Electrical safety is built on one simple but critical idea: work should only be performed in an electrically safe condition. The latest edition of NFPA 70E sharpened this principle by adding the phrase “at each point of work,” and this subtle change has big implications for how safety professionals, electricians, and facilities approach absence of voltage testing.
The “point of work” refers to the specific location where tasks are performed and where workers directly interact with tools, equipment, and energy sources. In practical terms, it’s the place inside an electrical panel or enclosure where a worker needs to verify that conductors and circuit parts are truly de-energized before beginning maintenance.
This concept matters because it emphasizes safety at the exact location of exposure, not just upstream or at a disconnect. It ensures that hazards like residual energy, backfeeds, or stuck blades don’t put workers at risk.
For more on the 2024 updates, see Plant Engineering’s coverage.
Traditionally, absence of voltage tests are performed with portable test instruments directly at the source. Qualified workers know how to safely “test before touch,” but permanent solutions like test point Permanent Electrical Safety Devices (PESDs) and Absence of Voltage Testers (AVTs) now play a critical role in extending this principle.
Both methods are explicitly recognized in NFPA 70E, and both support the “point of work” mandate by providing visibility exactly where it’s needed.
For additional background, see this overview from OH&S Online.
In absence of a formal definition by OSHA, one OSHA letter of interpretation instructs that the “point of work” should be as close as possible to where the LOTO devices are installed: ‘…locking and tagging out the circuit at the point of work (i.e., the panel to be worked on).’
From this, it is safe to conclude that electrical panels can be considered the “point of work.” This highlights the importance of designing in PESDs and AVTs in the right locations that facilitate access and safer testing—ensuring reliable verification of voltage status within the panel.
Further, through the revision cycles of NFPA 70E (2021 & 2024 editions), the NFPA 70E committee has affirmed the compliance of UL 61010 PESDs installed on electrical enclosures. This reinforces that properly applied PESDs and AVTs are compliant safety tools—not just helpful add-ons—when installed at the point of work.
Proper placement ensures:
The NFPA 70E 2024 edition doesn’t just add new language—it reinforces a longstanding truth: safety depends on the exact point where work happens. By leveraging PESDs and AVTs, electrical workers gain safer, more reliable methods for confirming the absence of voltage while staying compliant with evolving standards.
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Stay SAFE, and have a GREAT week!