Transit agencies, municipalities, utilities, delivery companies, school districts, and private businesses continue to add hydrogen fuel-cell and battery-electric vehicles to their operations every year, which means that more employees must understand how to work safely around them—even technicians who don’t perform high-voltage work.
EVs introduce an entirely different category of risk from vehicles running on gasoline or diesel. High-voltage battery systems, orange cabling, stored electrical energy, damaged battery packs, and thermal runaway all present hazards that employees must recognize before working on or around these vehicles. To establish who may and may not perform certain tasks and meet OSHA workplace obligations, modern EV safety programs use clearly defined levels that start with an electrically aware person.
What Does “Electrically Aware” Mean for EV Workers?
According to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), an Electrically Aware Person is someone who has received training on how to recognize the hazards associated with energized systems and how to work safely around them. They cannot diagnose, de-energize, or repair high-voltage electrical systems, but they do know how to respond to vehicle emergencies by following established procedures and alerting qualified personnel.
This is strictly an awareness role, also known as Level ONE.
Understanding Level ONE, Level TWO, and Level THREE
Level ONE serves as the foundation of electric vehicle safety. As previously mentioned, employees at this level work on or around electric vehicles but do not perform high-voltage service.
Training for it should teach participants how to:
- Identify an electric vehicle and its four types as they relate to commercial applications.
- Explain why EVs introduce hazards that conventional vehicles do not.
- Recognize high-voltage warning labels, components, and energized systems.
- Understand the responsibilities and limitations separating Level ONE work from that of Level TWO and Level THREE.
Building on that safety training, Level TWO personnel receive high-voltage electrical training, understand how EVs are constructed, operated, and repaired, and use the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while “performing general work on de-energized high-voltage systems and components.”
Level THREE personnel are trained to diagnose high-voltage battery packs, assess risk, and perform “live work.”
Why Level ONE Is the Foundation
EV safety begins with awareness. Before someone troubleshoots a high-voltage system, they must recognize its potential for harm.
Level One establishes the foundational knowledge every employee needs before moving on to greater responsibilities.
Which Employees Need Level ONE Training?
Level ONE training is appropriate for employees who work on or around electric vehicles but do not perform high-voltage electrical work. This includes employees who operate, inspect, maintain, service, or otherwise work in proximity to EVs, such as:
- Technicians performing routine maintenance and non-high-voltage repairs, including tire service, brake service, fluid changes, inspections, and other mechanical maintenance
- Fleet drivers and other vehicle operators
- Vehicle inspectors
- Wash and detailing personnel
- Service advisors and other service department personnel
- Supervisors and managers who oversee EV operations or maintenance
- Tow and recovery personnel
- Facilities personnel responsible for charging areas or vehicle movement
A person in any of these roles may encounter high-voltage warning labels, damaged EVs, charging equipment, or situations that require understanding electrical hazards.
Where OSHA Fits In
While OSHA does not mandate a specific EV safety training program, it does require employers to provide training appropriate to the hazards employees may encounter.
Level ONE training helps meet these obligations by teaching employees about the risks of electric vehicles and the boundaries between awareness-level work and higher-risk EV maintenance.
Not all employees need to reach Level THREE, but they should all know how to protect themselves from harm.
Learn Level ONE EV Safety Training With AFVi
In an effort to help commercial EV fleets, AFVi is now proud to offer EV 101: Electric Vehicle High-Voltage Safety Awareness for technicians and other employees who work on or around electric vehicles. Participants are taught to recognize electrical hazards unique to commercial EVs and to understand their awareness-only role.
Learn more about this course through the link above, or contact us to discuss specialized training options for your organization.
