Electrical hazards

Electrical hazards exist in almost every workplace. Common causes of electrocution (electric shock) are:

making contact with uninsulated wires

undertaking maintenance on live equipment
working with damaged electrical equipment, such as extension leads, plugs and sockets using equipment
affected by rain or water ingress

How do you respond to electrical incidents (electrocution) ?

If you come across a person receiving an electric shock:
If possible, disconnect the electrical supply (switch?)
Detach the persons contact using non conductive materials such as dry wood, dry cloth etc.
assess the situation never put yourself at risk
take precautions to protect yourself and anyone else in the vicinity
apply the first aid principles
assess the injuries and move the casualty to a safe area if required
administer first aid if trained
seek urgent medical attention
AC current (mA)

Effect on human body

Slight tingling sensation

2-9

Small shock

10-24

Muscles contract causing you to freeze

25-74

Respiratory muscles can become paralysed; pain; exit burns often visible

75-300

Usually fatal; ventricular fibrillation; entry & exit wounds visible

>300

Death almost certain; if survive will have badly burnt organs and probably require amputations

How do you protect yourself from getting an electric shock?

Dont wear metal objects while working with electricity.

Turn power off
Wear appropriate clothing
Dont touch live parts
Study the operation manual
Take care of extension leads
Dont install or repair electrical equipment without proper idea.
Use qualified personnel for repair.
Clean and dry leads and plugs before use
Use PPE

Fuse wire and Earth wire

Fuse wire is just as its name implies: it is a wire made specially to carry only a certain
amount of current, which is known as its "rated current". A fuse wire is always connected in
live wire.
If the current passing through the fuse exceeds this current the fuse wire gets so hot that it
melts and breaks the circuit. That should help to protect the power supply cables from being
overloaded as well as protecting the supplied appliance or appliances from being damaged. In
either case, the fuse should help to prevent a dangerous fire from starting. A fuse may also help to
prevent a person using an appliance from getting a dangerous electric shock but that is not the
main purpose of fitting a fuse. The main purpose of fitting a fuse is for overload and fire protection.

Earth wire is, again, just as its name implies: it is wire used to connect the outer metal cover of appliances or
power supply panels to the earth. The earth wire is a crucial part of the home electrical system and is designed to
protect against electric shock.
If faults occur in the electrical system, the electricity will flow to earth by the shortest and easiest path. The shortest
path is through a circuit breaker or fuse, which will break the electrical circuit. The earth wire should help stop
electricity passing through your body if you have an electrical accident.
The earth wires from power points join to a main earth wire, which is attached to a metal pipe and/or special metal
plate buried in the ground. It is important that the earth wire is correctly wired and working properly, and that all
appliances and building wires are in good condition. If an earth wire within an appliance is not connected and a
loose active wire touches the metal casing, electrocution may occur.

Source: www.frankswebspace.org.uk

Working near high-voltage lines:

Where work is planned near high-voltage electrical conductors,
Safety regulations specify the safe limits of approach that must be
maintained by any worker, work, tool, machine, equipment or material.
What's a safe distance from power lines?
Electricity can flow through objects that are touching power lines. But electricity can also jump across a
gap from a high voltage line to an object that is close by like what is happening in lightening in
atmosphere.
The minimum safe distance to prevent this from happening is called a "limit of approach" and it is
determined by the range of voltage in the line, the experience of the worker, and the equipment being
used. And these distances apply not just to workers, but also to tools, machines, or other equipment.
If you will be working near sources of high-voltage electricity, you must be aware of and follow these limits
of approach.

Work Safe general limits

of approach
MINIMUM DISTANCE

If you don't know the

least 10 metres and wait for
representative to arrive and
approach

VO LTAGE PHASE TO PHASE

METRES
Over 750 V to 75 kV

Over 75 kV to 250 kV

4.5

Over 250 kV to 550 kV

voltage, stay back at

a BC Hydro
verify your limit of

Electrical Fire Safety

Electrical fires are different than regular fires. They can't be put out the same way and they are not
caused by the same things. They can't be put out with water. They do not start from a cigiratte landing on
some papers.
There are several ways that electric fires start. To prevent electrical fires, check the electric cords
throughout the house and make sure that the rubber insulation that is around the electric wires which are
inside the cord is not beat up. The cords need to be in good conditions or they could cause an electric
fire. If you find a cord in your home that is beat up or worn out, you need to get it replaced as soon as
possible.
You should never set anything such as flowers, cards, or any other kind of decoration on your TV. There
needs to be room for the air to circulate around your TV. As the TV works, it gets hot and the heat around
it needs room to circulate.

Which Firefighting Equipment Can Be Used on Electrical Fires?

The fire fighting equipment that can be used on electrical fires is powder fire extinguishers. However,
these extinguishers are not generally suitable for confined places, as they can affect visibility and people
with breathing problems. The code colour of powder fire extinguishers is blue. Electrical fires are fires
involving potentially energized electrical equipment. The US system designates these "Class C"; the
Australian system designates them "Class E". This sort of fire may be caused by short-circuiting
machinery or overloaded electrical cables. These fires can be a severe hazard to firefighters using water
or other conductive agents: Electricity may be conducted from the fire, through water, to the firefighter's
body, and then earth. Electrical shocks have caused many firefighter deaths.
Electrical fire may be fought in the same way as an ordinary combustible fire, but water, foam, and other
conductive agents are not to be used. While the fire is or possibly could be electrically energized, it can
be fought with any extinguishing agent rated for electrical fire. Carbon dioxide CO2, H
eptafluoropropane (HFC227) and dry chemical powder extinguishers such as Potassium bicarbonate and
even baking soda are especially suited to extinguishing this sort of fire. PKP should be a last resort
solution to extinguishing the fire due to its corrosive tendencies. Once electricity is shut off to the
equipment involved, it will generally become an ordinary combustible fire. In Europe "Electrical Fires" are
no longer a class of fire as electricity can not burn. The items around the electrical sources may burn. By
turning the electrical source off, the fire can be fought by one of the other class of fire extinguishers.

Exercise:
I) Put a tick mark to the correct option.
1. An earth wire is
a) Connected in live wire and for safety b) connected to the metal body and not for
safety purpose c) connected to metal body series with fuse wire and for safety d)
connected to the metal body and for safety purpose.
2. A fuse wire is
a) Connected to the appliance cover b) burnt on overload of current c) not for safety
purpose d) an insulator.
3. The fire extinguisher is used in electric fire:
a) Dry powder or water b) Dry powder or CO2 c) CO2 or foam c) Foam or water
4. The safest minimum distance from an unknown overhead power supply is
a) 5m b) 10 m c) 2 m d) 0.5 m
II) What do you mean by electric shock? How do you respond to such incidents?

III) How do you protect yourself from getting an electric shock?

References:
Safety & Prevention - Electrical Fire Safety/http://www.farnellfamily.com/ accessed Oct 2013
Electrical fire/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ accessed Oct 2013