Electrical Safety Certification Options

Electrical safety certification is in place because electricians are always exposed to electrical safety and arc flash dangers on a day-to-day basis, whether they are working on electrical systems in large buildings or installing electrical systems on construction sites. However, even after skilled electricians receive their initial certification, they seek certification for physical protection and to increase their value in the field.

Why obtain a certification when I’m already a skilled electrician?
Think back to when you first received your Electrical Certificate of Qualification. If you’re an electrician in Ontario, you finished your theory and your exams, and then finished your apprenticeship. Once you were hired, you started working as an industrial electrician, or maybe a construction and maintenance electrician, among others. Even though, you’ve worked in the field for awhile, it never hurts to brush up on your training.

According to researchers, electrocutions (deaths by electric shock) ranks fourth among the causes of industrial fatalities. Furthermore, the National Safety Council has estimated that 600 people die every year from electrical accidents. Surprisingly, most of these accidents were low-voltage incidents being 600 volts or less.

Still not convinced? It’s estimated that around 3,600 disabling injuries involving electrical contact occur each year in the U.S. Add the 4,000 non-disabling injuries to that list as well.

Who offers electrical safety certification?

Many companies offer certification. The Electricity Forum Training Institute regularly provides courses throughout the year that examine important electrical safety issues such as lockout/tagout procedures, work on live (on) or dead (off) electrical equipment, and adhering to electrical safety standards CSA Z462 and the NFPA 70E. The Canadian Standards Association, publisher of the CSA Z462 standard, also offers electrical safety certification to skilled electricians.

Electrical safety regulation in Canada is governed by the provinces and territories and some of these governing bodies also offer electrical safety certification through electrical safety training. For example, Ontario’s regulation enforcer, The Electrical Safety Authority offers electrical safety workshops for skilled electricians.

Find the right electrical safety certification course that best suits you and your needs: It can be a matter of life or death.