National Electrical Safety Month 2027

What is National Electrical Safety Month?

National Electrical Safety Month is held every May and is sponsored by the Electrical Safety Foundation (ESFI). It raises awareness of electrical hazards at home and at work and promotes practices that prevent electrical injuries, deaths and fires.

Why it matters for workplaces

Electrical work is high-consequence: a single mistake can cause electrocution, an arc flash or a fire. Many incidents happen to people who are not electricians, such as maintenance staff resetting equipment or workers using damaged cords. Strong electrical hazard controls and reliable lockout/tagout are the foundation.

Ways to take part

1. Walk through lockout procedures. Pick your highest-risk equipment and confirm the written procedure matches how work is actually done.
2. Inspect cords and tools. Remove damaged extension cords, missing ground pins and makeshift repairs.
3. Check GFCI protection. Test GFCIs in wet and outdoor areas.
4. Review arc flash labels. Make sure equipment labels are current and that qualified workers have the right PPE.
5. Clarify who is qualified. Make sure only qualified persons work on or near exposed energized parts.

Frequently Asked Questions: National Electrical Safety Month

When is National Electrical Safety Month?

It runs for the whole month of May every year.

What is the difference between OSHA electrical rules and NFPA 70E?

OSHA's electrical standards are legally enforceable. NFPA 70E is a consensus standard that explains how to meet those requirements in practice, including arc flash risk assessment and PPE selection.