hazards for non-electrical workers: damaged cords (frayed, cut, taped), missing ground pins (third prong removed), overloaded circuits and power strips, wet conditions near electrical equipment, improper extension cord use (daisy-chaining, running under carpets, permanent use of temporary wiring), and exposed wiring.
• Use GFCI protection correctly: what a GFCI does (detects ground faults and disconnects in milliseconds), how to test GFCI outlets (monthly test/reset), when GFCI is required (wet locations, outdoor, construction sites), and what to do when a GFCI trips repeatedly (report, do not bypass).
• Inspect electrical equipment before use: visual check for cord damage, plug condition, ground pin presence, housing cracks, and the defect reporting procedure that removes damaged equipment from service.
• Apply extension cord safety: rated capacity, prohibition against daisy-chaining, routing to prevent trip hazards and damage, GFCI protection, temporary use only, and the common misuses that create fire and shock hazards.
• Maintain electrical panel clearance: the 36-inch clearance requirement, prohibition against storage in front of panels, and why clearance matters for emergency disconnection.
• Respond to electrical emergencies: the do-not-touch rule (never touch someone being electrocuted until power is confirmed off), how to disconnect power safely, calling emergency services, CPR/AED awareness, and scene safety.
• Report electrical defects through proper channels: what to report (damaged cords, sparking, burning smell, tripping breakers, tingling sensation), who to report to, and the prohibition against attempting electrical repairs unless qualified.

Core Curriculum Topics

• Basic Electrical Concepts: voltage, current, resistance, grounding — what non-electrical workers need to understand
• How Electrical Shock Occurs: current pathway, severity factors, let-go threshold
• Common Workplace Electrical Hazards: damaged cords, missing ground pins, overloads, wet conditions
• GFCI Protection: function, testing, requirements, proper response to tripping
• Portable Equipment Inspection: visual checks, defect identification, reporting
• Extension Cord Safety: capacity, daisy-chain prohibition, routing, GFCI, temporary use
• Space Heaters and Personal Appliances: policies, risks, approved equipment
• Electrical Panel Clearance: 36-inch requirement, storage prohibition
• Electrical Emergency Response: do-not-touch, power disconnection, emergency services, CPR/AED
• Reporting Electrical Defects: what to report, how to report, prohibition against self-repair

• No prior training required
• No academic degree required
• All instruction in English; working proficiency required

Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript. Employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

• All non-electrical employees who use electrical equipment in their daily work
• Office workers using computers, printers, space heaters, and personal devices
• Warehouse and production workers operating electrically powered equipment
• Field workers using portable electric tools and extension cords
• Cleaning and maintenance staff who encounter electrical equipment
• New employee orientation — every employee should receive basic electrical safety awareness

• Electrical Safety for Employees — YOU ARE HERE (awareness for non-electrical workers)
• Electrical Safety for Technicians and Supervisors (NFPA 70E for electrical workers)
• Electrical Safety for Managers (programme governance)
• OSHA Focus Four — Electrocution Hazards (construction-specific electrocution prevention)