ECE 1813 Electricity & Magnetism Laboratory #0

Department of Engineering
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY SAFETY
GUIDELINES

INTRODUCTION

To ensure safe practices in our laboratories, the Department of Engineering at UNBSJ

has adopted the following guidelines for the instructional laboratories. These
guidelines will be continuously enforced. We believe having an understanding of
inherent hazards and learning how to be safe should be an integral and important
part of the learning process.

As you learn about engineering and scientific principles it is also important that you
learn about safety. To work safely in the lab means that YOU KNOW:
§ the hazards
§ the worst things that could happen
§ what to do and how to do it if they should happen
§ how to use the prudent practices, protective facilities, and protective
equipment needed to minimize the risks.

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

The severity and effects of an electrical shock depend on a number of factors, such
as the pathway through the body, the amount of current, the length of time of the
exposure, and whether the skin is wet or dry. Water is a great conductor of
electricity, allowing current to flow more easily in wet conditions and through wet
skin. The effect of the shock may range from a slight tingle to severe burns to
cardiac arrest. The chart below shows the general relationship between the degree
of injury and amount of current for a 60-cycle hand-to-foot path of one second’s
duration of shock. While reading this chart, keep in mind that most electrical circuits
can provide, under normal conditions, up to 20,000 milliamperes of current flow.

The major hazards associated with electricity are electrical shock and fire. Electrical
shock occurs when the body becomes part of the electric circuit, either when an
individual comes in contact with both wires of an electrical circuit, one wire of an

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energized circuit and the ground, or a metallic part that has become energized by
contact with an electrical conductor.
CURRENT REACTION
1 Milliampere Perception level
5 Milliamperes Slight shock felt; not painful but disturbing
6-30 Milliamperes Painful shock; "let-go" range
50-150 Milliamperes Extreme pain, respiratory arrest, severe muscular
contraction
1000-4,300 Ventricular fibrillation
Milliamperes
10,000+ Milliamperes Cardiac arrest, severe burns, and probable death

In addition to the electrical shock hazards, sparks from electrical equipment can
serve as an ignition source for flammable or explosive vapors.

Even loss of electrical power can result in extremely hazardous situations.

Flammable or toxic vapors may be released as a chemical warm when a refrigerator
or freezer fails. Fume hoods may cease to operate, allowing vapors to be released
into the laboratory.

ELECTRICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE

The following instructions provide guidelines for handling three types of electrical
emergencies:

1. Electric Shock:
When someone suffers serious electrical shock, he or she may be knocked
unconscious. If the victim is still in contact with the electrical current,
immediately turn off the electrical power source. If you cannot disconnect the
power source, try to separate the victim from the power source with a
nonconductive object, such as a wood-handled broom.
§ Do not touch a victim that is still in contact with a power source; you
could electrocute yourself.
§ Have someone call for emergency medical assistance immediately
(911). § Administer first-aid, as appropriate.

2. Electrical Fire:
If an electrical fire occurs, try to disconnect the electrical power source, but
only if you can do it without endangering yourself. If the fire is small, you are
not in immediate danger, and you have been trained in fighting fires, use
any type of fire extinguisher except water to extinguish the fire. § Do
not use water on an electrical fire.

3. Power Lines:

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Stay away from live power lines and downed power lines. Be particularly
careful if a live power line is touching a body of water. The water could
conduct electricity. If a power line falls on your car while you are inside,
remain in the vehicle until help arrives.

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC SAFETY

Please follow these general guidelines pertaining to electrical safety:

§ Turn off power and unplug from the wall before working on electric or
electronic circuits, except when necessary.
§ Complete all your wiring and check it carefully before turning on the power
supply.
§ When a setup or circuit is to be reconfigured or rewired, turn the power supply
off.
It is also a good practice to disconnect it from the power supply.
§ When you are done with an experiment, turn off the power supply first before
disassembling the circuit.
§ Do not work on electrical equipment in a wet area or when touching an object
that may provide a hazardous earth ground path.
§ Turn off power and unplug equipment before checking or replacing fuses.
Locate and correct the cause of a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker before
replacing the fuse or resetting the circuit breaker.
§ Immediately report and do not use defective cords and plugs. Inspect cabling
for defects such as frayed wiring, loose connections, or cracked insulation.
§ Remove metal jewelry, watches, rings, etc., before working on electrical
circuits.
§ Always check the electrical ratings of equipment you use and be sure you use
that equipment within its ratings.
§ Never overload circuits.
§ Never leave unprotected systems unattended.
§ Never place containers of liquid on electrical systems.
§ Never defeat the purpose of a fuse or circuit breaker. Never install a fuse of
higher amperage rating than that specifically listed for your circuit.
§ Make sure equipment chassis or cabinets are grounded. Never cut off or
defeat the ground connection on a plug.
§ Safely discharge capacitors in equipment before working on the circuits. Why?
Because large capacitors found in many laser-flash lamps and other systems
are capable of storing lethal amounts of electrical energy and pose a serious
danger even if the power source has been disconnected.
§ When shifting probes in a live/active circuit, be sure to shift using only one
hand: It is best to keep the other hand off other surfaces and behind your
back.
§ If you are working on a design project and you plan to work with voltages
equal to or above 50 volts, notify your instructor and obtain their approval
before proceeding.

