OSHA And Arc Flash Labels

When OSHA was asked about using arc flash labels to be in compliance with NFPA 70E-2004, here is what they said:

Question: "When work must be performed on energized electric equipment that is capable of exposing employees to arc-flash hazards, does OSHA require the marking of the electric equipment to warn qualified persons of potential electric arc-flash hazards — i.e., as required by NFPA 70E-2004?

OSHA's Reply: OSHA has no specific requirement for such marking. A requirement to mark equipment with flash hazard warnings was not included in the 1981 Subpart S revision. 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.

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While they do not specifically require arc flash labels, they do require arc flash label and signs. NFPA 70E and the NEC, which OSHA would most likely use to determine if there is proper labeling, requires that the following be labeled, using labels that are large enough to be read outside the hazard boundary:

• Fuse Panels
• MCC (Motor Control centers)
• MCC Buckets
• Breaker Boxes and Switches
• Meter Sockets
• Hard Wired Disconnects
• Machine control Disconnects
• Electrical Panels That Might Be Serviced In An Energized Condition

4" x 6" labels are typically large enough to be seen from outside the hazard area. Information about arc flash labeling is available from the Arc Flash Information Resource Center.