GENERAL

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
AWARENESS
By: Mandeep Kumar
IOSH, NEBOSH
 In the event of an emergency
• Evacuate by the nearest fire exit
• Call 911 from landline Keep calm
• Do not run
• Do not use the elevators
• Do not re-enter until you hear the all clear
Training Outcomes
 Basic Concepts of Electricity
 Hazard Recognition
 Effects of Electricity on the Human Body
 Electrical Hazard Protection
 Safe work Practices
 What to do in the event an electrical accident.

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 Purpose
• Raise your awareness to potential electrical hazards.
• Instruct you on how to recognize electrical hazards.
• Provide ways to eliminate, remove, and prevent electrical hazards in
the workplace.
• Emphasizing the extreme importance of observing all electrical
safety requirements and practices.
• what to do in the event an electrical accident.

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 Basic Concept of Electricity
• Electricity is the flow of electrons
(current) through a conductor.
• Requires a source of power:
usually a generating station.

• Travels in a closed circuit.

• When you become part of the
circuit, the injury may be fatal.

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Hazard Recognition
Cords & Equipment
• Power tools and extension cords
must be inspected each time they
are used.
• They must be taken out of service
immediately upon discovery of
worn or broken insulation.

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 Hazard Recognition
Electrical Panels
• Electric panels must be kept clear
of any obstructions at all times.
• Storage is not allowed in
electrical vault or service panel
rooms.
• Find another place for storage of
materials, products, etc.

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 Hazard Recognition
Trip Hazards
• Don’t cause tripping hazards or
create pinch points for cords.
• If you must run a cord temporarily
across the floor, protect your co-
workers by covering the cord
appropriately.

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 Hazard Recognition
Exposed Wiring
• Assume all exposed wiring is
energized until proven otherwise.
• Stop, protect the area, and contact
supervision if you encounter this
situation.

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Hazard Recognition
Power Strips
•Never daisy chain multi-outlet strips (plugging into
each other)

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Electrical Injuries

There are four main types of electrical injuries:

• Electrocution (death due to electrical shock)
• Electrical Shock
• Burns
• Falls

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 What Causes Shock?
Shocks occur when a person’s body completes the current path with:
• both wires of an electric circuit;
• one wire of an energized circuit and the ground;
• a metal part that accidentally becomes energized due, for example,
to a break in its insulation; or
• another “conductor” that is carrying a current.

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 Electric shock
• In most household wiring the black wires are
at 110 volts relative to ground
• The white wires are at zero volts because they
are connected to ground

Contact with an energized (live) black wire

while touching the white grounded wire =
ELECTRICAL SHOCK!

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 Effects of Electric Current in the
Human Body
Current Reaction
1 milliampere Faint tingle
5 milliamperes Slight shock felt; not painful but disturbing.
Average individual can let go. Strong
involuntary reactions can lead to other injuries.
6–25 milliamperes Painful shock, loss of muscular control*
(women)
9–30 milliamperes (men) The freezing current or “let-go” range.*
Individual cannot let go, but can be thrown
away from the
circuit if extensor muscles are stimulated.
50–150 milliamperes Extreme pain, respiratory arrest, severe
muscular contractions.
Death is possible. 14
Effects (conti…)
1,000-4,300 milliamps (1-4.3 amps)
• Arrhythmic heart pumping action, muscles contract, and nerve
damage occurs. Death is likely.
10,000+ milliamps (10 amps)
• Cardiac arrest and severe burns occur. Death is probable.

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 Electric Shock
Low voltage can be extremely dangerous because the degree of injury
depends not only on the current, but on the length of time in contact
with the circuit.

• Example:
• A current of 100mA applied for 3 seconds is as
dangerous as 900mA applied for 0.03 seconds.

• Low Voltage Does Not Mean Low Hazard.

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Electrical Burns
The most common shock related, nonfatal injury is a burn.
Burns caused by electricity may be of three types:
• Electrical burns
• Arc burns
• Thermal contact burns
Electrical burns need to be given immediate medical attention.

