TEST BEFORE YOU TOUCH

Make electrical safety a priority in your workplace.

Test Before You Touch Every Time

Working with electricity requires planning and extreme care. Whether you are on the job or tackling a project at home, deenergizing and practicing safe work habits can significantly reduce your risk.

Every year, workers are injured or killed by circuits they thought were safely turned off. Simply shutting off the power is not enough. Hazardous conditions can still exist. Make sure to always TEST BEFORE YOU TOUCH. You may not get a second chance to learn this important lesson.

Steps for Achieving an Electrically-Safe Work Condition

1. Determine all possible sources of electrical supply to the equipment.
2. After properly interrupting the load current, open the disconnecting device(s) for each source.
3. If possible, visually verify that that disconnecting devices are fully open or that drawout-type circuit breakers are withdrawn to the fully disconnected position.
4. Apply lockout/tagout devices in accordance with your company’s procedures.
5. Use an adequately rated voltage detector to test each phase conductor or circuit part to verify they are deenergized. Before and after each test, make sure that that the voltage meter is working correctly.
6. Where the possibility of stored energy exists, ground the phase conductors or circuit parts before touching them.

Electrical hazards on the job can be avoided by following approved NFPA 70E and OHSA guidelines. Skilled employees, trained in electrical safety procedures, should make sure they understand and follow safety precautions. Those not trained to recognize and avoid electrical systems, or not under the supervision of those qualified in electrical safety procedures, should avoid contact with electrical systems and equipment.

For a more complete list, please see NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®

Other ESFI Resources:

Test Before You Touch Industrial Label in English and Spanish, designed to be prominently placed on industrial electrical panels, this label reminds electrical workers to follow established safety procedures and to test before touching any electrical device.

"Test Before You Touch" Pocket Cards are a handy list of electrical safety precautions that should be used by anyone who works with or around electricity.

"Test Before You Touch" Trifold is used to increase electrical safety awareness in the workplace. Visit the ESFI Library to order "TEST BEFORE YOU TOUCH" materials.