Electrical Workplace Safety

Alan Kelly 23rd September 2015

 Objectives

To provide an understanding of Electrical terms and
the concepts of electricity

To introduce Electrical Protective Devices and provide
an understanding of their use

To identify the hazards associated with work on or
near “Live” electrical equipment.

To demonstrate the need for and use of Electrical
Safe Operating Procedures.

To Identify the Legislation associated with Electrical
Work and Electrically Operated Equipment.
 Statistics
Fatal Electrical Accidents In Ireland
2001–2011
33 Fatalities

In 2005 there were 5 people electrocuted – 2 of these

fatalities were with Low Voltage (LV) = 50 – 1000 volts.

In 2006 there were NO Electrical Fatalities in Ireland

First time since 1936
What is Electricity?

SO
WHAT IS IT MADE
OF!!!

Electricity is made up of a range of

components e.g. Voltage – Current –
Resistance – Power.
 What is Electricity?
Aluminium Atom
29 Electrons 13 Electrons

Nucleus

Electricity is the moving of Electrons in a wire or

conductor and the consequence of this movement.
 Voltage
Is the pressure which pushes the
electricity through the system from the
Generator to the Customer.

Measured in VOLTS
Symbol = V

230 Volts (230V) 10kV/ 20kV /400kV

Italian Physicist Alessandro Volta
 Voltage
Voltage
 Voltage = Pressure – Measured in Volts –
Symbols V, U and EMF

Pressure gets electrons to move

Levels of Pressure
230V = level of pressure
400V = higher level of pressure
1000V = higher level again.
 Voltage Levels

Extra Low Voltage = < 50Volts

Low Voltage = 50 – 1000Volts

Medium Voltage = 1kV – 38kV

High Voltage = 38kV- 400kV

 Current
This is the Rate of Flow of electricity
which flows through the system from
the Generator to the Customer.
Measured in Amps
Symbol = I

e.g. 20 Amps 20A 20mA (mA=1/1000A)

French Physicist Andrea Ampere

 Current
 Current = Movement of Electrons

Current measured in Ampere’s or amps

Symbol = I or A
 Types of Current

DIRECT CURRENT (DC)

ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC)

 DC
Direct Current
CURRENT FLOWS IN ONE
DIRECTION

LIKE A BICYCLE CHAIN

AC Alternating Current

CURRENT FLOWS IN BOTH

DIRECTIONS

LIKE A HAND SAW

 ALTERNATING CURRENT
ALLOWS THE USE OF
TRANSFORMERS WHICH
MAKES THE TRANSMISSION
OF POWER MORE EFFICIENT
 Voltage
400 Voltage
Voltage Current
Voltage
Current Current

300 Ic
Ic Current + Ic
Current + Ic

200

100

Volts 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
-100

-200

-300

-400

Time
 Frequency

 Frequency of a system = Number of

cycles per second

 In Ireland this = 50;

 It is measured in Hertz (Hz)

 50hz
 Stroboscopic Effect

 May cause rotating objects to appear

stationary or at least moving slowly
 Fluorescent lighting – Problems
 Solution – Filament lighting adjacent to
machine
 Solution – Supply each row of lights from
separate Phases
Effects Of Electric Current
Heating Effect – caused by friction

Examples – Kettle, Cooker, Space Heater, Immersion & Light bulb

Effects Of Electric Current
Magnetic Effect

Voltage

Examples – Motors, Transformers, Relays, Contactors & RCD’s

 Resistance
The extent to which the Flow of
Electricity is impeded in a circuit.
Measured in Ohms

Symbol = Ω (or R or Z)
e.g. = 200 Ohms, 200 Ω, 2M Ω

German Physicist Georg Ohm

 Resistance
 Resistance = Opposition to current flow

Resistance due to type of

Higher Resistance due
material & CSA
to smaller CSA

Measured in Ohms - Symbol = R or Ω

 THE ### THE ELECTRON THE ELECTRON
ELECTRON WON’T WILL MOVE WILL MOVE, BUT
MOVE EASILY WITH DIFFICULTY

FRICTION
EASY
HEAT

ATOM ATOM
ATOM

INSULATOR CONDUCTOR RESISTOR

• CERAMICS • GOLD • TUNGSTEN
• P.V.C. (Plastic) • SILVER • STEEL
• RUBBER • COPPER • NEON GAS
• OIL • ALUMINIUM • SALT WATER
• MERCURY • CARBON
 Power
Is the rate at which Current flows at a
given Resistance and Voltage

Power = Voltage x Current

Measured in Volt-amps / Watts

e.g. 10 VA 15 kVA /kW

 Types of AC circuits

Single Phase

The transfer of electricity using Two Wires

Three Phase

The transfer of electricity using 3 or

4 wires.
Switching “On” of Electrical Circuit

Switch

Fuse
PH

Fuse is in circuit to protect the conductors (wires)

Switch is in circuit to control the flow of current
Switching “Off” of Electrical Circuit

Switch

Fuse
PH

When ever current flow is interrupted you get an ARC or SPARK due
to the Voltage trying to push electrons across the gap
 Switching “Off” in Explosive Atmosphere
The use of electricity can generate hot surfaces or sparks which
can ignite an explosive atmosphere
Dust

Switch

Fuse
PH

Explosive Atmosphere = Work Areas where Dust (flour mill), Gases,

Paint Spray or Vapours (Petrol Station) exist.
 IP Rating

 IP rating of equipment refers to the electrical

equipments ability to withstand the ingress of
either liquids or solid bodies
 IP 56 ; In this example the Ingress protection
offered by this equipment is given by the two
numbers.
 The first number refers to the protection
against the ingress of solid bodies.
 The second number refers to the protection
against the ingress of liquid.
 IP Rating

Example of IP rating

 IP45 = Protection against normal dust and

hosing and is suitable for Dairies.

