Facilities & Property checklist
Electrical Safety Checklist
Inspect electrical safety across rooms and working space, panels and enclosures, deenergization and lockout/tagout, qualified-person controls, portable equipment and cords, temporary wiring, fixed equipment, electrical PPE and test instruments, grounding observations, contractor work, corrective actions, and final sign-off.
Are electrical rooms, equipment, cords, temporary wiring, work practices, isolation controls, and qualified-person activities free from an uncontrolled electrical hazard?
Electrical Lead | Restrict or deenergize as required | Correct and verify before closure
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About this checklist
What an electrical safety checklist should help you verify
Verify electrical equipment is accessible and enclosed, damaged portable equipment is removed from service, temporary wiring is controlled, electrical work follows deenergization and qualified-person requirements, and critical hazards are corrected with objective evidence.
When
Monthly electrical safety rounds, before shutdown work, after trips or water events, during renovation, and contractor electrical activity
Use it during recurring electrical safety inspections, before maintenance shutdowns, after shocks, trips, overheating, water exposure, temporary-power changes, or whenever electrical contractors are performing higher-risk work.
Who
Facilities, qualified electrical personnel, EHS or safety, maintenance, operations, and electrical contractors
Facilities teams can perform authorized external checks, while qualified electrical persons, EHS or safety, electrical maintenance teams, contractors, engineers, and specialist providers handle electrical testing, isolation, energized-work controls, and repairs.
Outcome
A controlled electrical-safety record with visible critical hazards, immediate restrictions, qualified follow-up, and verified closure
Create one evidence trail for access, enclosures, isolation, portable equipment, temporary wiring, fixed equipment, PPE, testing, grounding observations, contractor work, actions, and final approval.
Complete electrical safety checklist
60 checks across electrical risk scope, rooms and working space, panels and enclosures, deenergization and lockout/tagout, portable equipment, temporary wiring, fixed equipment, test instruments and electrical PPE, grounding observations, contractor work, corrective actions, reinspection, and sign-off
Ten sections, sixty checks. Adapt the checklist to equipment voltage, workplace hazards, applicable OSHA or local electrical rules, the electrical safe-work programme, qualified-person requirements, lockout/tagout procedures, PPE and test-equipment requirements, temporary power, contractor controls, and specialist testing obligations.
Section 1Inspection scope, electrical risk profile, responsible persons, previous incidents, and open safety actions
- Confirm the property, building, electrical room or work area, inspection date, operating status, and electrical-safety inspection scope are clearly identified.
- Identify higher-risk electrical areas and activities such as switchrooms, panelboards, generators, UPS systems, plant rooms, temporary power, wet locations, roof equipment, workshops, and contractor electrical work.
- Review recent electrical incidents, shocks, burns, arc events, trips, overheating findings, water-ingress events, damaged cords, unsafe observations, and overdue corrective actions.
- Confirm responsibilities are defined for facilities, electrical maintenance, qualified electrical persons, EHS or safety, operations, security, and electrical contractors.
- Check whether renovation, temporary wiring, new equipment, shutdowns, maintenance, storms, leaks, or changes in electrical load have introduced new hazards.
- Record property, work area, inspection date, inspector, electrical owner, safety owner, critical open hazards, and next planned inspection date.
Section 3Deenergization, lockout/tagout, verification, restart prevention, qualified persons, and energized-work controls
- Confirm electrical work is planned to deenergize exposed live parts before employees work on or near them unless the approved procedure documents an applicable exception.
- Verify fixed electrical circuits or equipment that have been deenergized for work are locked out, tagged, or otherwise controlled in accordance with the applicable approved procedure.
- Check the source-identification process covers all circuits, stored energy, alternate supplies, generators, UPS systems, backfeed, control power, and other sources relevant to the work.
- Confirm a qualified person verifies the equipment cannot be restarted and tests exposed circuit elements or parts to verify deenergized condition before work begins where required.
- Verify work on electrical equipment that remains energized is limited to qualified persons using the required safe-work practices, PPE, insulating or shielding materials, and insulated tools.
- Escalate uncontrolled energized exposure, incomplete isolation, absent verification, unexpected backfeed, bypassed lockout/tagout, or unauthorized energized electrical work.
