Course details

Electrical workers who operate near energized equipment face one of the most severe hazards on any job site: an arc flash event that can release enough energy to cause immediate, life-threatening injury. This arc flash awareness OSHA course gives workers and supervisors practical knowledge to recognize hazard zones, apply the right PPE, and follow the procedures that reduce exposure before an incident occurs.

Designed for anyone who works on or near electrical systems, this 60-minute online course addresses approach boundary classifications, risk assessment methods, PPE selection, and qualified-person criteria so learners build skills grounded in real job-site decisions.

---

Course Overview

This arc flash awareness OSHA course is organized into learning modules that cover the key layers of protection, from the physics of an arc flash event to the PPE a worker selects before approaching energized equipment. Topics include:

• The nature of arc flash hazards and why they are classified as immediately dangerous to life or health
• OSHA regulatory requirements that govern arc flash risk in the United States
• How employers assess arc flash risk and implement hazard controls
• PPE selection methods and how to match the right gear to a specific job
• Approach boundary types and when each applies
• The definition of a qualified person and how that status determines what a worker may do
• The process for identifying arc flash hazards and documenting assessed risk

The course is delivered entirely online, so workers can complete the training at their own pace without leaving the job site or the office.

Arc flash incidents happen in seconds. The knowledge to prevent them takes 60 minutes.

What You'll Learn

This course builds the hazard-recognition and decision-making skills needed to work safely around energized electrical equipment.

Regulatory and hazard foundations

• Identify the OSHA regulatory requirements associated with arc flash risk in the United States
• Identify the specific hazards arc flash events create and why exposure can cause death or severe injury before a person can move away

Risk assessment and hazard control

• Describe how arc flash risk is evaluated on a job site and what control measures reduce worker exposure
• Determine the factors that affect arc flash severity so you can recognize higher-risk situations before starting a task

PPE selection and application

• Apply a structured method for selecting the correct PPE for a given job rather than relying on guesswork
• Identify the appropriate PPE for a specific task based on the hazard level and the work being performed

Approach boundaries

• Describe the differences between each type of approach boundary and determine which boundary applies in a given situation
• Evaluate a work scenario to decide which boundary you may cross and under what conditions

Qualified persons and hazard identification

• Identify who qualifies as a qualified person under the applicable criteria and who does not
• Explain the process for identifying arc flash hazards on equipment and documenting assessed risk

Assessment and completion

• Achieve the 80% pass mark on the final assessment to demonstrate command of the course content
• Receive a certificate of completion as a verifiable record of arc flash awareness training

Knowing the boundary is not enough. Knowing what to do at each boundary is what keeps workers safe.

Who Should Take This Course?

• Electricians and electrical technicians who work directly on or near energized conductors and need to understand approach boundaries and PPE selection before every task.
• Maintenance workers who service industrial equipment and can encounter arc flash hazards during routine or emergency maintenance activities.
• Electrical supervisors and foremen who are responsible for ensuring crews follow correct procedures and wear the right PPE before approaching energized systems.
• Safety officers and EHS coordinators who want a working knowledge of arc flash risk assessment and hazard controls to audit worksites and develop safe work procedures.
• Facilities and plant operations staff who manage buildings or production environments where electrical panels, switchgear, or distribution equipment are present.
• New workers entering electrical or industrial environments who benefit from a foundational understanding of arc flash hazards before working alongside qualified personnel.

Why Take This Course?

Arc flash is classified as immediately dangerous to life or health. An arc flash releases energy so rapidly that workers in the area have no time to react, and exposure can cause death or severe burns before a person can step back from the source.

Arc flash risk in the United States falls under OSHA's electrical safety standards, which address how employers assess hazards, control exposure, and equip workers with correct PPE. This course addresses each requirement directly so you understand what is expected on a real job site.

Wrong PPE or a missed boundary creates risk for the whole crew. Workers who cannot distinguish between approach boundary types, or who select the wrong gear for a job, may increase risk for themselves and nearby colleagues. Training provides a repeatable, documented process for making those decisions consistently.

The certificate goes straight into your compliance file. Employers receive a tangible record that each worker has been trained to recognize arc flash hazards and apply the controls required to work safely around energized equipment. BIS's Training Record Management platform makes storing and retrieving those records straightforward when an audit arrives.

Key Benefits

• Certificate of completion issued on passing. You receive a printed, shareable document that serves as proof of arc flash awareness training for site files, employer records, or compliance audits.
• Hazard recognition skills that reduce contact injuries. You leave able to identify approach boundaries and stop yourself or a colleague from entering a danger zone without the right protection in place.
• 60-minute self-paced online format. No classroom, no travel, and no fixed schedule. You complete this arc flash safety training when it fits your shift or workday.
• Skills grounded in OSHA regulatory requirements. The PPE selection methods and boundary criteria taught here connect directly to the regulatory framework you encounter on real job sites in the United States.
• Priced at $36.99 per enrollment. A fixed, per-seat cost makes it straightforward to train an individual worker or scale across an entire crew without negotiating a contract or committing to a subscription.