Warning Labels

Safety regulations require equipment that poses an arc flash hazard to have clearly visible warning labels. These labels concisely present important safety information for working on or around that equipment. This information can include the approach boundaries, findings from a hazards analysis on the equipment, and the required personal protective equipment.

An arc flash warning label will contain some or all of the following additional information, depending on what is most important to the person working on the equipment:

• Nominal system voltage
• Arc flash boundary
• At least one of the following*:
  • Available incident energy and the corresponding working distance or the arc flash PPE category rating, but not both.
  • Minimum arc rating of clothing
  • Site-specific level of PPE

When a review of the arc flash hazard risk assessment signals a change that renders the label inaccurate, the label must be updated. The data must be reviewed for accuracy at intervals not to exceed five years.

*Unless changes in electrical distribution system(s) render the label inaccurate, labels applied prior to June 21, 2020, are acceptable if they complied with the requirements for equipment labelling in the standard in effect at the time the labels were applied.

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