Section 5Temporary wiring, temporary power, branch circuits, receptacles, routing, protection, and removal after use
- Identify temporary electrical power, lighting, extension systems, construction-style power, event power, maintenance power, or emergency temporary wiring currently in use.
- Confirm temporary wiring is being used only for an approved temporary purpose under the applicable workplace and regulatory requirements.
- Check temporary cables and cords are routed to avoid crushing, sharp edges, doors, vehicle traffic, standing water, trip hazards, heat, and other physical damage.
- Verify temporary circuits originate from approved distribution points, use appropriate receptacles and grounding arrangements, and have suitable disconnecting means where required.
- Confirm temporary wiring is removed promptly when the project, repair, event, experiment, or emergency purpose is complete rather than left as a permanent installation.
- Escalate exposed temporary conductors, unsafe floor routing, damaged temporary power, improvised distribution, missing grounding, or temporary wiring being used as a permanent substitute.
Section 7Test instruments, electrical protective equipment, insulated tools, PPE condition, ratings, and authorized use
- Confirm only qualified persons perform testing work on electric circuits or equipment and use the workplace's approved electrical test method.
- Inspect test instruments, meters, probes, test leads, power cords, connectors, and accessories for external defects or damage before use.
- Verify test instruments and accessories are appropriately rated for the circuits, equipment, voltage, and environment in which they are used.
- Inspect rubber insulating gloves, sleeves, blankets, covers, matting, or other electrical protective equipment in use for visible damage and current required inspection or test status.
- Check insulated tools, shields, barriers, protective equipment, face or eye protection, and other PPE specified by the electrical safe-work programme are available and serviceable for applicable tasks.
- Escalate damaged test leads, unsuitable instrument ratings, expired or damaged insulating equipment, missing required electrical PPE, or unauthorized electrical testing.
Section 9Electrical contractor work, permits, work zones, temporary barriers, housekeeping, overhead exposure, and safe handback
- Confirm electrical contractors are approved for the work, authorized to access the required areas, and using appropriately qualified personnel for the electrical tasks assigned.
- Verify required work authorization, permit, isolation plan, lockout/tagout, switching plan, test plan, energized-work control, or other site-specific electrical documentation is current where applicable.
- Inspect barriers, signs, temporary covers, guarding, insulated or protective materials, cable routing, housekeeping, and access control around active electrical work.
- Check electrical contractor activity does not block exit routes, fire protection, emergency access, electrical working space, public routes, or unrelated critical building services.
- Where work is near overhead electrical lines or exposed energized parts, confirm the applicable deenergization, grounding, distance, guarding, or other approved protective measures are in place.
- Escalate unauthorized electrical work, incomplete isolation, failed barriers, uncontrolled energized exposure, unsafe temporary power, or poor electrical handback requiring stop-work or restriction.
Section 2Electrical rooms, panels, working space, access, storage, illumination, barriers, and enclosure condition
- Inspect access to service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, distribution boards, motor control centers, disconnects, and control panels for clear and safe approach.
- Confirm required electrical working space is free from inappropriate storage, waste, furniture, spare parts, tools, temporary equipment, or other obstruction.
- Check electrical-room doors, locks, signs, barriers, restricted-access controls, and equipment enclosures are appropriate for the location and electrical hazard.
- Inspect panel doors, covers, dead-fronts, blanking plates, latches, hinges, cable-entry plates, and external fasteners for secure and serviceable condition.
- Check illumination, floor condition, water or condensation exposure, dust, corrosion, pests, ventilation, and foreign piping or leak risks around electrical equipment.
- Escalate blocked working space, missing covers, exposed live-part risk, severe water exposure, unsafe storage, or other conditions that prevent safe electrical operation or maintenance.
Section 4Portable cord-and-plug equipment, extension cords, plugs, receptacles, grounding, damage, and removal from service
- Inspect sampled portable cord-and-plug equipment and extension cords for loose parts, deformed or missing pins, crushed sections, damaged outer jacket, cuts, or other external defects.
- Check plugs, receptacles, connectors, strain relief, cord grips, switches, housings, and flexible cords for overheating, cracked insulation, improvised repair, or loose components.
- Confirm grounding-type equipment has compatible grounding-type cords, plugs, and receptacles and has not been altered in a way that interrupts the equipment-grounding path.
