Electrical Safety

Electricity – How it Works

• Electricity is the flow of energy

from one place to another
• Requires a source of power:
usually a generating station
• A flow of electrons (current)
travels through a conductor
• Travels in a closed circuit
 Electrical Terms
• Current -- electrical movement (measured in amps)
• Circuit -- complete path of the current.
Includes electricity source, a conductor, and the
output device or load (such as a lamp, tool, or heater)
• Resistance -- restriction to electrical flow
• Conductors – substances, like metals, with little
resistance to electricity that allow electricity to flow
• Grounding – a conductive connection to the earth
which acts as a protective measure
• Insulators -- substances with high resistance to
electricity like glass, porcelain, plastic, and dry wood
that prevent electricity from getting to unwanted
areas
Is Electricity
a Harm.?
 Electricity

A Good Slave
but
Bad Master,
 Electrical Injuries

• Direct:
➢Electrical shock;
➢Burns;
➢Internal Damages;
➢Involuntary muscular contraction;
• Indirect – Falls
(30 % of Electrocutions are accompanied by fall)
Electrical Injuries
Few facts about Electrical Injuries ;

• Contributes to 6 – 7 % of construction accidents;

• 30 % of electrocution’s are accompanied by fall
from height;
• Fatality rate is more than Incidence Rate;
 Electrical Shock
An electrical shock is received when electrical
current passes through the body.

You will get an electrical shock if a part of your

body completes an electrical circuit by…
• Touching a live wire and an electrical ground, or
• Touching a live wire and another wire at a different
voltage.
 Does Birds Get Electrocuted ?

• It’s because the electricity is

always looking for a way to
get to the ground, but the
birds are not touching the
ground or anything in
contact with the ground.
 Shock Severity
• Severity of the shock depends
on:
– Path of current through the
body;
– Amount of current flowing
through the body (amps), which
in turn depends on applied
voltage;
– Duration of the shocking current
through the body,
• LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT
MEAN LOW HAZARD
 Dangers of Electrical Shock
Current Probable effect on human body
level
(in mA)
1 mA Perception level. Slight tingling sensation. Still dangerous
under certain conditions.
5 mA Slight shock felt; not painful but disturbing. Average
individual can let go. However, strong involuntary reactions
to shocks in this range may lead to injuries.
6-30 mA Painful shock, muscular control is lost. This is called the
freezing current or "let-go" range
50-150 mA Extreme pain, respiratory arrest, severe muscular
contractions. Individual cannot let go. Death is possible.
1000-4300 Ventricular fibrillation (the rhythmic pumping action of the
mA heart ceases.) Muscular contraction and nerve damage occur.
Death is most likely.
10,000 mA Cardiac arrest, severe burns and probable death.
 Burns
• Most common Electric - related
injury;
• Temp increases with current &
resistance;
• Occurs when you touch electrical
wiring or equipment that is
improperly used or maintained;
• Typically occurs on hands
• Very serious injury that needs
immediate attention
 Internal Injuries
Excessive electricity cause serious
damage to internal organs.
Resulting medical problems such as;
– include hemorrhage (or internal
bleeding);
– tissue destruction;
– nerve or muscle damage.
These internal injuries may not be
immediately apparent to the victim
or observers; however, left untreated,
they can result in death.
 Involuntary Muscle
Contraction
Muscles violently contract by excessive
amounts of electricity.
These involuntary contractions can damage
– muscles,
– tendons,
– ligaments,
– and may even cause broken bones.
If the victim is holding an electrocuting
object, hand muscles may contract, making
it impossible to drop the object and
prolonging contact with the current. Also,
injury or death may result when violent
muscle contractions cause workers to fall
from ladders and scaffolds or inadvertently
strike other objects.
 Falls
• Electric shock can also cause
indirect injuries
• Workers in elevated locations
who experience a shock may
fall, resulting in serious injury
or death

