Safety Precautions and I.E. Rules For Wiring: Learning Objectives
Safety Precautions and I.E. Rules For Wiring: Learning Objectives
Safety Precautions and I.E. Rules For Wiring: Learning Objectives
UNIT 11
Safety Precautions and I.E.
Rules for Wiring
Learning Objectives
After studying this unit, the student will be able
• To learn and practice I.E. rules
• To learn about shock and its effects and about first aid
Introduction
In the performance of his or her normal duties, the technician is exposed to
many potentially many dangerous conditions and situations. No training manual,
no set of rules or regulations, no listing of hazards can make working conditions
completely safe. However it is possible for the technician to complete a full
career without serious accidents or injury. Attainment of this goal requires that
he be aware of the main sources of danger, and he remain constantly aware of
those dangers. He must take the proper precautions and practice the basic rules
of safety. He must be safety conscious at all times, and this safety consciousness
second nature to him.
The purpose of this chapter is to indicate some of the major hazards
encountered in the normal working conditions of the technicians, and to indicate
some of the basic precautions that must be observed. Although many of these
hazards and precautions are general, and apply to all personal, some of them
are peculiar or especially applicable to personal concerned with electrical and
electronic maintenance.
Paper - II Electrical Engineering Materials and Wiring 285
13. Follow directions when using solvents and other chemicals. They may
be toxic, flammable or may be damage certain materials such as plastic.
14. . A few materials used in electronic equipments are toxic. Examples
include tantalum, capacitors and beryllium oxide transistor cases. These devices
should not be crushed or abraded and you wash your hands thoroughly after
handling them. Other materials (such as heat shink) tubing may produce irritating
fumes if overheated.
15. Certain circuit components affect the safe performance of equipments
and system. Use only exact or approved equipment parts.
16. Use protective clothing and safety glasses when handling high-vacuum
devices such as picture tubes and cathode ray tube.
17. Don’t work on equipment before you know proper procedures and
are aware of any essential safety hazards.
18. Many accidents have been caused by people rushing and cutting corners.
Take the time required to protect yourself and others. Running, horseplay, and
practical jokes are strictly forbidden in shops and laboratories.
Circuits and equipments must be treated with respect. Learn how they
work and the proper way of working on them. Always practice safety: your
health and health depend on it.
11.2 Efects of Shock
Electric shock is a jarring, shaking sensation resulting from contact with
electric circuits or from the effects of lightning. The victim usually feels that he or
she received a sudden blow, if the voltage and resulting current is sufficiently
high, the victims may become unconscious. Severe burns may appear on the
skin at the place of contact muscular spasm may occur, causing the victim to
clasp the apparatus or wire which causes the shock and be unable to turn it
loose.
The amount of current that may pass through the body without danger
depends on the individual or current quantity, type, path and length of contact
time.
Body resistance varies from 1000 to 5, 00,000 ohms for unbroken dry
skin. Resistance is lowered by moisture and high voltage and is highest with dry
skin and low voltage. Breaks, cuts or burns may lower body resistance. A current
of 1 milliamperes can be felt and will cause a person to avoid it. The term
milliamperes is very small amount of current or 1/1000 of an ampere. Current as
288 Electrical Technician
low as 5 milliamperes can be dangerous. If the palm of the hand makes contact
with the conductor, a current of about12 milliamperes will tend to cause the
hand muscles to contract, freezing the body to the conductor. Such a shock may
or may not cause serious damage, depending on the contact time and your
physical condition, particularly the condition of your heart. A current of 25
milliamperes has been known to be fatal.
Due to the physiological and chemical nature of the human body five times
more direct current than alternating current is needed to freeze the same body to
a conductor. Also 50-hertz (cycles per second) alternating current is about the
most dangerous frequency. This is normally used in residential, commercial and
industrial power.
The damage from shock is also proportional to the number of vital organs
transversed, especially the percentage of current that reaches the heart.
Currents especially 100 and 200 milliamperes are lethal. Ventricular fibrillation
of the heart occurs when the current through the body approaches 100
miliamperes. Ventrical fibrillation is the unco-ordinated actions of the walls of
the hearts ventricles. This in turn causes the loss of the pumping action of the
heart.. This fibrillation will usually continue some force is used to restore the co-
ordination of the hearts actions.
Severe burns and unconsciousness are also produced by currents of 200
milliaperes or higher. These currents usually do not cause death if the victim is
given immediate attention. The victim will usually respond if rendered resuscitation
in the form of artificial respiration. This is due to 20 milliamperes of current
clamping the heart muscles which prevents the heart from going in to ventricular
fibrillation.
When a person is rendered unconscious by a current passing through the
body. It is impossible to tell you how much current caused the unconsciousness.
Artificial respiration is to be applied immediately if breathing has stopped.
The effects of electric shock are:
1. There may be fatal paralysis of heart.
2. There may be sudden stoppage of breathing due to paralysis of muscles
used in breathing.
3. Heart may continue to beat, while breathing has stopped. In this condition
the face appears blue.
Paper - II Electrical Engineering Materials and Wiring 289