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 Electric Burn
• Electrical burns occur when a person touches electrical wiring or
equipment that is used or maintained improperly.
• Typically such burns occur on the hands.
• Clothing may catch on fire and a thermal burn may result for the
heat of the fire.

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 Arc Blast
• An arc-blast is a luminous electrical
discharge that occurs when high
voltages exist across a gap between
conductors and current travels
through the air.
• Temperatures as high as 35,000 F
have been reached in arc-blasts.

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Arc Blast
The three primary hazards associated with an arc-blast are:
• Arching gives off thermal radiation (heat) and intense
light which causes burns.
• A high voltage arc can produce a considerable pressure
wave blast.
• Example: A person 2 ft. away from a 25,000-
amp arc feels a force of about 480 lbs on the front of
the body.
• May cause copper and aluminum components to melt.
• The molten metal can be blasted great distances by the
pressure wave.

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 Falls
• Electric shock can also cause
indirect injuries.
• Workers in elevated locations who
experience a shock may fall,
resulting in serious injury or death.

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 Electrical Hazard Protection
•Insulation
•Grounding
•Guarding
•Electricalprotective devices
•Personal Protective Equipment
•Safe work practices

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 Insulation
• Plastic or rubber coverings that does not conduct electricity.
• Insulation prevents live wires from coming in contact with people
thus protecting them form electrical shock.

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Grounding
• Grounding is another method of
protecting you from electric
shock.
• However, it is normally a
secondary protective measure.
• It furnishes a second path for the
current to pass through from the
tool or machine to the ground.

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Guarding
Guarding involves locating or enclosing electric
equipment to make sure people don’t accidentally
come into contact
with its live parts.
Guarding include:
• Boxes
• Partitions
• Warning sign boards
Such as “Danger/High Voltage/Keep Out.”

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GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
• Detects the difference in current
between two circuits wires.
• This difference in current could
happen when electrical equipment
isn’t working correctly.
• GFCI are set at about 5mA and are
designed to protect workers and not
equipment.

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Fuses and Circuit Breakers
• Fuses and circuit breakers are intended primarily for the
protection of conductors and equipment.
• They prevent over-heating of wires and components that
might otherwise create hazards for operators.
• They also open the circuit under certain hazardous ground-
fault conditions.

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 Safe Work Practices
Electrical accidents are largely preventable through safe work
practices.
• De-energizing electric equipment before inspection or repair,
• keeping electric tools properly maintained,
• exercising caution when working near energized lines
• maintain a safe distance from energized part
• Follow SSOW

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 Safe Work Practices
Employees and others working with electric equipment need to use
safe work practices.
• Plan your work by yourself and with others.
• Lock out Tag out circuits and equipment.
•Do not work in wet conditions.

•Avoid overhead power lines.

• You should be at least 10 feet away from high-voltage
transmission lines.
•Use proper wiring and connectors
• Avoid overloading circuits.
• Never use a three prong plug with the third prong broken off.

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 Safe Work Practices
• Use and maintain tools properly.
• Inspect tools before using them.
• Damaged tools must be removed from service.
• Using appropriate personal protective equipment
• Wear safety glasses to avoid eye injury.
• Wear proper foot protection.
• Wear a hard hat.

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Safe Distance Parameters

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 How to respond a problem
In the event of an electrical fire:
• Activate the fire alarm system
• If you know how to use an extinguisher, use a CO2 or dry chemical
fire extinguisher
• Alert everyone in the area to evacuate
• Call EMERGENCY SERVICES or HSE TEAM
• If you are not sure about using a fire extinguisher, leave the area and
close any doors behind you

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 Summary
• Electricity will try to reach ground even if it means going through a
person
• Even the “small” voltage from your home can cause serious injury
• Always inspect power tools and cords before each use and do not
use them if damaged
• Do not attempt to repair electrical equipment
• unless you are trained and qualified
• Always use lockout/tagout procedures to de- energize electrical
systems

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 Summary
• Use electrical tools and equipment that are protected by a GFCI
• Review your assignments with your supervisors
• Utilize correct PPE
• Report all problems to your supervisors
• If at all in doubt, ask questions

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