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PREVENTING ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

There are various ways of protecting people from the hazards caused by electricity,
including insulation, guarding, grounding, and electrical protective devices.
Laboratory students can significantly reduce electrical hazards by following some
basic precautions:

§ Inspect wiring of equipment before each use. Report and do not use damaged
or frayed electrical cords immediately.
§ Use safe work practices every time electrical equipment is used.
§ Know the location and how to operate shut-off switches and/or circuit breaker
panels. Use these devices to shut off equipment in the event of a fire or
electrocution.
§ Limit the use of extension cords. Use only for temporary operations. In all
other cases, request installation of a new electrical outlet.
§ Use only multi-plug adapters equipped with circuit breakers or fuses.
§ Place exposed electrical conductors (especially those with greater than 50
volts) in protective chassis boxes or behind Plexiglas shields.
§ Minimize the potential for water or chemical spills on or near electrical
equipment.
§ Only equipment with three-prong plugs should be used in the laboratory. The
third prong provides a path to ground that helps prevent the buildup of
voltages that may result in an electrical shock or spark.
o This does not guarantee that no one will receive a shock, be injured, or
be killed. It will, however, substantially reduce the possibility of such
accidents, especially when used in combination with other safety
measures.
§ When designing circuits and systems include circuit protection devices as
needed.
o Circuit protection devices are designed to automatically limit or shut off
the flow of electricity in the event of a ground-fault, overload, or short
circuit in the wiring system.
o Fuses, circuit breakers, and ground-fault circuit interrupters are three
wellknown examples of such devices. Fuses and circuit breakers
prevent overheating of wires and components that might otherwise
create hazards for operators. They disconnect the circuit when it
becomes overloaded.
o The ground-fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is designed to shutoff
electric power if a ground fault is detected. The GFCI is particularly
useful near sinks and wet locations. Since GFCIs can cause equipment
to shutdown unexpectedly, they may not be appropriate for certain
apparatus. Portable GFCI adapters (available in most safety supply
catalogs) may be used with a non-GFCI outlet.

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GENERAL GUIDELINES

§ All students who work in the labs must understand and agree to the
information in this document and must sign the document as a confirmation
of their awareness:
§ All procedures which need to be conducted alone or after-hours need to be
reviewed for hazards and must be approved by the instructor.
§ Know location of all exits, evacuation route, first aid kit, eye wash, fire
extinguisher, and safety shower.
§ Wear approved eye protection (safety glasses, or goggles) at all times in the
laboratory if recommended by the lab instructor.
§ Shoes must completely cover the foot. No sandals or crocs are allowed.
§ Long hair must be tied back, and all loose clothing or dangling jewelry must
be secured or removed while in the laboratory.
§ No food or drink of any kind in the laboratory.
§ No equipment may be without proper training or demonstrated competency.
§ All aisles and workspace must be kept clear of clutter. All exits, fire
extinguishers, electrical disconnects, eye washes and safety showers must
remain accessible at all times.
§ All equipment guards must remain in place. You may not modify equipment
without approval of the lab instructor who must do a hazard assessment
associated with proposed changes.
§ All chemical storage rules must be observed at all times. All chemicals must
remain closed until used, and all chemicals must be marked with substance
name, hazard information, concentration, date of creation, and person
responsible.
§ All waste chemicals must be put in approved and labeled containers. There is
to be no hazardous waste into sinks or garbage cans.
§ Any unsafe or dangerous behavior must be reported to the lab instructor.
• Any electrical work must be reviewed by an electrician prior to energization.

LABORATORY ORIENTATION

The following items have been reviewed with me:

In emergency situation; action as appropriate and the incident’s report

Emergency evacuation routes & nearest fire alarm pull station
Location and proper use of safety shower, if available, and emergency eye
wash stations
Location of first aid kit and explanation of when and how to report injuries
Location and use of lab spill kits (and when and how to report an incident)
PPE Policy, Location of required PPE, information on acquiring additional PPE
and how to maintain, store and ensure PPE is in good working condition.
Lab specific guidelines related to handling hazardous waste properly and how
to request a pick-up

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ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY SAFETY GUIDELINES AGREEMENT

I have read the Electrical Engineering Laboratory Safety Guidelines, and I

understand its contents. I agree to abide by all the rules within the guidelines and
other training I have received at all times while in the Laboratory.

Ewhro Oghenetejiri. EO Wed Jan

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Student Name & Number Signature Date

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Laboratory Instructor Name Signature Date

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