- Verify damaged portable electrical equipment or flexible cords are removed from service and are not used until repairs and tests necessary to render them safe have been completed.
- Check portable electrical equipment used in highly conductive or wet locations is suitable for that location under the workplace's approved electrical controls.
- Escalate exposed conductors, damaged insulation, missing grounding pins, makeshift cord repairs, melted connectors, unsafe wet-location use, or other portable-equipment hazards.
Section 6Fixed electrical equipment, motors, disconnects, controls, cords, water exposure, overheating, and service condition
- Inspect fixed electrical equipment, motors, starters, drives, local control panels, disconnects, heaters, fixed appliances, and electrical interfaces for visible damage or deterioration.
- Check external wiring, conduit, flexible connections, terminal boxes, cable glands, covers, housings, switches, and isolators for damage, looseness, or missing parts.
- Inspect for burned odor, heat discoloration, soot, melted plastic, abnormal noise, repeated trips, failed cooling, corrosion, moisture, or other clues of electrical distress.
- Check electrical equipment near sinks, roofs, piping, wet processes, exterior areas, washdown zones, or other moisture sources for suitable protection and absence of active water exposure.
- Confirm disconnecting means, operating controls, and equipment labels are accessible and identifiable where required for safe operation or maintenance.
- Escalate overheating, water ingress, repeated unexplained trips, damaged terminal boxes, exposed wiring, failed controls, or other fixed-equipment conditions presenting electrical risk.
Section 8Grounding and bonding observations, receptacles, metal enclosures, continuity concerns, wet areas, and conductive locations
- Inspect visible grounding and bonding conductors, straps, jumpers, lugs, clamps, and equipment-grounding interfaces for damage, looseness, corrosion, or missing hardware.
- Check grounding-type plugs and receptacles have not been altered, damaged, or adapted in a way that defeats the equipment-grounding connection.
- Inspect metal enclosures, raceways, panels, equipment frames, cable trays, and other conductive parts for obvious broken bonding paths or damaged grounding connections.
- Review known grounding, bonding, receptacle, nuisance-shock, fault-current, surge, lightning, or continuity concerns for unresolved qualified-person follow-up.
- Check equipment and temporary power used in wet, damp, conductive, exterior, washdown, or similar locations is appropriate for the environment under the site's electrical programme.
- Escalate missing or damaged grounding/bonding connections, broken grounding pins, corroded conductors, unsafe wet-location equipment, or suspected fault-path problems for qualified testing.
Section 10Emergency response, damaged equipment control, corrective actions, reinspection, repeat trends, and final safety sign-off
- Confirm emergency contacts, electrical isolation contacts, incident-reporting routes, first-response arrangements, and escalation procedures are current for electrical events.
- Verify electrical incidents, shocks, burns, arc events, damaged equipment, overheating, water exposure, repeated trips, or unsafe conditions are reported and preserved for appropriate investigation.
- Classify findings by access or working space, enclosure, deenergization or LOTO, portable equipment, temporary wiring, fixed equipment, PPE or testing, grounding, contractor work, or other approved category.
- Prioritize findings using shock or arc exposure potential, fire risk, service criticality, likelihood of contact, recurrence, water exposure, equipment condition, and urgency.
- Create corrective actions with named owners, due dates, immediate controls, qualified-person or specialist requirements, evidence expectations, and reinspection criteria; verify significant corrections before closure.
- Record final electrical-safety status, critical open hazards, equipment or area restrictions, overdue actions, repeat trends, qualified follow-up, next inspection date, inspector, electrical owner, safety owner, and management approval.
Take it with you
Download the printable PDF to inspect electrical hazards consistently, capture live evidence, apply immediate restrictions or deenergization where required, and connect qualified-person review, repairs, testing, temporary-power correction, PPE, contractor action, and reinspection to accountable owners.
Use the complete checklist during your next electrical safety inspection
This internal Facilities & Property template supports electrical safety inspection. Apply the controlling electrical safe-work programme, applicable OSHA or local requirements, qualified-person rules, deenergization and lockout/tagout procedures, PPE and test-equipment requirements, manufacturer instructions, and specialist electrical guidance.How to use it
Turn electrical safety inspections into a controlled identify-to-correct workflow
Review current electrical work and previous hazards, inspect only within the inspector's authorization, control critical exposure immediately, then route testing and repair to qualified personnel and verify the corrected condition.