 IPX4 = only protected against hosing is

given
Electrical hazards associated with electrical
systems and equipment include:
• Electric shock
• Burns sustained at the point of accidental
electrical contact, or due to arcing from
high voltage conductors
• Fires caused by overheating or ignition of
explosive atmospheres
• Secondary injuries as a result of muscle
spasms during shock or, for example,
falling from a ladder after a mild shock.
 The Electrical Circuit
Electrical
Appliance
Frame is Live
Fau
lt
Live
L
Electricity O
Supply A
D

Neutral

Main Probably a FATAL accident

Earth

General Mass of Earth

 The Electrical Circuit
What can be done to try to prevent the electric shock?
We can “Earth” the appliance or machine Electrical
Appliance
We can install a protective device (fuse or mcb)
Fau
lt
Live
Fuse/mcb
L
Electricity O
Supply A
D

Neutral

Neutralising Link

Main
Earth
Earth Rod

General Mass of Earth

 The Electrical Circuit
What can be done to try to prevent the electric shock?
Electrical
Protective Device Operates Appliance
Fau
lt
Live
L
Electricity O
Supply A
D

Neutral

Main
Earth The larger current flowing blows
the fuse and the appliance frame Earth Rod
is no longer Live

General Mass of Earth

 The Electrical Circuit
Another device used to prevent electric shock is the RCD
Electrical
RCD/ELCB Appliance
Fau
lt
Live
Fuse/mcb
R L
Electricity E O
L
Supply A
A
Y D

Neutral

Main
Earth
Earth Rod

General Mass of Earth

 The Electrical Circuit
In the event of an Earth Fault the RCD trips the circuit faster than the fuse/mcb
Electrical
RCD/ELCB Appliance
Fau
lt
Live
Fuse/mcb
R L
Electricity E O
L
Supply A
A
Y Test D
Button
Neutral

Main
Earth The RCD uses the imbalance between
the current in the phase and neutral to Earth Rod
identify that there is a fault.

General Mass of Earth

 RCD
The test button
on RCD’s installed
in this country are
T marked with the
letter “T”

It is possible
to purchase
Plug-in RCD’s
Circuits feeding ‘plugged-in’ appliances, showers
and immersions must be protected with an RCD.

Typical domestic distribution board

 RCD
Recommended to test the RCD twice a year,
probably best at time change in spring & Autumn
 Typical tripping times expected using RCD tester
=
 0.30 secs at 30mA
 0.15 secs at 60mA
 0.04 secs at 150mA
 Testing regime depends on Installation
 Working on Electrical Equipment
Electrical
Machine

Live
L
Electricity O
Supply A
D

Neutral

Main
Earth

Probably a FATAL accident

General Mass of Earth

 Electrical Hazards

Electric shock – electrocution

Caused by simultaneous contact of two parts
of the body with either:
Phase (live) and Neutral (Single Phase System)
Phase and another Phase (3 phase System)
Phase (live) and Earth.
 Effects of Electric Shock

Involuntary muscular contraction

Respiratory paralysis (Asphyxia)

Surface and deep tissue burns

Lack of Oxygen in blood,

Loss of consciousness

Ventricular fibrillation of heart (spasms)

Death in 3-7 minutes if no intervention

(CPR).
 Effects of Electric Shock depend on:

Level of Voltage

Duration of shock

Body Resistance

Insulating material (e.g. shoes, gloves)

Path of current

Person’s health (e.g. heart condition)

Age.
 Effects of Electric Shock on
Nervous System

Threshold of perception 0.5 - 2 mA

Mild shock 2 - 10 mA

Threshold of “let-go” 10 - 30 mA

Very severe shock 30 - 50 mA

Fatal > 50 mA

230 volts will result in a current of

approx. 80-240 mA through the body

Fuses & MCBs do not protect against

electrocution.
 Electrical Burns

Flash - radiant heat

Spatter with molten
copper

Burns at entry and
exit points of current
from body.
Protection Against Electric Shock

Proper Earthing and Bonding

Use of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (RCD)

Safe System of Work (Lockout/Tagout)

Use of Insulated Gloves,

Use of Insulated Footwear or Insulated Mat

Use of Double Insulated Work Equipment

Regular Inspection & Testing of Installation
and Equipment
 Electrical Device Safety

1. Properly fitted plug tops

2. Plug tops should have the correct fuse
3. Routine Safety Testing
4. Do not place fluids on top of electrical devices
5. Do not plug in equipment when you have wet hands
6. Report all faults
7. Report all frayed cables, broken plugs or any plugs
that feel warm.
 The Electrical Circuit
Another Fault that can occur is what’s called a Short Circuit.
This is a very low resistance connection between the phase/live and
neutral in a single phase system or between phases in a 3-phase system.

Live
Fuse/mcb
L
Electricity O
Supply A
D

Neutral

Main
Earth The high level of current
flowing as a result of the fault Earth Rod
operates the protective device

General Mass of Earth

 Electrical Hazards

 Short Circuit
Explosive effect of discharge.
Fire.
Pressure Wave
Shrapnel
Sound
Protection Against Short Circuit

Use of Proper Circuit Protection.

Use of Insulated Tools

Adequate information about the risks

Use of Full Face Visor & Helmet,

Use of appropriate Arc Resistive Overalls

Use of suitable barriers & screens

Accompaniment by second person

Effective control of work area
 Electrical Faults

If an iron, washing machine, etc.,
causes a fuse to blow or MCB to
trip...

Always isolate the appliance

before restoring the power supply

Always identify the fault before
reconnecting the appliance

The Same applies to all electrical

equipment.