2026 Outlook: The Biggest Electrical Safety Trends EHS and Reliability Teams Need to Prepare For
As we head into 2026, electrical safety is no longer just a compliance requirement. For EHS and reliability teams, it has become a core part of operational resilience, workforce protection, and long-term asset performance.
Industrial environments are becoming more connected, more automated, and more data driven. At the same time, regulatory expectations are rising and electrical incidents continue to carry serious consequences. Together, these forces are reshaping how organizations approach electrical risk.
This outlook highlights the biggest electrical safety trends shaping 2026 and what EHS and reliability teams should be preparing for now.
Electrical Safety Is Becoming Predictive, Not Reactive
One of the most significant shifts in electrical safety is the move away from reactive incident response and toward predictive risk identification. Advances in condition monitoring, smart sensors, and analytics allow teams to detect abnormal electrical behavior before it escalates into a failure or safety event.
Rather than relying solely on periodic inspections or maintenance schedules, facilities are beginning to monitor electrical assets continuously. Changes in temperature, load behavior, insulation condition, and connection integrity can be flagged early, reducing both unplanned downtime and worker exposure to energized equipment.
For EHS and reliability teams, this means electrical safety is increasingly tied to predictive maintenance strategies and data driven decision making.
IT and OT Convergence Is Changing Electrical Risk Profiles
The continued convergence of Information Technology and Operational Technology is reshaping industrial automation environments. More connected devices and systems improve visibility and efficiency, but they also change how electrical risks present themselves.
As automation and connectivity increase, electrical safety programs must account for how power events impact both equipment and people. Common risk areas emerging in connected environments include:
- Power quality disturbances that affect automation, controls, and monitoring systems
- Grounding and bonding inconsistencies across networked assets
- Transient events and voltage spikes that disrupt sensitive electronics
- Electrical faults that impact production continuity and worker safety at the same time
Addressing these risks requires closer collaboration between IT, OT, maintenance, and EHS teams to ensure electrical safety strategies evolve alongside automation initiatives.
Electrical Reliability and Safety Are Becoming Interconnected
Electrical reliability and electrical safety are no longer separate conversations. The same failures that lead to downtime often increase the risk of arc flash exposure, equipment damage, and hazardous troubleshooting scenarios.
High performing organizations are aligning reliability metrics with safety outcomes. Reducing failure rates, improving maintenance practices, and monitoring asset health directly support safer working conditions.
In 2026, expect to see closer collaboration between reliability engineers, maintenance teams, and EHS leaders, with shared ownership of electrical risk reduction.
Evolving Standards and Enforcement Expectations
Electrical safety standards are continuing to evolve, and over the last year there has been a clear industry signal that enforcement expectations are moving toward stronger documentation, more formal maintenance programs, and clearer proof that training is effective in real work environments.
NFPA 70E continues to push programs toward documented, repeatable risk control.
Updated on a three-year cycle, the 2024 edition places continued emphasis on electrical risk assessment processes, including shock and arc flash hazard evaluation. It reinforces the need for job planning and protection boundaries to be based on the actual conditions present at the time of work, rather than assumptions or legacy practices.
NFPA 70B is driving a stronger focus on electrical maintenance documentation.
In 2023, NFPA 70B transitioned from a recommended practice to a standard with mandatory language, prompting more facilities to formalize their electrical equipment maintenance programs. Teams are now expected not only to define and implement maintenance strategies, but also to demonstrate consistent execution, placing greater scrutiny on maintenance records and program governance.
OSHA enforcement trends are reinforcing the need for stronger execution, not just written policies.
OSHA’s annual list of the most frequently cited standards continues to highlight gaps in hazardous energy control and training. Lockout/Tagout (29 CFR 1910.147) remains one of OSHA’s most cited standards, with 2,443 violations in FY 2024 and 2,177 violations in FY 2025, according to Safety+Health Magazine. These trends help explain why inspectors are paying closer attention to whether energy control procedures are task-specific, actively used in the field, and regularly audited.
Workforce Training Is Becoming More Targeted and Practical
Technology plays an important role in improving electrical safety, but it does not eliminate the need for a well prepared workforce. Workers still need to recognize hazards, understand safe work practices, and know when conditions are unsafe.
Electrical safety training is becoming more practical and role specific, with increased focus on:
- Scenario based training tied to real tasks and work environments
- Recognizing early warning signs of electrical hazards before incidents occur
- Reinforcing safe practices for both energized and de energized work
- Encouraging consistent reporting of near misses and unsafe conditions
At the same time, wearable safety technology is emerging as a valuable tool to reinforce training in real-world conditions. Wearable hazard detection devices provide real-time alerts when workers approach energized electrical hazards, helping bridge the gap between classroom training and on-the-job decision making. When used alongside established safety programs, wearables can support safer behaviors, improve situational awareness, and reduce the likelihood of unintentional exposure.
When training reflects the realities of day to day operations, it becomes a continuous part of safety culture rather than a one time requirement.
Electrical Safety Is Being Treated as a Business Risk
More organizations are recognizing that electrical incidents carry far reaching consequences beyond immediate injury or equipment damage. Electrical failures can impact production, regulatory compliance, insurance costs, and brand reputation.
As a result, electrical safety is increasingly viewed through a risk management lens. Investments in monitoring, maintenance, and training are being justified not only by compliance needs, but by their ability to reduce financial and operational risk.
In 2026, electrical safety will continue to move higher on the priority list for leadership teams focused on long term resilience.
Final Thoughts
Electrical safety expectations are continuing to evolve as industrial environments become more automated, connected, and data driven. For EHS and reliability teams, staying ahead means moving beyond reactive approaches and building programs that are grounded in visibility, consistency, and execution.
Organizations that prioritize predictive strategies, structured maintenance programs, and practical training will be better positioned to manage electrical risk, support safer work practices, and operate with confidence as 2026 approaches.
To safer, smarter operations,
