Does OSHA require marking of the electric equipment with potential electric arc-flash hazards (as the result of an arc flash risk assessment)?

OSHA has no specific requirement for such markings. However, paragraph (e) of 1910.303 requires employers to mark electrical equipment with descriptive markings, including the equipment’s voltage, current, wattage, or other ratings as necessary. OSHA believes that this information, along with the training requirements for qualified persons, will provide employees the necessary information to protect themselves from arc-flash hazards.

Additionally, in 1910.335(b), OSHA requires employers to use alerting techniques (safety signs and tags, barricades, and attendants) ... to warn and protect employees from hazards which could cause injury due to electric shock, burns, or failure of electric equipment parts. Although these Subpart S electrical provisions do not specifically require that electric equipment be marked to warn qualified persons of arc-flash hazards, 1910.335(b)(1) requires the use of safety signs, safety symbols, or accident prevention tags to warn employees about electrical hazards (e.g., electric-arc-flash hazards) which may endanger them, as required by 1910.145.

The NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace (2024 Edition) has a requirement for an arc flash risk assessment at 130.5. OSHA has not conducted a rulemaking to adopt the requirements of the latest edition of NFPA 70E and, therefore, does not “enforce” those requirements. However, industry consensus standards, such as NFPA 70E, can be used by OSHA and employers as guides in making hazard analyses and selecting control measures.