OSHA Scan

Arc flash OSHA checklist — the gaps a photo can catch before the blast

Arc flash protection is a chain of controls: de-energize first when feasible, keep panels covered and labeled, keep the working clearance in front of electrical equipment empty, and match arc-rated PPE to the incident energy on the label when energized work is unavoidable. Most of the chain is invisible in a photo — but the failures that precede an incident often aren't: an open panel with the dead-front off, a worker in a cotton shirt where an arc-rated suit belongs, boxes stacked in the clearance zone. OSHA Scan reads a photo of your electrical room or panel work and flags those visible gaps, referencing the OSHA standard each may relate to. It is an AI-assisted first pass, not an arc flash study or an energized work authorization.

What does OSHA require for arc flash protection?

OSHA's electrical safe work practices (29 CFR 1910.331–335) require de-energizing exposed live parts before work unless infeasible, and protecting workers with rated PPE, insulated tools, and safe approach practices when energized work is justified. OSHA doesn't prescribe the engineering details — employers typically use NFPA 70E's incident-energy analysis, boundaries, and PPE categories as the recognized method for meeting those obligations.

Is working on an energized panel ever allowed?

Only when de-energizing is infeasible or would create a greater hazard — troubleshooting that requires voltage is the classic example. That decision needs documentation, an energized work permit in most programs, a qualified worker, and PPE matched to the equipment's incident energy. 'The shutdown was inconvenient' does not qualify, and it's the justification OSHA rejects most often after an incident.

Can AI detect arc flash hazards from a photo?

It can flag the visible precursors: open or uncovered equipment, missing arc-rated PPE on someone working at a panel, storage crowding the working clearance, and conductive ladders staged nearby. It cannot know whether a circuit is energized, what the incident energy is, or whether a permit exists — those need your qualified person. Use the scan as a fast first pass between formal electrical audits.