NFPA 70E® PROCEDURE TO ESTABLISH AN

ELECTRICALLY SAFE WORK CONDITION

An electrically safe work condition (ESWC) is defined in Article 100 of NFPA 70E as “a state in which an electrical
conductor or circuit part has been disconnected from energized parts, locked/tagged in accordance with established
standards, tested to verify the absence of voltage, and, if necessary, temporarily grounded for personnel protection.”
De-energization itself does not create an electrically safe work condition (ESWC). The process of establishing an ESWC
includes turning off the power, verifying lack of voltage, and ensuring that the equipment cannot be re-energized while
work is being performed. Establishing and verifying an ESWC must include all of the steps in NFPA 70E, Section 120.5,
which must be performed in the order presented, where applicable.
This checklist is a starting point to help a qualified person review the steps to establish an electrically safe work condition
outlined in NFPA 70E, Section 120.5. This checklist does not detail all specific actions necessary to accomplish each
procedure, and therefore, should not be relied on as a comprehensive procedure for establishing an ESWC. Rely on your
independent judgment, and when appropriate, consult a competent professional to properly and safely establish an
ESWC on specific equipment.

Job Number:_____________________________ Circuit / equipment / job location:_________________________________________

Step NFPA 70E / OSHA Reference

❑ 1. D
 etermine all possible sources of electrical supply to the specific NFPA 70E, 120.5(1)
equipment. Check applicable up-to date drawings, diagrams, OSHA 29 CFR, 1910.333(b)(2)(ii)(A)
and identification tags.
Notes:

❑ 2. After properly interrupting the load current, open the disconnecting NFPA 70E, 120.5(2)-(3)
device(s) for each source. OSHA 29 CFR, 1910.333(b)(2)(ii)(B)
Wherever possible, visually verify that all blades of the disconnecting Notes:
devices are fully open or that drawout-type circuit breakers are
withdrawn to the test or fully disconnected position.

❑ 3. Release stored electrical energy. NFPA 70E, 120.5(4)

OSHA 29 CFR, 1910.333(b)(2)(ii)(C)

Notes:

❑ 4. Block or relieve stored nonelectrical energy in devices to the NFPA 70E, 120.5(5)
extent the circuit parts cannot be unintentionally energized by OSHA 29 CFR, 1910.333(b)(2)(ii)(D)
such devices.
Notes:

(continues)
© 2020 National Fire Protection Association
NFPA 70E® PROCEDURE TO ESTABLISH AN
ELECTRICALLY SAFE WORK CONDITION CONTINUED

Step NFPA 70E / OSHA Reference

❑ 5. Apply lockout/tagout devices in accordance with a NFPA 70E, 120.5(6)

documented and established procedure. OSHA 29 CFR,1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(A)
Notes:

❑ 6. Verification of absence of voltage NFPA 70E, 120.5(7)

OSHA 29 CFR, 1910.333(b)(2)(iv)
6a. Type of instrument used
❑ Manual contact type, such as a multimeter Notes:

❑ Adequately rated, permanently mounted absence of voltage tester

❑ For over 1000 volts, non-contact tester
6b. Are additional measures needed to protect employee
from hazards while performing the test? ❑ Yes ❑ No
If yes, explain: _______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
PPE level: ______________

6c. Was test performed on known voltage source prior to verifying

absence of voltage? ❑ Yes ❑ No
Source: ______________ Reading: _______________

6d. Test each conductor phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground.

Single Phase Three-phase
A-B: _______ A-B: _______ B-G: _______
A-G: _______ A-C: _______ C-G: _______
B-G: _______ B-C: _______ N-G: _______
N-G: _______ A-G: _______

6d. Was test performed on a known voltage source after verifying

the absence of voltage? ❑ Yes ❑ No
Source: _______________ Reading: _________________

❑ 7. Where the possibility of induced voltages or stored electrical NFPA 70E, 120.5(8)
energy exists, ground all circuit conductors and circuit parts before OSHA 29 CFR, 1910.333(b)(2)
touching them. Where it could be reasonably anticipated that the OSHA 29 CFR, 1910.333(c)(3)(ii)(C)
conductors or circuit parts being de-energized could contact other
exposed energized conductors or circuit parts, apply temporary Notes:
protective grounding equipment.

This material contains some basic information about NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®, the
2021 edition. It identifies some of the requirements in NFPA 70E and makes reference to OSHA 29 CFR, 1910.333, as of
the date of publication. This material is not the official position of any NFPA Technical Committee on any referenced
topic, which is represented solely by the NFPA documents on such topic in their entirety. For free access to the
complete and most current version of all NFPA documents, please go to www.nfpa.org/docinfo. The NFPA makes no
warranty or guaranty of the completeness of the information in this material and disclaims liability for personal injury,
property and other damages of any nature whatsoever, from the use of or reliance on this information. In using this
information, you should rely on your independent judgment and, when appropriate, consult a competent professional.

© 2020 National Fire Protection Association