ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS DO NOT HAPPEN, THEY ARE CAUSED

PRASENJIT NATH SR MANAGER EED/PD ASP The modern trend in electrical safety is toward more and more individual responsibility as employees are being held increasingly responsible for their actions. For individuals to successfully fulfill their responsibilities, they must be aware of the safety rules that apply to their performance. This means that company safety rules, national and international standards, local & state laws must be part of an employees knowledge base. Daily fire occurs due to electrical problems like defective electrical devices, circuit overloading, circuit overheating, explosions ignited by electrical spark. Electricity is one of the most common causes of fire in the world. Also electrical power being such an everyday requirement in modern life, almost everyone should get accustomed to the safe practices of using electrical power. As electric current flows through a conducting material, opposition to that flow of electrons (resistance) results in a dissipation of energy, usually in the form of heat. This is the most basic & easy way to understand the effect of electricity on living tissue, as current makes it hot. If the quantity of heat generated is appreciable, the tissue may get burnt. The effect is physiologically the same as the damage caused by an open flame or other high temperature source of heat, except that the electricity has the ability to burn the tissue well beneath the skin of a victim, even burning the internal organs.

ELECTRICITY HOW IT WORKS?

Electricity is the flow of energy from one place to another. It requires a source of power, usually a generating station. A flow of electrons (current) travels through a conductor in closed circuit.

WHAT KINDS OF INJURIES RESULT FROM ELECTRICAL CURRENTS?

People are injured when they become part of the electrical circuit. Humans are more conductive than the earth (the ground we stand on) which means if there is no other easy path, electricity will try to flow through our bodies. There are four main types of injuries: electrocution (fatal), electric shock, burns, and falls. These injuries can happen in various ways: An electric 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 or Touching the metal parts of electrical tools and machines which have a break in the insulation of the tool or machine wiring.

Arc flashes result in intense heat (causing burns), intense light (can cause blindness), or ignition of other materials. Arc blasts cause the same conditions as an arc flash, but are more intense and can also include a strong pressure wave. These pressure waves can damage machinery, throw a person, collapse a lung or rupture ear drums. Thermal burns including flash burns from heat generated by an electric arc, and flame burns from materials that catch on fire from heating or ignition by electrical currents. High voltage contact burns can burn internal tissues while leaving only very small injuries on the outside of the skin. Muscle contractions, or a startle reaction, can cause a person to fall from a ladder, scaffold or aerial bucket. The fall can cause serious injuries.

SHOCK SEVERITY
Severity of shock depends on:

Path of current flowing through the body Amount of current flowing through the body Duration of the shocking current through the body. Other factors may affect the severity of the shock

-The voltage of the current. - The presence of moisture. - The general health of the person prior to the shock. Low voltages can be extremely dangerous because, all other factors being equal, the degree of injury increases, longer the body is in contact with the circuit.

RESISTANCE OF THE BODY:

The resistance of the body varies based on: The amount of moisture on the skin (less moisture = more resistance) The size of the area of contact (smaller area = more resistance) The pressure applied to the contact point (less pressure = more resistance) Muscular structure (less muscle = less resistance)

DANGERS OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK:

# Currents above 10 milliamp can paralyze or freeze muscles.

# Currents more than 75 milliamp can cause a rapid ineffective heart beat even death will occur in a few minutes unless a defibrillator is used. ELECTRICAL SHOCK DYNAMICS: Current 3+miliAmp 10+miliAmp 30+miliAmp 50+miliAmp 100+miliAmp 200+miliAmp 1500+miliAmp Shock Muscular contraction Respiratory paralysis Heart paralysis ( can be fatal) Ventricular fibrillation ( usually fatal) Heart clamps tight Tissue and organs burn Effect

ELECTRICAL SHOCKS, FIRES, OR FALLS RESULT FROM THESE HAZARDS:

Exposed electrical parts Overhead power lines Inadequate wiring Defective insulation Improper grounding Overloaded circuits Wet conditions Damaged tools and equipment Improper PPE

HAZARD OF OVERHEAD POWER LINES:

Overhead lines are not usually insulated. Examples of equipment that can contact power lines are crane, ladder, scaffold, backhoe, scissors lift, raised dump truck bed.

