NFPA Highlights Electrical Safety Risks as Electrification Expands
As new technologies reshape the workplace, NFPA is emphasizing the need for updated training, hazard awareness, and adherence to electrical safety standards to protect workers.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- May 06, 2026
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is urging employers and workers to prioritize electrical safety as part of National Electrical Safety Month, citing growing risks tied to an increasingly electrified workplace.
As industries adopt new technologies such as electric vehicles, battery storage systems and renewable energy infrastructure, safety professionals face evolving hazards, including arc flash incidents, energized equipment exposure and complex maintenance environments. NFPA officials said the shift underscores the need for updated training, hazard assessments and adherence to established safety standards.
The organization emphasized the importance of following safe work practices, including proper lockout/tagout procedures, use of appropriate personal protective equipment and ensuring only qualified workers perform electrical tasks. NFPA 70E, the standard for electrical safety in the workplace, remains a key framework for reducing risk.
Electrical incidents continue to pose serious dangers across industries, particularly in construction, manufacturing and utilities, where workers are routinely exposed to energized systems. NFPA said ongoing education and awareness efforts are critical to preventing injuries and fatalities as electrical systems become more widespread and complex.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.