Presented by Lanny Floyd, University of Alabama

Since 1970, the discussion of occupational electrical safety in the U.S. has primarily focused on compliance with safe work practices in OSHA regulations and more recently compliance with requirements of the presence of risk controlsNFPA70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. Without taking away from the importance of the requirements in the regulations and standards, this presentation will discuss the limitations of compliance-based safety culture and the benefits of a more comprehensive solution based on proven concepts derived from system safety. Residual risk is the amount of risk, associated with a task or process, remaining after inherent risks have been reduced by risk controls. What if inherent risks are not completely identified? How do you know if the residual risk has been reduced to a level acceptable to the worker and to the organization? This presentation explores these and other questions to provide insight into methods to search for and expose opportunities for continual improvement to reduce worker exposure to hazardous electrical energy. The presentation will discuss areas of potential hidden danger that are outside the control of a worker exposed to hazardous energy, including management/leadership, facilities design, safe work practices, incident investigations, procurement, and outsourcing. For more than 50 years, I have explored advancements in technology, safe work practices, management systems, and human and organizational performance as they relate to electrical safety. During this journey, I have seen annual electrocution fatalities decrease by more than 80% in the U.S. However, other industrialized countries have demonstrated significantly better results in reducing electrical fatalities, which suggests that a significant reduction in the U.S. is possible. This presentation will identify opportunities and techniques to look beyond compliance to optimize safety of workers potentially exposed to hazardous electrical energy.