Practical safe electrical work is what this standard is all about and this section brings this purpose to light. The language in this section speaks to the practical safe working area for “employees” and not just “electrical workers”. By using the word “employees”, the requirements within NFPA 70E are expanded well beyond electrical workers. NFPA 70E recognizes all employees as being important when it comes to protection from the hazards of electricity. The data related to electrical injuries and deaths support this perspective.
The use of electricity can be a hazard to more than just those who work in the electrical industry and this fact is brought to light in Informative Annex K. The information contained within Informative Annex K is important to understand and to fully grasp what 90.2 is conveying. The data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (US BLS) help add clarity to revealing that electrical incidents were found to involve a large number of non-electrical workers.
The latest report from the US BLS titled “National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2020” continues to affirm the need for electrical safety. Exposure to electricity accounted for 742 lives from 2016 through 2020. Shock is by far the number one killer when it comes to electricity. More data is available from this important resource.
2024 changes
Section 90.2 is a victim of restructuring Article 90 due to the addition of a Scope (90.1). This Section existed previously as 90.1 which is now, as part of NFPA 70E-2024, the Scope of Article 90. There were no other changes to the language contained within new 90.2 (old 90.1) during the NFPA 70E-2024 cycle.
Impact of change
Any documents that reference section 90.2 will have to be reviewed to ensure they align with the new layout of this Article. These documents could consist of training books and presentations as well as any safety plans. Keep in mind that these changes do not impact the enforcement of NFPA 70E.
Reason for change
Restructuring due to the addition of a scope as part of new 90.1.
My NFPA 70E 