Electrical Safety

What is Electricity?

• A medium that provides a very convenient means for

transferring energy from one place to another
• Correctly used, electricity is our most versatile form of
energy
• Control of most electrical hazards is neither difficult or
expensive, but ignoring them can cause serious
consequences
 Electrical Injuries
There are four main types of electrical injuries:
• Direct
• Electrocution or death due to electrical shock
• Electrical shock
• Burns
• Indirect
• Falls

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 Shock Severity

Severity of the shock depends on:

• Path of current through the body
• Amount of current flowing through
the body (amps)
• Duration of the shocking current
through the body

** LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT

MEAN LOW HAZARD

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 Burns

• Most common shock-related

injury
• 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

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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
Hazard – Exposed Electrical Parts

Cover removed from wiring or

breaker box
 Control – Close Openings

• Junction boxes, pull boxes and

fittings should have approved
covers
• Unused openings in cabinets,
boxes and fittings should be
closed (no missing knockouts)

Photo shows violations

of these two requirements

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 Hazard - Overhead Power Lines

Usually not insulated

Examples of equipment that can
contact power lines:
• Crane
• Ladder
• Scaffold
• Backhoe
• Scissors lift
• Raised dump truck bed
• Aluminum paint roller
 Hazard – Defective Cords & Wires

Plastic or rubber covering is

missing

Damaged extension cords

& tools
 Hazard – Overloaded Circuits
Hazards may result from:
• Too many devices plugged into a
circuit, causing heated wires and
possibly a fire
• Damaged tools overheating
• Lack of over-current protection
• Wire insulation melting, which
may cause arcing and a fire in the
area where the overload exists,
even inside a wall

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 Control – Ground Tools & Equipment

• Ground power supply systems,

electrical circuits, and electrical
equipment
• Frequently inspect electrical systems
to insure path to ground is continuous
• Inspect electrical equipment before
use
• Don’t remove ground prongs from
tools or extension cords
• Ground exposed metal parts of
equipment

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Temporary Lights

Protect from contact

and damage, and
don’t suspend by
cords unless
designed to do so.

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 Hazard – Damaged Cords

• Cords can be damaged by:

• Aging
• Door or window edges
• Staples or fastenings
• Abrasion from adjacent
materials
• Activity in the area
• Improper use can cause
shocks, burns or fire
Lockout and Tag Out (LOTO)

• Apply locks to power source

after de-energizing
• Tag deactivated controls
• Tag de-energized equipment
and circuits at all points where
they can be energized
• Tags should identify
equipment or circuits being
worked on
 Over current Devices...

• Protect circuit from excessive heating by

opening the circuit automatically in event
of excessive current flow from accidental
ground, short circuit, or overload.
• Examples include fuses and circuit
breakers.
• Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is
a fast-acting circuit breaker that is
sensitive to very low levels of current
leakage (5mA) to ground.
• When leakage becomes hazardous, it
interrupts circuit.
 Electrical Safety Rules...
• Visually inspect all equipment for
damage prior to use
• Do not use extension cords for
permanent wiring
• Unplug equipment by pulling on
the plug and not the cord
• Damaged or defective equipment
must be removed from service
• Temporary Electrical Connections
should not be given
• Do not insert wires directly into the
Sockets
 Static Electricity
Occurs when static electrical
charges accumulate from friction
between dissimilar materials.
Discharge of static electricity causes
a mild shock.
 Static Electricity

The generation of static electricity can not be prevented

absolutely. Because its intrinsic origins are present at every
surface.
Static Electricity becomes a source of ignition, under the
following conditions and hence these should not be allowed
to occur;
An effective means of static generation.
A means of accumulating of charge
The spark discharge of adequate energy.
The spark must occur in an ignitable mixture.
 Static Electricity
safe measures adopted to prevent ignition from static
electricity are
•Grounding,
•Bonding,
•Avoidance of splash filling, agitation
•High liquid flow velocities
•Water contamination
•Dissipate the Charge in the Human Body before
entering a terminal handling Flammable gases or
Liquids.
•Provision of 30 sec relaxation time down stream of
filters before the liquids enter tanks.
 DO’S
• While purchasing, buy only standard electrical
appliance/equipment.
• the supply cord should be in good condition, free from
cuts or damaged insulation or entanglement.
• always use 3-pin plugs in the appliance / equipment and
connect them to 3-pin socket only.
• check that the pins of the socket or the plug or any other
electrical connections are not loose.
• put the switch ‘off’ when the appliance /equipment is not
in use. remove the plug from the socket.
• get your appliance / equipment and wiring checked
periodically for any defect or electrical leakage.
 DO’S
• only a qualified person/licensed electrician should be
allowed to carry out repairs.
• use ELCB (earth leakage circuit breaker) with main
switch as shock guard.
• always use correct size and quality of fuse wire for
replacement.
• in case of electrical fire switch off the power supply
and use sand, CO2 or DCP extinguisher. do not use
water.
• Switch “off” mains when you go on vacation.
• treat all circuits as live unless it is confirmed after
testing to be “dead”
 DONT’S
• Insert wires directly into the plug socket without a
matching plug pin to use any electrical appliance
even for temporary basis.
• Touch any bare wire (without insulation) it may be live.
• Make any temporary joints in the wiring , especially
without proper insulation.
• Connect a fuse in the neutral circuit.
• Use any appliances without proper earthing.
• Over load the wires by using multiple appliances
from a single 5 amp plug sockets.
• Allow use of Mobiles in Terminals handling and storing
of Flammable Products
 Points to Remember

• Just to recap, fire requires three elements. Heat

source, fuel and oxygen.
• When one is absent, there can be no fire.
• It is important to take an active part in fire drills so
that you are aware of what your role is in the event
of a fire.
• Remember R.A.C.E. and P.A.S.S.
 Points to Remember
• Electricity is a convenient source of energy but
should not be taken for granted.
• It has a current that can be measured and if not
respected can kill.
• The human body has the ability to conduct electricity
and serves as the conducting object when an
individual touches a live circuit.
• All electrical devices must be checked before it is to
be used.
• Most of electrical safety, and for that matter fire
safety, involves common sense and an ability to
keep your eyes open for hazards in the work place.
A FEW MINUTES MORE
PLEASE
Preventable Accidents, if
not prevented due to our
negligence, is nothing
short of a murder.