CONTROL HAZARDS OF OVERHEAD POWER LINES:

-- Look for overhead power lines and buried power line indicators. warning signs. -- Stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines. -- Unless you know otherwise, assume that overhead lines are energized. Post

-- Get the owner or operator of the lines to de-energize and ground lines when working near them. -- Other protective measures include guarding or insulating the lines. -- Use non-conductive wood or fiberglass ladders when working near power lines. -- Power line workers need special training and PPE (personal protection equipment).

HAZARD INADEQUATE WIRING:

An electrical hazard exists when the wire is too small a gauge for the current it will carry. Normally, the circuit breaker in a circuit is matched to the wire size.

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 overheating and a possible fire without tripping the circuit breaker
The circuit breaker could be the right size for the circuit but not

for the smaller-wire extension cord.

CONTROL USE OF 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.

HAZARD OF DAMAGED CORDS:

Extension cords may have damaged insulation. Sometimes the insulation inside an electrical tool or appliance is damaged. When insulation is damaged, exposed metal parts may become energized if a live wire inside touches them. Electric hand tools that are old, damaged, or misused may have damaged insulation inside. If you touch damaged power tools or other

equipment, you will receive a shock. You are more likely to receive a shock if the tool is not grounded or double-insulated. Cords can be damaged by Aging Door or window edges Staples or fastening Abrasion from adjacent materials Activity in the area

CONTROL CORDS AND WIRES:

Insulate live wires 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 extra-hard use, or which have been modified, must be taken out of service immediately.

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.

HAZARD IMPROPER GROUDING:

The metal parts of an electrical wiring system that we touch (switch plates, ceiling light fixtures, conduit, etc.) should be grounded and at 0 volts. If the system is not grounded properly, these parts may become energized. Metal parts of motors, appliances, or electronics that are plugged into improperly grounded circuits may be energized. When a circuit is not grounded properly, a hazard exists because unwanted voltage cannot be

safely eliminated. If there is no safe path to ground for fault currents, exposed metal parts in damaged appliances can become energized.

CONTROL GROUND TOOLS AND EQUIPMENTS:

Ground power supply systems, electrical circuits, and electrical equipment Frequently inspect electrical systems to ensure 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.

HAZARD OVERLOAD CIRCUITS:

Hazards may result from:

Too many devices plugged into a circuit, causing heated possibly a fire Damaged tools overheating Lack of over current protection

wires and

Wire insulation melting, which may cause arcing and a fire in the area where the overload exists, even inside a wall.

CONTROL ELECTRICAL PROTECTIVE DEVICES:

To prevent too much current in a circuit, a circuit breaker or fuse is placed in the circuit. If there is too much current in the circuit, the breaker trips and opens like a switch. If an overloaded circuit is equipped with a fuse, an internal part of the fuse melts, opening the circuit. Both breakers and fuses do the same thing: open the circuit to shut off the electrical current. The basic idea of an over current device is to make a weak link in the circuit. In the case of a fuse, the fuse is destroyed before another part of the system is destroyed. In the case of a circuit breaker, a set of

contacts opens the circuit. Unlike a fuse, a circuit breaker can be re-used by re-closing the contacts. Fuses and circuit breakers are designed to protect equipment and facilities, and in so doing, they also provide considerable protection against shock in most situations. However, the only electrical protective device whose sole purpose is to protect people is the groundfault circuit-interrupter.

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.

CLUES THAT ELECTRICAL HAZARD EXISTS:

Tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses indicate too much current flown in the circuit Warm tools, wires, cords, connections, or junction boxes indicate too much current in the circuit GFCI that shuts off a circuit indicates there is current leakage from the circuit Worn or frayed insulation around wire or connection indicates an insulation damage of the conductor or wire.

