Electrical safety refers to any safety precautions
taken against electricity. Electricity is undoubtedly one of the most basic
needs in modern life, but electrical hazards are very dangerous.
Electricians
work in all areas of a job site. They are exposed to hazards including hazards
that can cause fall-related injuries, crush injuries in excavations, electrical
shocks, or being struck by falling objects, cuts, burns, punctures, and
chemical exposure. Electricians
are exposed to the risk of electrical shock more often than other workers,
which puts them at a higher risk for electrical burns and arc burns.
Safety regulations and company policies are designed to protect those working in the electrical field, but these regulations are only effective if the worker recognizes and understands the hazards that may be present and takes the proper precautions to avoid them.
For this reason, the proper use of personal protective equipment and other safety gear is a critical element of an electrician’s job.
To protect yourself and those around you from injury and possible death, you must become familiar with the various hazards on the job site, follow established safety procedures, and always keep safe work practices in mind.
Electric Shock
Electric shock occurs upon contact of a (human) body with any source of electricity that causes a sufficient current through the skin, muscles, or hair. Typically, an electric shock denotes an unwanted exposure to electricity, hence the effects are considered undesirable.
Effects of Electric Shock
The effects of an electric shock may include the
following:
ü Immediate heart stoppage and burns
ü A fall or other
accidents (caused by the body's reaction to the shock)
ü Delayed internal problems (which is why it is critical to have a medical exam if you receive a minor shock)
Fact: It takes less electricity to kill a person than to light a 60-watt light bulb!
Electric Buns and Types
Buns
The most common
shock-related injury is a burn. Burns suffered in electrical accidents may be
of three types: electrical burns, arc burns, and thermal contact burns.
1. Electrical Burns
Electrical burns are the
result of electric current flowing through the tissues or bones. Tissue damage
is caused by the heat generated by the current flow through the body. An
electric burn is one of the most serious injuries you can get and should be given
immediate attention.
2. Arc Burns
Arc burns make
up a substantial portion of the injuries from electrical malfunctions. The
electrical arc between metals can be up to 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is
about four times hotter than the surface of the sun. Workers several feet from
the source of the arc can receive severe or fatal burns.
Electric arcs
can occur due to poor electrical contact or failed insulation. Electrical
arcing is caused by the passage of substantial amounts of current through the
vapored terminal materials.
3. Thermal Contact Burns
These burns are
caused by contact with objects thrown during the blast associated with an
electric arc. The blast comes from the pressure developed by the
near-instantaneous heating of the air surrounding the arc, and from the
expansion of the metal as it is vaporized.
Hazards
associated with a blast include
o The pressure wave can be
great enough to hurl people, switch-gear, and cabinets considerable
distances.
o It can stop your heart, impale you with shrapnel, blow off limbs, cause deafness, and cause you to inhale vaporized metal.
o The hurling of molten metal droplets can also cause thermal contact burns and associated damage.
Practicing Safety Measure
Many things can be done to
greatly reduce the chance of receiving an electric shock.
o Always comply with your company's safety policy and all applicable rules
and regulations, including job site rules.
o, Wear appropriate protective equipment.
Protective Equipment
The following are safety
equipment that can be worn for your protection:
o Eyes - safety
glasses/goggles
o Face - face shields
o Head - hard hats
o Feet - safety shoes
o Hands and arms - gloves
o Bodies - vests
o Heading - earplugs/earmuffs
Rubber Protective Equipment
All electrical
workers may be exposed to energized circuits or equipment. Two of the most
important articles of protection for electrical workers are insulated rubber
gloves and rubber blankets.
Personal Protective Equipment
Assess the
workplace beforehand to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be
present, which necessitate the use of proper personal protective equipment
(PPE).
Protective Clothing
Besides rubber gloves,
there are other types of special application protective clothing, such as fire
suits, face shields, and rubber sleeves.
Safety Philosophy and General Safety Precautions
Common sense is the most
important electrical safety equipment. All areas of electrical safety
precautions and practices draw upon common sense and attention to detail. The
most dangerous condition in an electrical work area is a poor attitude to
safety.
Here are some of the basic
and necessary attitudes and electrical safety precautions that must be followed
when working with electricity:
o
All work on electrical equipment should be
done with circuits de-energized and cleared or grounded.
o
Routine operation of the circuit breakers
and disconnecting switches contained in a power distribution system can be
hazardous if not approached in the right manner.
o All conductors, fuses, and connections should be considered energized until proven otherwise. Conductors and parts of electrical equipment that have not been locked out or tagged out following this section should be considered energized.
Several basic precautions
that can be observed in switchgear operations are as follows:
o
Wear proper clothing made of the fiber of
the fire-resistant fabric.
o
Wear eye, face, and head protection.
o
Whenever operating circuit breakers in low
voltage or medium-voltage systems, always stand off the side of the unit.
o
Always try to operate disconnected
switches and circuit breakers under a no-load condition.
o Never intentionally force an interlock on a system or circuit breaker.
Workplace Hazards and Precautionary Steps
Working with Ladders
Ladders and scaffolds
account for about half of the injuries for electricians in the workplace. The
involuntary recoil that can occur when a person is shocked can cause the person
to be thrown from a ladder or high place.
Many job site accidents
involve the misuse of ladders. Make sure to follow the general rules every
time you use any ladder.
