Electrical Safety

Course Content
Hazard of electricity General Safety requirements Authorization of electrical persons Procedures for initiation of work Electrical safety documents issuing and control Work execution procedure

Electrical Safety
Because electricity is a familiar part of our lives, it often is not treated with enough caution. One worker is electrocuted on the job every day of every year! Electrocution is the third leading cause of work related deaths among young Workers. Electrocution is the cause of 12% of all workplace deaths among young Workers.
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Electrical Safety
Who is OSHA ? OSHA is part of the United States Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Mission is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.
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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

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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
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Electrical Hazards
Electric Shock. Approximately 30,000 nonfatal electrical shock accidents occur each year. 1000 fatalities each year are due to electrocution, more than half of them while servicing energized systems of less than 600 volts. Arc Flash. When an electric current passes through air between two conductors (dielectric strength breakdown) the temperatures can reach 35,000F. Exposure to these extreme temperatures both burns the skin directly and causes ignition of clothing, which adds to the burn injury. Arc flashes can and do kill at distances of 3 m (10 ft).
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Electrical Hazards
Arc Blast. The tremendous temperatures of the arc cause the explosive expansion of both the surrounding air and the metal in the arc path 35000 F. The danger associated with this expansion is one of high pressures, sound, and shrapnel. Finally, material and molten metal is expelled away from the arc at speeds exceeding 1600 km/hr (700 mph), fast enough for shrapnel to completely penetrate the human body.
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Electrical Injuries
There are four main types of electrical injuries: Direct: Electrocution or death due to electrical shock Burns Indirect - Falls

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.

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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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Effect of Electrical Current On Body

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Dangers of Electrical Shock

Currents above 10 mA* can paralyze or freeze muscles. Currents more than 75 mA can cause a rapid, ineffective heartbeat -- death will occur in a few minutes unless a defibrillator is used 75 mA is not much current a small power drill uses 30 times as much. Dry skin may have a resistance of 100,000 ohms or more. Wet skin may have a resistance of only 1,000 ohms. The most damaging paths through the body are through the lungs, heart, and brain.
* mA = milliampere = 1/1,000 of an ampere
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Defibrillator

Defibrillator in use

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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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Burns
Electrical burns Result when a person touches electrical wiring or equipment that is used or maintained improperly. Arc burns Arcing is the luminous electrical discharge that occurs when high voltages exist across a gap between conductors and current travels through the air. Temperatures as high as 35,000F have been reached in arcblasts. Thermal contact burns. Clothing may catch fire and a thermal burn may result from the heat of the fire.
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Electrical Safety
Burns

A First Degree Burn is red and sensitive to touch. There is minimal skin damage and only the skin surface is involved. Example: Sunburn

Electrical Safety
Burns A Second Degree Burn involves the first and second layers of skin. The skin reddens intensely and blisters develop. Severe pain and swelling occur and chance for infection is present.

Electrical Safety
Burns

A Third Degree Burn causes charring of skin and coagulation of

blood vessels just below the skin surface. All three layers of skin are affected. Extensive scarring usually results.

Electrical Safety
Six step Safety Method 1. Thinkbe aware. 2. Understand your procedures 3. Follow your procedures 4. Use appropriate safety equipment 5. Ask if you are unsure, and do not assume 6. Do not answer if you do not know
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Electrical Safety
ThinkBe Aware Many accidents could have been prevented if the injured victim had concentrated on the safety aspects of the job. Thinking about personal or job-related problems while working on or near energized conductors is a one-way ticket to an accident

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Electrical Safety
Understand Your Procedures Each worker should be thoroughly familiar with all the safety procedures that affect his or her job. All employees should go through extensive safety training.

