Electrical Safety
Electrical Disconnect
& Breaker Panels
& Breaker Panels
OSHA 1926.403(b) · NYC Electrical Code §230 · Panels Must Be Labeled & Accessible
In a construction electrical emergency — a worker in contact with a live circuit, a burning panel, a fire from a cord — every second counts. The worker who knows exactly where the disconnect switch is and how to operate it can stop an electrocution. The worker who doesn't know where it is may arrive too late. Know your panels before you ever need them.
Every Worker Must Know
- Location of the main electrical disconnect for the floor or area where they work
- Location of the master disconnect for the entire temporary power system (usually at the base of the power drop or main spider box)
- Which breakers control which circuits — panels must be labeled, and workers should review the schedule
- How to de-energize a circuit without causing additional hazards (e.g., shutting down equipment properly before tripping a breaker)
Electrical Panel Requirements
- All panels must be kept locked and accessible only to authorized electrical workers
- Minimum 36-inch clearance in front of all panels — no material storage within this zone
- All breakers must be labeled — unlabeled breakers must be identified before any LOTO work
- Knockouts (holes) in panel covers must be filled — open holes expose workers to energized bus bars
- No panel should be operated with a wet hand or while standing on a wet surface
NYC Construction Sites — Temporary Power
- All temporary power must be installed by a licensed electrician — no field modifications allowed
- The spider box schedule (circuit breaker layout) must match actual field wiring — verify with your GC electrician
- Overloaded circuit: trip a breaker once, find out why before resetting — do not repeatedly reset a tripping breaker
Discussion Questions
- Where is the main electrical disconnect for your work area on this site? Walk to it before the talk ends.
- A breaker for a circuit on your floor keeps tripping. What do you do — and what do you NOT do?
- There are two cardboard boxes pushed against the panel on your floor. Why is this a violation, and what must you do?
- What is the minimum clearance required in front of an electrical panel?
Sign-Off
Project Address
Date
Time
Foreman / Supervisor
SSM / SSC Name & License No.
Worker Attendance
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