Why the 2018 Edition of NFPA 70E Still Deserves a Place in Your Safety Library
If you’re responsible for electrical safety—whether you’re a maintenance lead, HSE professional, plant engineer, or contractor—you already know that NFPA 70E is one of the most important documents in your toolbox.What surprises many people, though, is how often the 2018 edition of NFPA 70E is still requested and relied on, even with newer versions available. For a lot of organizations, 2018 is the edition that shaped their current electrical safety culture.
NFPA 70E in Simple Terms
NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, is the go‑to reference for managing electrical hazards such as:
- Electric shock
- Arc flash
- Arc blast
OSHA tells employers they must provide a safe workplace, but NFPA 70E outlines how to do that in day‑to‑day practice: how to plan jobs, when to de‑energize, how to perform risk assessments, and how to select PPE.Over time, many companies have built their entire electrical safety programs—procedures, training, and labels—directly around this standard.
What Was Different About the 2018 Edition?
The 2018 edition of NFPA 70E was more than a routine update. It signaled a clear shift from rule‑following to risk‑based thinking and realistic human behavior.Key themes included:
- Risk assessment, not just hazard recognition
The 2018 edition pushed safety teams to look at both the severity and likelihood of an incident. Instead of treating every energized task the same way, it encouraged structured risk assessments tied to job planning and briefings. - Human performance and error
The standard openly acknowledged that people get tired, rushed, distracted, or overconfident. It encouraged systems and procedures that anticipate human error instead of assuming perfect performance. - Sharper focus on shock and arc flash risk
The 2018 edition refined guidance on approach boundaries, incident energy, and when an arc flash is actually likely for a given task—helping workers avoid both under‑ and over‑protection. - Reinforced hierarchy of risk control
It emphasized that PPE is the last line of defense. De‑energizing equipment, redesigning systems, and using engineering and administrative controls were placed firmly ahead of “just wear more gear.”
Why Many Facilities Still Rely on the 2018 Version
So why does the 2018 edition of NFPA 70E continue to matter?
- Existing safety programs are built on it
Many written programs, SOPs, and training slide decks explicitly reference “NFPA 70E-2018.” When auditors, insurers, or corporate EHS teams review your documents, they expect you to have the exact edition you’re citing. - Arc flash studies and labels used 2018 as a reference
Countless arc flash analyses and equipment labels from the last several years were performed using the 2018 standard as the baseline. Having that edition on hand helps you understand and defend those results. - Long project and contract timelines
Large industrial or commercial projects may have specifications locked to NFPA 70E-2018. Until those projects close out or specs are revised, the 2018 edition remains the governing reference. - Gradual transition to newer editions
Most organizations don’t switch standards overnight. They compare editions, update procedures, retrain staff, and phase in changes. During that period, the 2018 edition is still essential.
How to Put the 2018 Edition to Work
If your facility is aligned with NFPA 70E-2018, you can still get significant value from it by:
- Using it as the foundation for job safety planning and pre‑task briefings
- Aligning lockout/tagout steps and “electrically safe work condition” procedures directly with its language
- Training supervisors and electricians on risk assessment concepts, not just PPE tables
- Cross‑checking your labels and studies against the requirements and assumptions in the 2018 text
Even if you plan to move to a newer edition, the 2018 standard remains a critical reference point for understanding where you are today.
Where to Find the 2018 Edition of NFPA 70E
Because older editions can be harder to track down, it helps to work with a seller that understands how important specific versions are for compliance and consistency.At Mybooksdeals, you can still find the 2018 edition of NFPA 70E alongside other key safety codes and standards, making it easier to maintain a complete, accurate reference library.You can explore and order the 2018 edition here:
Shop NFPA 70E 2018 on Mybooksdeals
For any organization whose safety program, labels, or contracts are rooted in NFPA 70E-2018, keeping this edition close at hand is not just convenient—it’s part of doing electrical safety right.
