Barricades & Guarding

Depending on the conditions surrounding the work, barricades and other protective measures may be needed to protect workers from electrical hazards. Such barricades would prevent workers from entering boundaries that require additional qualification or personal protective equipment (PPE) or reduce the possibility of accidental contact with exposed energized equipment. Proper warning signage should be used in conjunction with barriers.

The use of barricades to protect workers is required when it is necessary to prevent or limit employee access to work areas containing energized conductors or circuit parts. Barricades must not be placed closer than the perimeter of the limited approach boundary. Where the arc flash boundary is greater than the limited approach boundary, barricades may not be placed closer than the arc flash boundary.

Temporarily guarding, or insulating, an object or piece of equipment can also help mitigate arc flash dangers.

If signs and barricades do not provide sufficient warning and protection from electrical hazards, an attendant should be stationed in the area to provide manual signaling and alerting to warn and protect employees.

To learn more about Arc Flash Safety visit our OSHA Construction Arc Flash Safety Online Training web page.