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Electrical Safety
Follow Your Procedures violation of safety procedures in the name of Production proven to be costly in terms of human injury and/or death. Violation of safety procedures without good cause should be a discharge offense. however, excuses of lesser significance than immediate danger to life should not be acceptable
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Electrical Safety
Use Appropriate Safety Equipment Appropriate safety equipment should be used any time workers are exposed to the possibility of one of the three electrical hazards (Arc, Blast , shock). Remember that nothing is sadder than an accident report which explains that the dead or injured worker was not wearing safety equipment.
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Electrical Safety
Ask If You Are Unsure, and Do Not Assume Ignorance kills and injures many people each year. Anyone who is uncertain about a particular situation should be encouraged to ask questions which should then be answered by a qualified person immediately and to the fullest extent possible.
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Electrical Safety
Do Not Answer If You Do Not Know No one should answer a question if they are not certain of the answer. Self-proclaimed experts should keep their opinions to themselves.

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Electrical Safety
Always test a circuit to make sure it is de-energized before working on it.

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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

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Electrical Hazards and How to Control Them

Electrical accidents are caused by a combination of three factors: Unsafe equipment and/or installation, Workplaces made unsafe by the environment, and Unsafe work practices.
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Hazard Exposed Electrical Parts

Cover removed from wiring or breaker box

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Control Isolate Electrical Parts

Use guards or barriers Replace covers

Guard live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more against accidental contact
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Control Isolate Electrical Parts Cabinets, Boxes & Fittings

Conductors going into them must be protected, and unused openings must be closed
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Control Close Openings

Junction boxes, pull boxes and fittings must have approved covers
Unused openings in cabinets, boxes and fittings must 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
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Control - Overhead Power Lines

Stay at least 10 feet away Post warning signs Assume that lines are energized Use wood or fiberglass ladders, not metal Power line workers need special training & PPE

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Hazard - Inadequate Wiring

Hazard - wire too small for the current Example - portable tool with an extension cord that has a wire too small for the tool The tool will draw more current than Wire Gauge the cord can handle, causing overheating and a possible fire without tripping the circuit breaker WIRE The circuit breaker could be the right Wire gauge measures size for the circuit but not for the wires ranging in size from number 36 to 0 American smaller-wire extension cord
wire gauge (AWG)
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Control Use the Correct Wire

Wire used depends on operation, building materials, electrical load, and environmental factors Use fixed cords rather than flexible cords Use the correct extension cord

Must be 3-wire type and designed for hard or extra-hard use

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Hazard Defective Cords & Wires

Plastic or rubber covering is missing

Damaged extension cords & tools

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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
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Control Cords & Wires

Insulate live wires Check before use Use only cords that are 3-wire type Use only cords marked for hard or extra-hard usage Use only cords, connection devices, and fittings equipped with strain relief Remove cords by pulling on the plugs, not the cords Cords not marked for hard or extrahard use, or which have been modified, must be taken out of service immediately
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Permissible Use of Flexible Cords

DO NOT use flexible wiring where frequent inspection would be difficult or where damage would be likely. Flexible cords must not be . . . run through holes in walls, ceilings, or floors; run through doorways, windows, or similar openings (unless physically protected); hidden in walls, ceilings, floors, conduit or other raceways.

Stationary equipment-to facilitate interchange

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Grounding
Grounding creates a lowresistance path from a tool to the earth to disperse unwanted current. When a short or lightning occurs, energy flows to the ground, protecting you from electrical shock, injury and death.

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Hazard Improper Grounding

Tools plugged into improperly grounded circuits may become energized Broken wire or plug on extension cord
Some of the most frequently violated OSHA standards

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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 Dont remove ground prongs from tools or extension cords Ground exposed metal parts of equipment
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Control Use GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter)

Protects you from shock Detects difference in current between the black and white wires If ground fault detected, GFCI shuts off electricity in 1/40th of a second Use GFCIs on all 120-volt, singlephase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles, or have an assured equipment grounding conductor program.
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Control - Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program

Program must cover: All cord sets Receptacles not part of a building or structure Equipment connected by plug and cord
Program requirements include: Specific procedures adopted by the employer Competent person to implement the program Visual inspection for damage of equipment connected by cord and plug
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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 overcurrent 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 - Electrical Protective Devices

Automatically opens circuit if excess current from overload or ground-fault is detected shutting off electricity Includes GFCIs, fuses, and circuit breakers Fuses and circuit breakers are overcurrent devices. When too much current: Fuses melt Circuit breakers trip open
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Power Tool Requirements

