Washington Electrical Safety: What you need to know

Washington has adopted safety rules for electrical equipment (Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 296-800-280 to 296-800-28045) and installation (WAC 296-24-957 to 296-24-95799 and WAC 296-24-990) in general industry workplaces that mirror federal requirements. The state’s electrical safe work practices rules (WAC 296-24-960 to 296-24-985) mirror federal rules, except that the requirements for working on or near exposed live electrical parts (WAC 296-24-960) are stricter than federal rules. Employee electrical training rules mirror federal rules.

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries (DLI) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) administers and enforces workplace safety and health rules.

See the state regulatory analysis LOCKOUT/TAGOUT for more information about the control of hazardous energy.

Working on or near exposed energized parts. For unqualified persons near exposed energized parts, the minimum clearance for lines rated over 50 kilovolts (kV) extends 10 feet (ft) plus 0.4 inch for each 1 kV over 50 kV, or twice the length of the insulator, but never less than 10 ft.

Electrical safety training requirements in Washington mirror the federal rules (WAC 296-24-970).