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2027 NFPA 70E – Additional Person Requirement
mayo 5, 2026
- Arc Flash & Electrical Power Training by Jim Phillips
- 800.874.8883
- +1 480.275.7451
John: Have you seen Bill?
Sue: I saw him this morning as he was headed to the work location.
John: It’s almost the end of the shift, any word since this morning?
Sue: No. I guess we better go check on him.
John: Opening the electrical room door: OMG, BILL, NOOOOO!
Safety in electrical work has long emphasized preparation, training, and hazard control—but the next edition of NFPA 70E is expected to take a strong stance on staffing for emergencies. A new requirement will mandate the presence of an additional person during certain energized work tasks, reinforcing the idea that safety is not just about procedures, but also about having the right people in place when something goes wrong.
OSHA addresses the need for a second person in 29 CFR 1910.269(l)(1)(i) which is for Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution. The requirement is for at least two employees to be present during work such as:
The installation, removal, or repair of lines energized at more than 600 volts or the installation, removal or repair of equipment if there is exposure with parts energized at more than 600 volts. There are a few other requirements focusing on the 600-volt threshold as well as several exceptions.
A new addition: 130.2(A)(2) – Additional Person significantly expands this concept.
Under this new requirement, when:
then:
Importantly, this additional person is not there to perform the work, but to serve as an emergency responder if something goes wrong.
Section 110.4(C)(1) specifies that individuals responsible for emergency response must be trained in:
This ensures that the second person is not just a bystander, but someone capable of taking immediate and effective action.
A common question arises: What if a company only has one qualified electrical worker?
NFPA 70E does not state that the second person needs to be a qualified electrical worker. Instead, their role is focused on emergency support—calling 911, initiating first aid, or assisting with rescue procedures. This makes the requirement more practical, especially for smaller organizations.
Electrical incidents often escalate rapidly, and the first few minutes are critical. By requiring a second person trained in emergency response procedures to be present, the new requirement aims to:
The upcoming addition also reflects a simple but powerful principle: when it comes to electrical safety, no one should work alone when the risks are high.
Don’t forget, 110.3(I)(1) Job Safety Planning requires having an emergency response plan as part of the job safety plan. A plan that would be useless if there is no one there to act should the worst possible emergency occur.
Brainfiller offers several courses designed and taught by Jim, all targeted to engineers, electricians, and safety professionals.
NFPA 70E Qualified Worker Training (8 hours)
Covers risk assessment, PPE, LOTO, establishing an electrically safe work condition, and auditing requirements.
How to Perform an Arc-Flash Study | IEEE 1584 (16 hours)
Modeling, arcing current, incident energy, arc-flash boundaries, and system-level mitigation.
Fundamentals of Electrical Safety (2 hours)
Shock hazards, arc-flash basics, and the building blocks behind NFPA 70E.
DC Electrical Safety Fundamentals (2 hours)
Key safety practices for data centers and DC systems.
All training is available live, on-site, or on-demand, and includes completion certificates with CEU/PDH documentation.
