Practical Precautions

This section will provide you with general precautionary rules when working in an environment where the potential for an arc flash incident is present. This section will also provide you with the best practices for responding to an arc flash event.

Best Practices for Arc Flash Prevention

In an environment with the potential for arc flash, any behavior that violates safety procedures is potentially life-threatening. Other behaviors that do not specifically violate precautions but increase the risk for arc flash events or other electrical incidents are also dangerous and should be avoided.

The following includes some general precautions against risky actions while working on or around electrical equipment.

• Inspect PPE for wear or damage before use.
• Do not wear rings, necklaces, watches, or other conductive jewelry to work, even under PPE.
• Do not use damaged equipment or tools.
• Do not carry anything conductive near electrical equipment (such as non-insulated tools or aluminum ladders).

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