Have a three-wire cord with ground plugged into a grounded receptacle, or Be double insulated, or Be powered by a low-voltage isolation transformer

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Tool Safety Tips

Use gloves and appropriate footwear Store in dry place when not using Dont use in wet/damp conditions Keep working areas well lit Ensure not a tripping hazard Dont carry a tool by the cord Dont yank the cord to disconnect it Keep cords away from heat, oil, & sharp edges Disconnect when not in use and when changing accessories such as blades & bits Remove damaged tools from use
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Preventing Electrical Hazards - Tools

Inspect tools before use Use the right tool correctly Protect your tools Use double insulated tools
Double Insulated marking
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Temporary Lights

Protect from contact and damage, and dont suspend by cords unless designed to do so.
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Clues that Electrical Hazards Exist

Tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses Warm tools, wires, cords, connections, or junction boxes GFCI that shuts off a circuit Worn or frayed insulation around wire or connection

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Lockout and Tagging of Circuits

Apply locks to power source after deenergizing Tag deactivated controls Tag de-energized equipment and circuits at all points where they can be energized Tags must identify equipment or circuits being worked on

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Lockout and Tagging Steps

Employees who are authorized to place locks and tags have certain responsibilities which they must exercise when placing those tags. 1.The system must be surveyed to ensure that all sources of power to the system have been identified. 2.All the isolating equipment (circuit breakers, switches, etc.) must be identified and correlated with the portions of the system to which they apply. 3.The voltage level and short-circuit magnitude for each part of the system to be de energized must be determined. This step helps to assess the hazard to individuals who will be exposed to the de-energized system parts. 4.All personnel who will be affected by the outage must be notified. This includes employees who may be served by the electric power or who may work on or around the equipment which will be affected by the outage. 5.The employee(s) who place the locks and tags must maintain knowledge and control of the equipment to which they have affixed their locks and tags. 55

Lockout Station

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Safety-Related Work Practices

To protect workers from electrical shock: Use barriers and guards to prevent passage through areas of exposed energized equipment Pre-plan work, post hazard warnings and use protective measures Keep working spaces and walkways clear of cords

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Safety-Related Work Practices

Use special insulated tools when working on fuses with energized terminals Dont use worn or frayed cords and cables

Dont fasten extension cords with staples, hang from nails, or suspend by wire.

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Preventing Electrical Hazards Planning

Plan your work with others Plan to avoid falls Plan to lock-out and tagout equipment Remove jewelry Avoid wet conditions and overhead power lines

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Avoid Wet Conditions

If you touch a live wire or other electrical component while standing in even a small puddle of water youll get a shock. Damaged insulation, equipment, or tools can expose you to live electrical parts. Improperly grounded metal switch plates & ceiling lights are especially hazardous in wet conditions.

Wet clothing, high humidity, and perspiration increase your chances of being electrocuted.
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Preventing Electrical Hazards - PPE

Proper foot protection (not tennis shoes)
Rubber insulating gloves, hoods, sleeves, matting, and blankets Hard hat (insulated nonconductive)

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Preventing Electrical Hazards Proper Wiring and Connectors

Use and test GFCIs Check switches and insulation Use three prong plugs Use extension cords only when necessary & assure in proper condition and right type for job Use correct connectors
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Training
Train employees working with electric equipment in safe work practices, including: Deenergize electric equipment before inspecting or repairing Using cords, cables, and electric tools that are in good repair Lockout / Tagout recognition and procedures Use appropriate protective equipment

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Summary Hazards & Protections

Hazards Inadequate wiring Exposed electrical parts Wires with bad insulation Ungrounded electrical systems and tools Overloaded circuits Damaged power tools and equipment Using the wrong PPE and tools Overhead powerlines All hazards are made worse in wet conditions Protective Measures Proper grounding Use GFCIs Use fuses and circuit breakers Guard live parts Lockout/Tagout Proper use of flexible cords Close electric panels Training
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Summary
Electrical equipment must be: Listed and labeled Free from hazards Used in the proper manner

If you use electrical tools you must be: Protected from electrical shock Provided necessary safety equipment

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