ELECTRICAL SAFETY

SAFETY RELATED WORK PRACTICES

H S & E TRAINING

WELCOME

What is Electricity ?

Movement of positively or negatively charged

particles
Analogy with water flow
Water reservoir Battery, Generator, Power station
Pipe Electrical conductor

What is Current ?

Flow of electric charge, or electrons

Flow : quantity of water through pipe in a given amount of time.
Current: quantity of electrons through conductor in a given amount
of time.

Measured in amperes
Two types
DC or direct current (flows in one direction only).
AC or alternative current (flows in two directions at specific rate).

What is Resistance ?
Resistance is like friction for water
Larger wires have less resistance than smaller wires.

Resistance induces a drop in voltage

Resistor is a conductor with a given resistance

Ohms Law

Current flows in an electric circuit in accordance with

several definite laws
Ohms law states that V = I * R, where :
V is the voltage in volts
I is the current in amperes
R is the resistance in ohms

Ohms law applies to DC and AC currents

Hazards of Electricity
Five primary hazards :
Shock
Burns
Arc-Blast
Explosions
Fires

Danger signs for electrical hazards

Shock
Human body becomes part of current flow
Direct effect
Injury or death can occur whenever electric current flows through the
human body. Current less than 30 mA can result in death.

Indirect effect
Human reaction to current flow may result in falls, or movements into
operating machinery.

Three basic ways:

Contact with both wires of an electrical circuit.
Contact with one wire of an electrical circuit and the ground source
Contact with ground source and a metal part that is in contact with a wire
of an electrical circuit.

Burns and Arc-Blast

Burns
Occurs when a person touches electrical wiring or equipment that
is improperly used or maintained (typically on the hands).

Arc-Blast
Occurs from high amperage currents arcing through air.
Temperature as high as 35,000 F have been observed.
Hazards associated with arc-blast:
Thermal Radiation
Pressure wave
Projectiles

Explosions and Fires

Explosions
Occurs when electricity provides a source of ignition for an
explosive mixture in the atmosphere.
Ignition can be due to overheated conductors or equipment.

Fires
Electricity is one of the most common causes of fire both in the
home and workplace.
Defective or misused electrical equipment is a major cause, with
high resistance being one of the primary source of explosion.
High resistance connections occur when wires are improperly
spliced or connected to other components (outlets and switches).

Effects of Shocks

The effects of electric shocks on the human

body depends on :
Current and voltage
Resistance
Path through body
Duration of shock

Current and Voltage

Detrimental effects are due to current flowing through

the body. With increasing alternating current :
Tingling sensation
Contraction of muscles and sensation of heat
At 15 mA victim cannot let go of the conductive surface
let-go threshold

At 100 mA ventricular fibrillation of the heart occurs until death

Heavy current flow can result in severe burns and

heart paralysis.

Resistance and Path through Body

Resistance
Electrical resistance of human body varies with :
Amount of moisture on skin
Pressure applied to contact point
Contact area

Wet condition will drastically reduce resistance

Shock severity increases with increasing pressure
The larger the contact area, the lower the resistance

Path through body

Affects the degree of injury
More severe if heart is in the path (flow from hand to feet)

Duration of Shock

Duration of shock has a great bearing on final

outcome
Short : may only be a painful experience
At fibrillation threshold, a duration of a few seconds may be fatal
At high currents, death is inevitable if shock has appreciable
duration

Summary of Effects
Current flow greater than the "let go" threshold of an individual may
cause a person to collapse, become unconscious and can result in
death.
Current flow through the chest, neck, head, or major centers controlling
respiration may result in a failure of the respiratory system.
The most dangerous condition can occur when fairly small amounts of
current flow through the heart area.
Extensive tissue damage, including internal organ damage due to high
temperatures, occurs when very large currents flow through major
portions of the body.
There are recorded cases of delayed death after a person has been
revived following an electrical shock. This may occur within minutes,
hours, or even days after the event has occurred.

Minimizing Electrical Hazards

Electrical hazards can be minimized. There are
various ways of protecting from electrical hazards.
Locking and tagging equipment
Source of electrical energy isolated from equipment undergoing
repair or maintenance
Guarding
Live parts of electrical equipment operating > 50 volts must be
guarded against accidental contact
Entrance to rooms containing exposed live parts must be marked
with warning signs forbidding unqualified persons to enter
Grounding
A low resistance path to earth is created
Avoid build up of voltage which may result in dangerous shocks
Reduces probabilities of accidents

Minimizing Electrical Hazards ...

