Risk assessment
Assesses the task, system voltage, fault current, protective-device clearing time and equipment condition.
Defines work controls and required PPE.
NFPA 70E
Electrical safety practices and task-based PPE selection
Requirements & test methods
NFPA 70E:2027 addresses electrical safety in the workplace, including risk assessment, safe work practices and selection of protective equipment.
Shock and arc-flash protection
Assesses shock exposure by system voltage (V) and arc-flash exposure by incident energy (cal/cm²) at the working distance.
Arc-rated clothing for thermal exposure; shock protection, boundaries and tools for the electrical hazard.
Incident-energy method
Calculates incident energy at the task-specific working distance.
Clothing-system arc rating ≥ calculated incident energy. Example: a 9.4 cal/cm² exposure requires a rating of at least 9.4 cal/cm².
PPE category method
Selects PPE from equipment tables using the task, fault current, clearing time and working distance within the listed limits.
Minimum clothing-system arc ratings by PPE category:
| PPE category | Minimum arc rating |
|---|---|
| 1 | 4 cal/cm² |
| 2 | 8 cal/cm² |
| 3 | 25 cal/cm² |
| 4 | 40 cal/cm² |
PPE inspection
Checks clothing condition, coverage, compatible layers and other PPE required for the task.
Layered systems use the tested rating of the complete combination.
Where the standard is used
Oil & Gas
Electrical maintenance at process facilities, with shock and arc-flash risk assessments, safe work practices and task-appropriate PPE selection.
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Electrical
Workplace electrical safety, including risk assessment and selection of arc-flash PPE for the equipment and task.
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Foundry
Electrical work on foundry equipment and distribution systems.
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Flash fire + electric arc
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