Double Insulated
marking
Causes of Electrical Injuries
• Unauthorized operation;
• without or improper Earthing;
• Improper Fuses;
• Single insulated Cable (s);
• Improper Cable Joints;
• Hanging Cables;
• Without Plug Top;
• DB’s without protection against rain & curing
water;
 Unauthorized Operation
MDB’s / SDB’s liable for unauthorized
operations;
Electricians alone (with red helmet);
• Electrical Connection;
• Cable joints;
• Other electrical related activities;
 Earthing
• Purpose of Earthing and ELCB

Fault Current
 Earthing
• All the Electrical equipment
shall be grounded;
• DB’s shall be provided with
double earthing;
• Earthing conductor shall be
capable of carrying of
maximum current;
• Earth Pits;
 Fuses
• Fuses are proven safety devices for
overload conditions
• Check the fuses for their current
ratings
• Never replace fuse wire with
ordinary copper or aluminium wire
• High rupturable cartridge (HRC)
fuses are now a days easily
available and has advantages over
traditional fuses
 Single insulated
Cable
• Protective insulation;
– Mechanical protection against;
• Abrasion;
• Impact and shear load;
– Fire retardant;
• Functional insulation;
– Only electrical insulation;
– Low Shear strength
 Cables
• Single phase supply
– Phase - red
– Neutral - black
– Earth - green
• Three phase supply
– Phases
• Red
• Yellow
• Blue
– Neutral - black
 Hanging Cables
• Cable hangers;
• Cable stands / poles;
• Cables shall be routed over head;
 Without Plug Top
Need of plug top;
• To ensure the necessary
contact pressure and contact
gaps;
• Right connections;
– Chances of reverse rotation;
• Earth pin
– Longer among others;
– Contact firsts;
 PLUG TOPS
• Plug tops should be used to avoid shock danger.

• Three point plug in case of metallic body hand tools

and two point plug in case of double insulated hand
tools.

METALLIC BODY

HAND TOOL
 Canopy and Rain
Protection
• Protection against rain and
curing water;
• Canopy shall be of MS.
 Over Head Lines
Minimum Safe Clearance Required to be maintained;
(The Indian Electricity Rules, 1956; 64 (2)
Rated Voltage
kV Minimum safe clearance
METRES FEET
>6.6 kV 2.57 8.50
>6.6 KV <=11KV 2.59 8.50
>11 KV <=22 KV 2.64 8.75
>22 KV <=33 KV 2.75 9.00
>33 KV <=66 KV 3.00 9.75
>66 KV <=132 KV 3.43 11.25
>132 KV <=245 KV 4.57 15.00
>245 KV <=400 KV 5.48 18.00
 Working or Travelling Near
Overhead High Voltage Cables.

Maintain a safe working distance

Working Near Overhead
Lines
Un Safe Practices
Un – Safe condition’s
PPE ‘s
 What Regulation Say’s ?
BOCWR Rules 1998; Rule No 47
(1) Before commencement of any building or other construction work, the employer shall take adequate measures to prevent
any worker from coming into physical contact with any electrical equiupment or apparatus. Machines or live electrical circuit
which ma
(2) The employer shall display and maintain suitable warning signs at conspicuous places at a building or other construction
work in hindi and in a local language understood by the majority of the building workers.
(3) In workplaces at a building or other construction work where the exact location of under ground electric power line is not
known, the builidng workers using jack hammers, crow bars or other hand - tools which may come in contact with a live
electrical
(4) The employer shall ensure that, as far as practicable, no wiring, which may come in contact with water or which may be
mechanically damaged, is left on ground or floor at a building or other construction work.
(5) The employer shall ensure that all electrical appliances and current carrying equipment used at a building or other
construction work are made of sound material and are properly and adequately earthed.
(6) The employer shall ensure that all temporary electrical installations at a building or other construction work are provided
with earth leakage circuit breakers.
(7) The employer shall ensure that all electrical installations at a builiding or other construction work comply with the
requirements of any law for the time being in force.
 First AID – Electric Shock

• Don’t become the next victim;

• Isolate the victim from the Circuit;
– Disconnect the power supply;
– Use Insulators;
• High Voltage lines contacts are usually fatal,
better seek help from experts.
• Check for breathing;
– Artificial Respirations
• Check for pulse;
– Cardiac resuscitation
• Emergency Response Plan
Thank You