General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

Electrical Safety Training

Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05

29 CFR 1910.332

29 CFR 1910.332 requires employers to train workers who face a risk of electric shock in the safety-related work practices of 1910.331 through 1910.335. Both qualified persons (who work on or near exposed energized parts) and certain unqualified persons must be trained in the practices that pertain to their specific job assignments.

29 CFR 1910.332 at a glance

What it requires: Training in electrical safe-work practices for workers who face a shock risk
Who it covers: General-industry employers whose workers face electric-shock risk
Who is trained: Qualified persons and certain unqualified persons, per their job assignments
Content: The safe-work practices of 1910.331 through 1910.335
Max penalty (2026): $16,550 per serious violation; $165,514 per willful
The #1 confusion: Non-electricians who face a shock risk (e.g., maintenance) must be trained too

What 29 CFR 1910.332 requires (plain English)

29 CFR 1910.332 sets the training requirements that make the electrical safe-work-practice standards (1910.331 through 1910.335) effective. It requires employers to train employees who face a risk of electric shock that is not reduced to a safe level by the installation requirements, so the people who could be shocked understand how to avoid it.

The standard distinguishes qualified persons, those permitted to work on or near exposed energized parts, who must be trained to distinguish exposed live parts, determine their voltage, and know the clearance distances and precautions for the voltages involved. Unqualified persons who nonetheless face a risk must be trained in the practices necessary for their safety. In every case the training must cover the safety-related work practices that pertain to the employee's specific job assignment.

1910.332 is the entry point to Subpart S's safe-work-practice cluster: 1910.333 (selection and use of work practices, including de-energizing), 1910.334 (use of equipment), and 1910.335 (safeguards for personnel protection). Its training duty for the broader workforce complements the electrical-installation standards (1910.303–.308).

The regulatory text

“Employees shall be trained in and familiar with the safety-related work practices required by §§ 1910.331 through 1910.335 that pertain to their respective job assignments.”

29 CFR 1910.332(b)(1)

Key facts about 29 CFR 1910.332

Employees who face a risk of electric shock must be trained in the safe-work practices of 1910.331–.335 (1910.332).
Training must cover the practices that pertain to the employee's specific job assignment (1910.332(b)(1)).
Qualified persons must be trained to distinguish live parts, determine voltage, and know clearance distances (1910.332(b)(3)).
Unqualified persons who face a shock risk must be trained in the practices for their safety.
Non-electricians such as maintenance staff can be within scope when they face a shock risk.
It is the training gateway to the safe-work-practice standards 1910.333–.335.
The training complements, but is separate from, the electrical-installation standards.

Scope: who 29 CFR 1910.332 applies to

Regulatory framework: General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
Citation reference: 29 CFR 1910.332
Enforcement status: In force and enforced
Jurisdiction: Federal OSHA (29 State-Plan jurisdictions may be stricter)

State-Plan states (e.g. California, Washington, Michigan) operate OSHA-approved programs that must be at least as effective as federal OSHA and frequently impose higher penalties or additional requirements. Confirm the rule as adopted in your state.

Key requirements of 29 CFR 1910.332

#	Employer obligation
1	Train employees on electrical safety practices
2	Include CPR training for qualified persons
3	Train on hazard recognition for electrical work
4	Retrain when new hazards are introduced
5	Document all electrical safety training

Summarized from the text of 29 CFR 1910.332. Always read the full regulation for the binding language.

Common Electrical Safety Training violations

Deficiencies OSHA cites under 29 CFR 1910.332 include the ones below, in no particular order. Distinct deficiencies can be cited as separate items, and each serious item carries up to $16,550 (2026). Broader per-instance stacking exists but is a discretionary, case-by-case OSHA enforcement policy, not an automatic multiplier.

Employees facing a shock risk not trained in the 1910.331–.335 practices (1910.332(b)(1)).
Qualified persons not trained to distinguish live parts and voltages/clearances (1910.332(b)(3)).
Unqualified persons who face a risk not trained in practices for their safety (1910.332(b)(2)).
Training not matched to the employee's actual job assignment (1910.332(b)(1)).
No verification that required electrical training occurred (1910.332).

It is not only electricians: anyone facing a shock risk must be trained

Employers often assume electrical training under 1910.332 applies only to their electricians. In fact the standard reaches any employee who faces a risk of electric shock not reduced to a safe level by the installation, which can include maintenance technicians resetting energized equipment, machine operators, and others working near exposed live parts. Qualified persons get more extensive training (recognizing live parts, voltages, and approach distances), while unqualified persons who still face a risk must be trained in the practices for their safety. Limiting training to the electrical department leaves exposed workers uncovered.

What OSHA inspectors look for

A compliance officer identifies which workers face a shock risk not reduced to a safe level (electricians, maintenance staff, and others working near energized parts) and checks that they were trained in the relevant safe-work practices, and that qualified persons can distinguish live parts and know approach distances. Untrained maintenance workers doing electrical tasks are a common finding.

Example: how a violation is cited

A maintenance technician who resets and works on energized control panels was never trained in electrical safe-work practices and does not know the approach boundaries. After a shock incident, OSHA cites 1910.332 because employees facing a shock risk must be trained in the 1910.331–.335 practices for their jobs, with penalties from $16,550.

