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CAUTION

“Any reproduction of this document may not reflect the current version. Please refer to the ‘I Am The Key’ website for 

the most current version.”

ELECTRICAL SAFETY & LOTO AWARENESS PROGRAM

Sep 2022 

PURPOSE

The purpose of this awareness program is to provide a safe working environment for all 

employees, contractors, and visitors to the DLA-SM Depot facilities. DLA-SM employees are 

not authorized to perform any electrical maintenance at any of the Depot facilities.

All electrical work at the DLA-SM Depots must be completed by a contracted trained and 

qualified electrician. In the event that a DLA-SM employee notices an electrical hazard, such as 

a faulty outlet or light switch or a blown light, the Depot Manager, or the Depot ESOH Specialist 

should be immediately notified. The onsite facility maintenance contractor can resolve the issue 

in a timely manner. 

Equipment energized by electricity, hydraulics, pneumatics, chemical, gravity, springs, pressure, 

temperature, momentum, or other energy sources can be dangerous to both personnel and 

property if not properly controlled. Exposure to electricity can cause bodily shock, burns, fatal 

electrocutions, fires, and explosions. Electrical safety is the responsibility of every DLA-SM 

employee. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Depot Managers 

• Verify that DLA-SM Depot employees receive annual electrical safety and lockout/tagout awareness training.

ESOH Specialists 

• Survey work areas periodically to ensure that workspaces are clear of any electrical 

hazards. 

• Ensure employees are annually trained in electrical safety and lockout/tag-out awareness 

training. 

DLA-SM Employees 

• Receive basic electrical safety and lockout/tag-out awareness training. 

• Receive proper equipment-specific (i.e. forklifts and banding tool) training prior to 

working with equipment. 

• Shall be familiar with safe electrical work practices and electrical hazards associated with 

their job and work environment. 

ELECTRICAL SAFETY

• Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets or devices are used in bathrooms, kitchen 

areas, or any other area where water is present.

• Extension cords or power strips shall not be daisy-chained together. 

• Extension cords shall not be used for extended periods of time in place of fixed wiring. 

• Extension cords are not to be connected to power strips. 

• Power strips/surge protectors are not connected together.

• Outlet strips shall not be overloaded.
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CAUTION

“Any reproduction of this document may not reflect the current version. Please refer to the ‘I Am The Key’ website for 

the most current version.”

• Breaker boxes, electrical panels, and emergency disconnects must be labeled and have 

unobstructed access with a cleared area of at least thirty-six (36) inches.

• Electrical cords are routed to be visible and do not contact oil, heat, water, sharp 

edges/objects, run through doors or windows, and shall not be hung by nails, staples, 

wires, etc.

• Electrical cords are not frayed, spliced, or otherwise damaged.

• All outlet covers, plug receptacles, knockouts, and switch plates are in place, secured, 

non-conductive, and undamaged.

• Electrical plugs/outlets shall not be altered (i.e. clipping the ground prong or painted over 

electrical outlet face plate).

• Circuit breakers and/or emergency disconnects shall not be used to turn lighting on/off 

unless they are specifically designed to do so by the manufacturer.

• All electrical devices are approved (UL) for use and allowed by local policy.

• Personal space heaters, if permitted through requirements of the DLA EEO reasonable 

accommodation program, are to be UL listed and equipped with tip-over shutoff.

• Ensure no flammable materials, such as cardboard boxes, are sitting near the portable 

warehouse heaters. Ensure the heater’s cord is not covered, cracked, or damaged. And 

ensure the heater’s cord is securely plugged into the outlet.

• Inspect all tools/equipment to ensure they are in proper condition/working order prior to 

beginning any electrical work. (i.e. check any equipment/tool for cracks/damage to 

electrical insulated coating, ensure all equipment is in proper working order, and electric 

cord is not frayed or damaged).

• Ensure all plugs are properly grounded, with approved three wire plugs unless they are 

"double insulated" (double insulated tools should be marked on the casing by the 

manufacturer). 

• Keep cords out of the way of foot traffic so they don't become tripping hazards or 

become damaged by traffic. If they must be run across foot/equipment traffic areas proper 

protection shall be provided to protect the cord from damage (i.e. covers that encase the 

cord).

• Electrical devices are not to be plugged into an outlet within a damp or wet area.

• Flammable and combustible materials shall not be used or stored around live/exposed 

electrical sources.

• Overhead power lines carry a large amount of current and can be fatal to a human if these 

lines come in accidental contact with a long wooden stick, crane, or aerial lift bucket, for 

example.

• A minimum clearance of 10 feet must be maintained between energized overhead lines 

and all vehicles or mechanical equipment capable of having parts or its structure elevated, 

such as forklifts. DLA-SM Depot employees should consult the Depot Manager to 

determine the appropriate distance prior to operating equipment around overhead power 

lines.

Report any condition of potential electrical danger to the Depot Manager or ESOH Specialist 

immediately. 

LOCKOUT / TAG-OUT (LOTO)

• To avoid harm/injury to persons or equipment/materials, Lockout/Tag-out (LOTO) 

procedures are utilized to prevent inadvertent use of equipment or systems that are 

damaged or undergoing maintenance. Therefore, LOTO will ensure that any potential 
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CAUTION

“Any reproduction of this document may not reflect the current version. Please refer to the ‘I Am The Key’ website for 

the most current version.”

energy/power source is turned off and locked and tagged to notify everyone that the 

source of power/energy needs to remain off or inactive.

• LOTO locks and tags are RED in color. 

• The only person(s) permitted to remove a LOTO lock and tag is/are the authorized 

contractor(s) who placed them onto the equipment.

• All DLA-SM employees must avoid any contact with a circuit/system possessing a 

lockout lock and tag-out label. 

TRAINING

• All DLA-SM Depot employees will initially become awareness trained in electrical 

safety and LOTO during the FY22 OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Safety Training 

course. Electrical Safety & LOTO Awareness training will be conducted for all DLA-SM 

employees annually thereafter.

• All employees shall be trained on the hazards that they may be exposed to and the safe 

electrical workplace practices used to control or minimize electrical exposure.

• Retraining will also be performed when policies or procedures change and/or new 

equipment or systems are introduced into the facility.

TRAINING RECORDS

All training records shall be maintained in the Learning Management System (LMS). The

records will be maintained as long as the individual is an active DLA-SM employee.

REFERENCES

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.300/Subpart S: Electrical

DLAI 6055.01 Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) Program, 2018

DLAM 6055.01-V1 Mishap and Near Miss Notification, Investigation, Reporting, and Record 

Keeping, 2020

DLAM 6055.01-V2 Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) Inspection and Hazard Management, 

2020

DLAM 6055.01-V3 Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) Training and Awareness, 2020