HAZARDS AND CONTROL OF BATTERY BANKS:

Batteries present special hazards in the work place. They may contain an acid or an alkaline substance in the electrolyte. If you get electrolyte on you, rinse with water for 15 minutes then get medical help. Failure to do this may lead to severe burns or blindness. Most batteries give off explosive gasses when charged. Make sure adequate ventilation is available. Dont cause sparks or flames in the vicinity of batteries. A catastrophic explosion may occur. Batteries can store significant amounts of electrical energy. Do not use conductive equipment/tools around batteries. If you cause an ARC, you can be severely injured. Remember, there is no off switch on a battery!

AVOID WET CONDITION:

Improperly grounded metal switch plates and ceiling lights are especially hazardous in wet conditions. If you touch a live electrical component with an uninsulated hand tool, you are more likely to receive a shock when standing in water. But remember: you dont have to be standing in water to be electrocuted. Wet clothing, high humidity, and perspiration also increase your chances of being electrocuted. Use extra caution when working with electricity when water is present in the environment or on the skin. Pure water is a poor conductor, but small amounts of impurities, like salt and acid (both are in perspiration), make it a ready conductor.

FIRST AID FOR ELECTRICAL SHOCK VICTIM:

The most common symptom of electrical shock is physical shock. Signs of physical shock include: Cold and clammy skin Pale face Chilled feeling or patient is physically shaking

Nausea or vomiting Shallow breathing

Approved treatment for physically shocked patients Keep patient lying down Keep airway open Elevate patients legs if no bones are broken Keep patient warm if conditions are cool or dump Give fluids if patient is able to swallow Never give alcohol to patient Reassure the patient

SAFE WORKING PROCEDURE IN HT/LT EQUIPMENTS:

Simplified shut down procedure to be followed and voltage level to be marked for proper identification of HT/LT equipment Issuing work permit before starting any maintenance or breakdown job Strictly to follow lock out / tag out procedure Discharge equipment before starting any job Good housekeeping to be ensured No bypass of safety switches Using double insulated tools Updating of drawing require for any modification Adherence to SMP and SOP Provision of insulation in all exposed bus bars inside panel Fire detection system to be installed in transformer rooms and cable tunnels

Display of unsafe practices followed by individuals with visual aids to be shown during safety meetings Proper testing tools and calibration ensured with validity certificates of measuring instruments to be

Imparting safety talks to the group before start up the job Using of PPE (personal protection equipment) to be ensured Training require of artificial respiratory system of every individual. Working of protection system (relay) in HT/LT lines to be ensured

IMPROVEMENT TIPS:

Use series test lamps, double insulated screw driver, pliers etc. Banning use of line testers and instruments without proper insulation Introduction of ground fault circuit interrupter or earth leakage circuit breaker Ensuring use of PPEs and insulated gloves Replacement of over-aged equipment Arranging fire protection system in electrical installations Certification of instruments require for Megger, Multimeter, tong tester, hand gloves, discharge rods and Earthing rods etc.. Replacement of fuse isolators by MCCB/FFB Regular inspection of cable tunnels, transformer installations, switchgears etc. Condition of equipment can be done by infrared thermometer and thermo-vision camera System of safety and know-how training to be adopted Training of artificial respiratory system by professional experts and display of resuscitation chart.

Therefore, the safety against electrical hazards is as important as its application. A number of Electrical safety codes/operation directives are written/ displayed at most of the places and also Govt. has made a number of legislations/rules/statutory requirements; it is very unfortunate that still electrical fatal/serious accidents do occur till today. Hence what is to impress upon is its actual implementation in work in day to day applications is of most significance. In spite of everything available why and how electrical accidents do occur and where should we give more stress? Any knowledge of rules or instructions, unless it is put in use effectively carries no meaning.