Review electrical risk and planned work
Confirm rooms and equipment in scope, prior incidents, repeated trips, temporary wiring, contractor activity, energized-work restrictions, open actions, and isolation responsibilities.
Inspect authorized safety conditions
Check working space, panels, cords, portable equipment, temporary power, fixed equipment, PPE and test equipment, grounding observations, contractor work zones, and visible hazards.
Control exposure and assign qualified action
Restrict access, remove damaged equipment, deenergize or isolate as required, stop unauthorized work, and create qualified electrical actions with due dates and evidence requirements.
Reinspect and verify safe closure
Confirm repairs, restored enclosures, safe access, approved testing, isolation close-out, replacement equipment, and qualified-person evidence before closing significant findings.
Live interactive demo
See how electrical safety inspections work when they are run in Taqtics
Use the digital workflow to capture electrical-safety evidence, flag critical exposure, assign qualified corrective actions, verify repairs and isolation controls, and compare recurring electrical hazards across properties.
Capture property, electrical area, hazard category, live photo, severity, immediate control, qualified owner, due date, corrective action, reinspection, and closure history together.
Turn blocked working space, missing covers, unsafe energized work, damaged cords, temporary wiring, water exposure, defective PPE, or unsafe contractor activity into accountable qualified action.
Track critical hazards, repeated trips, damaged portable equipment, temporary-power issues, enclosure defects, unsafe work practices, action aging, restrictions, and verified closure across properties.
Illustrative website demo. Responses are not stored or submitted.
Why digitize it
A clearer way to manage electrical safety across every property
Taqtics connects recurring electrical-safety inspections, live hazard evidence, qualified-person ownership, immediate controls, corrective actions, reinspection, repeat-risk trends, and reporting across properties.
Inspect electrical safety consistently
Capture property, electrical area, hazard, photo, severity, immediate control, qualified owner, due date, corrective action, and inspection history together.
Standardize critical electrical evidence
Use consistent fields for working space, enclosures, deenergization, portable equipment, temporary wiring, fixed equipment, PPE, testing, grounding observations, contractors, and closure.
Route work to qualified owners
Assign isolation, deenergized maintenance, electrical testing, cable or equipment repair, PPE replacement, temporary-power correction, contractor action, or specialist review without losing context.
Compare electrical risk across properties
Track critical findings, repeat trips, unsafe cords, blocked panels, water exposure, temporary wiring, work-practice failures, action aging, restrictions, and verified improvement across the portfolio.
Frequently asked questions
Electrical safety checklist FAQs
What should an electrical safety checklist cover?
It should cover electrical rooms and working space, panel and enclosure condition, deenergization and lockout/tagout, qualified-person controls, portable cord-and-plug equipment, temporary wiring, fixed electrical equipment, wet or conductive locations, grounding and bonding observations, electrical PPE and test instruments, contractor work, corrective actions, reinspection, and final sign-off.
What does OSHA require for electrical working space?
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.303 requires sufficient access and working space around electrical equipment for safe operation and maintenance. Required working space may not be used for storage, and exposed live parts must be guarded as required by the standard.
What does OSHA say about deenergizing before electrical work?
Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.333, exposed live parts to which an employee may be exposed are generally required to be deenergized before work on or near them unless a specified exception applies. Qualified-person and verification requirements apply to electrical work under that standard.
What should be checked on extension cords and portable electrical equipment?
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.334 requires covered portable cord-and-plug equipment and flexible cord sets to be visually inspected before use on a shift when exposed to damage. Damaged items that could expose an employee to injury must be removed from service until made safe.
What does OSHA require for electrical test instruments and protective equipment?
OSHA 1910.334 limits testing work on electric circuits or equipment to qualified persons and requires test instruments and leads to be inspected and appropriately rated. OSHA 1910.137 requires electrical protective equipment to be maintained in a safe, reliable condition and inspected or tested as applicable.
Does this checklist replace qualified electrical inspection or an electrical safe-work programme?
No. It is an internal Facilities & Property electrical-safety template. It does not replace qualified-person electrical work, engineering studies, arc-flash or shock-risk assessment, statutory inspection, electrical testing, manufacturer requirements, lockout/tagout procedures, or applicable local electrical regulations.
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