Illustrative example, not a specific OSHA case.

Electrical Safety Training compliance checklist

Use this to evaluate your compliance with 29 CFR 1910.332. Each item is a key requirement OSHA may verify during an inspection.

Identify every worker who faces a risk of electric shock not reduced to a safe level.
Train qualified persons to distinguish live parts, determine voltage, and observe clearance distances.
Train unqualified persons who face a risk in the safe-work practices for their protection.
Match each worker's training to the safe-work practices relevant to their job assignment.
Coordinate the training with 1910.333 (work practices), 1910.334 (equipment use), and 1910.335 (PPE).
Document the training and refresh it when duties or hazards change.

2026 penalties for 29 CFR 1910.332

Maximums set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d). 2026 amounts unchanged from 2025 (no CPI adjustment; OMB M-26-11). Not an increase. The 2025 OSHA penalty levels remain in effect for 2026; OSHA made no inflation adjustment for 2026. 29 CFR 1903.15 identifies January 15, 2025 as the effective reference for these amounts, while OSHA's public penalties page currently references penalties assessed after Jan. 15, 2026.

Violation type	Minimum	Maximum	When it applies
Serious	$1,085	$16,550	Substantial probability of death or serious physical harm.
Other-Than-Serious	$0	$16,550	Relates to safety/health but unlikely to cause death or serious harm.
Willful	$11,823	$165,514	Intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard of the requirement.
Repeated	$4,256	$165,514	A substantially similar violation cited within the last 5 years.
Failure to Abate	None	$16,550/day	up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6)

Electrical-training citations often surface after a shock or arc-flash incident. Serious violations reach $16,550 and willful or repeat violations $165,514; untrained workers exposed to energized parts are the usual finding.

Maximums and the willful minimum are set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d); the serious and repeated minimums are OSHA policy floors from its annual penalty adjustment memo. OSHA applies gravity-based and size, good-faith and history reductions (FOM CPL 02-00-164 Ch.6). Estimates only, not legal advice.

The business case for Electrical Safety Training compliance

Electrical safe-work practices only protect workers who know them, and many shock and arc-flash injuries involve maintenance or operations staff who were never trained to recognize energized parts or maintain safe approach distances. The training requirement ensures that the people exposed to the hazard actually understand how to work around it safely.

Free compliance tools for 29 CFR 1910.332

Job Hazard Analysis Builder Weekly Site Safety Inspection Pre-Task Plan Generator

Electrical Safety Training penalties by state

Penalties and enforcement vary by state. State-Plan states may impose higher penalties and additional requirements beyond federal 29 CFR 1910.332.

Alabama Arkansas Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia

View all 50 states + DC →

Frequently asked questions about 29 CFR 1910.332

Who must be trained under 1910.332?

Any employee who faces a risk of electric shock that is not reduced to a safe level by the electrical installation requirements. This includes qualified persons who work on or near exposed energized parts and unqualified persons who still face a risk, which can extend beyond electricians to maintenance and other staff. Each must be trained in the safe-work practices that pertain to their job assignment.

What is the difference between a qualified and unqualified person for electrical training?

A qualified person is trained and permitted to work on or near exposed energized parts and must know how to distinguish live parts, determine their voltage, and observe clearance distances. An unqualified person is not, but if they face a shock risk they must still be trained in the practices necessary for their safety, such as maintaining safe approach distances. 1910.332 requires training appropriate to each.

Do maintenance workers need electrical safety training?

If they face a risk of electric shock, yes. Maintenance technicians who reset, adjust, or work near energized equipment can be within the scope of 1910.332 even if they are not electricians. The employer must train them in the safe-work practices relevant to their tasks, because the standard covers everyone exposed to the hazard, not just the electrical department.

What must electrical safety training cover?

Under 1910.332(b)(1), training must cover the safety-related work practices in 1910.331 through 1910.335 that pertain to the employee's job assignment. For qualified persons this includes distinguishing exposed live parts, determining voltage, and knowing clearance distances and precautions; for others it covers the practices needed to keep them at a safe distance from electrical hazards.

Regulatory history of 29 CFR 1910.332

1910.332 was added as part of OSHA's 1990 electrical safety-related work practices rule (55 FR 31984), which built the 1910.331–.335 cluster on top of the older electrical-installation standards. It established that the workforce exposed to electrical hazards, not just electricians, must be trained in the practices that protect them.

Related glossary terms

Key terms that appear in 29 CFR 1910.332, each with a full plain-English explainer.

Qualified Person Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Hazardous Energy Competent Person

Related guides & articles

Electrical Safety Construction: OSHA & NFPA 70E OSHA Top 10 Most-Cited Violations 2026

Related OSHA standards

29 CFR 1910.30

Fall Protection Training (GI)

29 CFR 1926.21

Safety Training (Construction)

29 CFR 1926.454

Scaffold Training

29 CFR 1926.503

Fall Protection Training

#7 most cited

Primary sources

OSHA figures on this page are imported from HazComFast's verified regulatory module (verified 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register).

This page is an educational summary, not legal advice. OSHA standards and penalty amounts change; confirm requirements against the current regulation and your applicable State-Plan before acting.

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