Mechanical protection device
Designed to shut off the current in the event of a ground fault, overload,
or short circuit in a wiring system
Ex: ground fault circuit interrupters, fuses and circuit breakers

Personal Protective Equipment

Specific PPE for electrical workers

Safety work practices

Good judgment and common sense
Operate equipment in accordance with manufacturers
recommendations
Unauthorized personnel shall not occupy areas around switch gear,
panel boards, or load centers
When working with electrical equipment, always work with a partner
Where live parts present an electrical hazard, employees may not
perform housekeeping duties close to the parts, unless protected

Minimizing Electrical Hazards

Electric cords
Inspect cords regularly for signs of stretching, insulation damage and
kinking.
Never carry an electrical tool by its cord.
When using tools requiring a third wire ground, only use three wire
extension cord with three-pronged, grounding plugs and three holes
electric outlets.
Always remove the cord at the plug. Do not pull on the cord.
Always use the correct extension cord for the job. An undersized cord
can cause a drop in tool power and overheating.
Hands must be dry when plugging and unplugging flexible cords.

Plugs and Receptacles

Electric plugs and receptacles are designed for different currents and
voltages, so that only matching plugs and receptacles will fit together.
Beware of standards changing from country to country.

Minimizing Electrical Hazards

Connecting a portable computer

Connect the AC adapter to the PC power jack.
Connect one end of the power cord to the AC adapter.
Connect the other end to the power outlet.

Hazard with portable computer

Do not use your computer in or near water (to avoid the danger of
electrical shock).

PERSONNEL PROTECTION
Protective Clothing and Equipment Considerations:
Appropriate for the particular hazard(s)
Maintained in good condition
Properly stored when not in use
Kept clean, fully functional, and sanitary

PERSONNEL PROTECTION
(Continued)

Barriers and Signage:

STOP

DANGER

DANGER

DANGER

HIGH
VOLTAGE

HIGH
VOLTAGE

HIGH
VOLTAGE

Barriers and signage should be

strategically placed in the work
area to control access and ensure that only trained and
qualified personnel enter hazardous areas.
The arrangement of such equipment will vary
depending on the layout of the work area and the
specific needs of the job.

PERSONNEL PROTECTION
(Continued)

Signage:
SOME TIPS TO CONSIDER

DANGER

DANGER

DANGER

HIGH
VOLTAGE

HIGH
VOLTAGE

HIGH
VOLTAGE

Warning signs should be:

Standardized where possible

Distinctive from other signage
Posted at the appropriate height
Clearly warn personnel of the hazards
Posted at all entry ways to the work area

PERSONNEL PROTECTION
(Continued)

Barriers and Barrier Tape:

STOP

DANGER

DANGER

DANGER

HIGH
VOLTAGE

HIGH
VOLTAGE

HIGH
VOLTAGE

SOME TIPS TO CONSIDER

Barriers and Barrier Tape should be:

Standardized where possible

Distinctive from other types of guards
Placed so that energized parts are not reachable
Positioned usually at least 3 feet from the hazard
If barriers or tape or not sufficient, post attendants

PERSONNEL PROTECTION
(Continued)

General Protective Equipment and Tools:

1. When working near parts, insulated
tools or handling equipment must be
used.
2. If the insulating capability of insulated
tools or handling equipment is subject to
damage, the insulating material must be
protected.

PERSONNEL PROTECTION
(Continued)

General Protective Equipment and Tools:

1. Fuse handling equipment, insulated
for the circuit voltage, must be used to
remove or install fuses when the fuse
terminals are energized.
2. Ropes and hand lines used near
exposed energized parts must be
nonconductive.

PERSONNEL PROTECTION
(Continued)

General Protective Equipment and Tools:

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS
1. Protective shields, barriers, or insulating materials must be
used to protect employees from electrical injuries while
working near exposed energized parts.
2. When normally enclosed live parts are exposed for
maintenance or repair, they must be guarded to protect
unqualified persons from contact with the live parts.

Electrical Safety Awareness

Descon shall continually evaluate the risks to our workforce, our clients and the
environment. Comprehensive risk assessment will provide the necessary
information to reduce risk and mitigate the impact of our operations on Health,
Safety and the Environment.
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nt

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