Electrical Safety - Construction

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 Electricity - The Dangers
‡ About 5 workers are
electrocuted every week
‡ Causes 12% of young
worker workplace deaths
‡ Takes very little
electricity to cause harm
‡ Significant risk of causing
fires

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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 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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 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 bodyÿ
‡ LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT
MEAN LOW HAZARD

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 Dangers of Electrical Shock
‡ Currents above 10 mA* can
paralyze or ³freeze´ 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 Defibrillator in use
much

* mA = milliampere = 1/1,000 of an ampere

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 rurns
‡ 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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 ‰alls
‡ 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

‡ lse 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, roxes & ‰ittings

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

‡ lsually not insulated

‡ Examples of equipment that
can contact power lines:
[ Crane
[ Ladder
[ Scaffold
[ rackhoe
[ 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
‡ lse 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
the cord can handle, causing Wire Gauge

overheating and a possible fire

without tripping the circuit breaker WIRE

[ The circuit breaker could be the right 0



size for the circuit but not for the




 

smaller-wire extension cord

 



0

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 Control ± lse the Correct Wire
‡ Wire used depends on operation, building materials,
electrical load, and environmental factors
‡ lse fixed cords rather than flexible cords
‡ lse 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
‡ lse only cords that are 3-wire type
‡ lse only cords marked for hard or
extra-hard usage
‡ lse 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 extra-
hard use, or which have been
modified, must be taken out of
service immediately
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 Permissible lse of ‰lexible Cords
DO NOT use flexible wiring where
frequent inspection would be difficult
or where damage would be likely.

‰lexible cords must not be . . .

‡ run through holes in walls, ceilings,
or floors;
‡ run through doorways, windows, or
similar openings (unless physically
protected); Stationary equipment-to
‡ hidden in walls, ceilings, floors, facilitate interchange
conduit or other raceways.
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 Grounding
Grounding creates a low-
resistance 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
‡ rroken 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
‡ ‰requently 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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 Control ± lse G‰CI (ground-fault
circuit interrupter)
‡ Protects you from shock
‡ Detects difference in current
between the black and white wires
‡ If ground fault detected, G‰CI
shuts off electricity in 1/40th of a
second
‡ lse G‰CI¶s on all 120-volt, single-
phase, 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 G‰CI¶s, fuses, and
circuit breakers
‡ ‰uses and circuit breakers
are overcurrent devices.
When too much current:
[ ‰uses 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

‡ lse gloves and appropriate footwear

‡ Store in dry place when not using
‡ Don¶t use in wet/damp conditions
‡ Keep working areas well lit
‡ Ensure not a tripping hazard
‡ Don¶t carry a tool by the cord
‡ Don¶t 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 don¶t

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
‡ G‰CI 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 de-
energizing
‡ 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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 Safety-Related Work Practices
To protect workers from electrical shock:
[ lse 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
‡ lse special insulated tools
when working on fuses with
energized terminals
‡ Don¶t use worn or frayed
cords and cables
‡ Don¶t 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 tag-
out 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 you¶ll
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 GFCI¶s
‡ 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 Protective Measures
‡ Inadequate wiring ‡ Proper grounding
‡ Exposed electrical parts ‡ Use GFCI¶s
‡ Wires with bad insulation ‡ Use fuses and circuit
‡ Ungrounded electrical systems breakers
and tools
‡ Guard live parts
‡ Overloaded circuits
‡ Damaged power tools and ‡ Lockout/Tagout
equipment ‡ Proper use of flexible
‡ Using the wrong PPE and tools cords
‡ Overhead powerlines ‡ Close electric panels
‡ All hazards are made worse in ‡ Training
wet conditions
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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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