Following these rules can
prevent serious injuries or even death:
Before using a ladder:
Inspect it. Look for loose or missing rungs, cleats, bolts, or
screws. Also check for cracked, bent, broken, or badly worn rungs, cleats, or
side rails.
Before climbing a ladder:
Make sure you clear any debris from the base
of the ladder so you do not trip over it when you descend.
There are also a few
specific rules that must be followed when using a step ladder:
o Always open the
step ladder all the way and lock the spreaders to avoid collapsing the ladder
accidentally.
o Use a step
ladder that is high enough for the job so that you do not have to reach. Get
someone to hold the ladder if it is more than 10 feet high.
o Never use a
step ladder as a straight ladder.
o Never stand on
or straddle the top two rungs of a step ladder.
o Do not use ladders
as shelves.
Working around Overhead Equipment
As an electrician, you may
be required to work in the operating area of lifts, hoists, or cranes. The
following safety rules are for those who are working in an area with overhead
equipment but are not directly involved in its operation.
o Stay alert and
pay attention to the warning signals from operators.
o Never stand or
walk under a load, regardless of whether it is moving or stationary.
o Always warn
others of moving or approaching overhead loads.
o Never attempt
to distract signal persons or operators of overhead equipment.
o Obey warning
signs.
o Do not use
equipment that you are not qualified to operate.
o Cranes that are operated in areas with places in which a person can become trapped or pinched must have barricades placed around them to warn away workers.
Lifting Objects Properly
Read the following list to learn the proper way of lifting and sizing uploads:
o Stand close to
the load.
o Squat down,
keeping your back straight.
o Get a firm grip
on the load and keep the load close to your body.
o Lift by
straightening your legs. Make sure that when you lift, the pressure of the
weight is on your legs and not on your back.
o Do not be afraid to ask for help if you feel the load is too heavy.
Basic Tool Safety
When using any tools for
the first time, read the operator’s manual to learn the recommended safety
precautions. If you are not certain how to operate any tool, ask the advice of
a more experienced worker. Before using a tool, you should know its function and
how it works.
If the manual is missing, contact the manufacturer for a replacement
Working in Confined Spaces
Occasionally, you may be
required to do your work in a manhole or vault. If this is the case, there are
some special safety considerations that you need to be aware of. This
topic outlines the general precautions for working in confined spaces.
A confined space includes
(but is not limited to) any: Manhole, boiler tank, trench (four feet or
deeper), tunnel, hopper, bin, sewer, vat, pipeline, vault, pit, air duct, vessel
Potential Hazards and Safety Measures in Confined Spaces
Hazards
- Toxic Atmosphere.
- Oxygen Deficiency.
- Oxygen Enrichment.
- Flammable or Explosive Atmospheres.
- Flowing Liquid or Free-Flowing Solids.
- Excessive Heat.
Safety Measures
- Competence, training, supervision, and
suitability
- Permit-to-work procedure
- Gas purging and ventilation
- Dangerous residues
- Testing and monitoring of the atmosphere
- Mechanical, electrical, and process
isolation
- Respiratory protective equipment
- Other personal protective equipment
- Safe use of work equipment
- Communications
Handling Hazardous Materials
Each job site should also have a first aid manual or booklet giving easy-to-find emergency treatment procedures for various types of injuries. Emergency first aid telephone numbers should be readily available to everyone on the job site.
Dangers of Working around Batteries
o Working around wet cell batteries can be dangerous if proper precautions
are not taken.
o Batteries often give off hydrogen gas as a byproduct. When hydrogen
mixes with air, the concentrated mixture can be explosive. For this reason,
smoking is strictly prohibited in battery rooms. Moreover, only insulated tools
should be used when working with batteries. Proper ventilation also reduces the
chance of an explosion in battery areas.
o Batteries also contain acid, which can eat away human skin and many
other materials. Personal protective equipment for battery work typically
includes chemicals aprons, sleeves, gloves, face shields, and goggles to
prevent acid from contacting the skin and the eyes.
o Wash stations are located near battery rooms to provide immediate
care to a person in case they encounter the battery's acid.
Safeguarding Against Falls
Proper fall protection
equipment or systems must be used when working at elevations of six (6) feet or
higher.
Full Body Harness:
Full-body harnesses are the
only acceptable equipment to wear for PFAS. Selecting the appropriate harness
is based on size and gender.
o Harnesses must
be worn snug (but not tight) with all required straps attached. When
properly worn, you should be able to slide two fingers under the straps with
little difficulty.
o The D-ring in the back of the harness must be centered between the shoulder blades.
Lanyards:
Lanyards are used to connect the harness to the
attachment point.
Retractable lanyards come
in a variety of sizes, from 10 feet to over 150 feet.
Anchorage Devices:
Anchorage devices and
points are the interfaces between the PFAS and the structure to which they are
attached. These points must hold 5000 pounds (which is the equivalent of a
full-size extended cab pickup truck).
Rescue Operations
o Never pull
anyone up by their fall protection equipment; always rescue them with ladders
or equipment from below.
o If the
standard equipment is not available to provide rescue, a plan must be created
before the release work can proceed.
o Rescue must
be accomplished from below using ladders, lifts, and/or scaffolds.
o Immediately
summon the fire department to assist the rescue effort unless you can rescue
the person without assistance.
o Rescue must
take place as quickly as possible, as hanging from a harness presents
additional hazards.
o Continue to
move your limbs (if you have a fall and find yourself hanging from a harness)
while awaiting rescue. This will help maintain circulation in your lower
extremities.
Summary
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