VR SCENARIO Construction and EPC · United States Updated October 14, 2026

Construction Electrical Safety VR Training: GFCI, Temporary Power and Energized Parts (OSHA Subpart K)

VR scenario on OSHA 1926 Subpart K: GFCI or assured grounding programs, temporary wiring, damaged cords, energized parts and approach to overhead lines.

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OSHA 1926.404(b) requires GFCI protection or an assured equipment grounding conductor program on temporary 120-volt receptacles, and 1926.416 prohibits working near energized circuits unless protected. A VR scenario trains non-electricians and electricians to spot temporary power hazards on a live jobsite.

What the Rule Requires

29 CFR 1926.416, General requirements (Safety-related work practices): no employer may permit an employee to work close to any part of an electric power circuit that the employee could contact in the course of work unless the employee is protected by de-energizing and grounding the circuit or by guarding it with insulation or other effective means. The employer must also locate and mark existing electric circuits before work begins.

Temporary power is where construction electrical incidents start: cords run through doorways, missing GFCI protection on generators, open panels with knockouts missing. The scenario covers the walk from a temporary power panel to a work area, with defects that a laborer, carpenter or electrician should catch.

Hazards in This Scenario

Damaged extension cords and missing ground pins
Missing GFCI protection on temporary receptacles
Open panels and exposed energized parts
Hidden circuits in walls and slabs during demolition or drilling

The Procedure the Scenario Rehearses

Inspect cords and tools before use and remove damaged ones
Confirm GFCI protection or the assured grounding program is in place
Keep panels closed and report missing covers or knockouts
Locate and mark circuits before drilling or cutting
Keep cords out of water and doorways
Report and lock out any damaged equipment

Mistakes the Scenario Is Built to Catch

Repairing a cord with electrical tape
Bypassing a tripping GFCI
Cutting into a wall without checking for circuits
Running cords through pinch points

Competence Assessment Matrix

Decision point	What the assessor sees	Pass standard
Cord inspection	Defects found	All damaged cords removed
GFCI check	GFCI or assured grounding verified	Protection confirmed
Panel condition	Open panels reported	Exposed parts reported and guarded
Pre-drilling check	Circuits located before cutting	Location and marking done

What VR Covers

Electrical hazard recognition without exposure
Realistic temporary power layouts
Consequence scenes for missed hazards
Records by learner and trade

What VR Does Not Replace

Qualified electrical worker training and skills
Testing equipment practice
Site-specific panel and circuit knowledge

Scope of a One-Scenario Pilot

A pilot builds this scenario as a single module, in Unity or Unreal Engine depending on the visual fidelity the task needs and the headsets on site. It runs on standalone headsets, logs every learner decision, and exports a per-person record for your training file. It is measured against your current method with a test cohort before anything is scaled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GFCI protection required on construction sites?

Yes, for 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles that are not part of the permanent wiring, unless an assured equipment grounding conductor program is used, under 1926.404(b)(1).

Who should take this scenario?

All trades. Hazard recognition is not limited to electricians.

Does this replace NFPA 70E training?

No. Qualified electrical workers need NFPA 70E-based training on energized work.

Want this scenario built around your site?

We review your current procedure and tell you which parts can be rehearsed in VR and which still need hands-on practice.

Scope One Scenario

VR scenario designs related to this topic

Proposed practice scenarios and checklist guides built around specific tasks. Each one lists what VR does not replace.

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