WELCOME

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK Safety theme for September 2013

Compiled by M. Zahid Siddiqui

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Fundamentals of Electricity
Electrical current is the flow of electrons through a conductor. A conductor is a material that allows electrons to flow through it.

An insulator resists the flow of electrons.

Resistance opposes electron flow.

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Fundamentals of Electricity continued.
Circuits are AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current).
Current is usually AC. AC current has five parts: (1) Electrical source (2) HOT wire to the tool. (3) The tool itself (4) NEUTRAL wire returns electricity from the tool (5) GROUND Current Flows in a Loop or Circuit

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Fundamentals of Electricity continued.
Current travels in closed circuits through conductors (water, metal, the human body).
Shock occurs when the body becomes a part of the circuit. Current enters at one point & leaves at another.

How Shocks Occur

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Shocks Occur in Three Ways Contact with both conductors Contact with one conductor and ground With a tool: contact with hot metal part and ground (1), (2) & (3)

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Take Electricity Seriously

Electricity is the second leading cause of death in construction. Electrocutions make up 12% of construction fatalities annually. Over 30,000 non-fatal shocks occur each year. Over 600 deaths occur annually due to electrocution. It doesn't take a lot of electricity to kill you. The amount of current needed to light an ordinary 60-watt light bulb is five times what can kill a person. Thus, all electrical equipment on construction sites is potentially deadly.

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Take Electricity Seriously continued. Severity of the Shock depends on:
Amount of current Determined by voltage and resistance to flow Path through the body Duration of flow through the body Other factors such as general health and individual differences. LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT MEAN LOW HAZARD!

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L e a d i n g Causes of Electrical Accidents
Drilling and cutting through cables

Using defective tools, cables and equipment

Failure to maintain clearance distance of 10 feet Failure to de-energize circuits and follow Lock out/Tag out procedures Failure to guard live parts from accidental worker contact Unqualified employees working with electricity Improper installation/use of temporary electrical systems and equipment By-passing electrical protective devices

Not using GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupters) devices

Missing ground prongs on extension cords

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L e a d i n g Causes of Electrical Accidents
Use of Flexible Cords Are more vulnerable than fixed wiring. Should not be used if recognized wiring methods can be used instead. Flexible cords can be damaged by:
Aging Door or window edges Staples or fastenings Abrasion from adjacent materials Activities in the area

Improper use of flexible cords can cause shocks, burns or fire.

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L e a d i n g Causes of Electrical Accidents

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

L e a d i n g Causes of Electrical Accidents

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Meaning of Hazard
Hazard means: any potential or actual threat to the wellbeing of people, machinery or environment Electrical hazard safety means: taking precautions to identify and control electrical hazards

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Electrical Hazard Awareness
It is essential to know about it Because failing to take the necessary precautions can lead to:
injury or death fire or property damage Electrical hazards exist in almost every workplace. Common causes of electrocution are: making contact with overhead 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

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Electrical Hazard Awareness Difference between incident and emergency:
An incident is something that has already happened that may need attending too quickly, whereas an emergency is something that will need to have attention because it may make the situation less harmful

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

What should you do in an electrical emergency?
For low voltage electricity >50 V AC and 110 V DC remove the source of electricity supply commence CPR if trained call the emergency number on site For high voltage electricity >1000 V call the emergency number for your site dont go near the casualty dont touch the casualty or try to free them with anything

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Electrical Hazard Awareness Your respond to electrical incident
If you come across a person receiving an electric shock: if possible, disconnect the electrical supply (switch?) assess the situation never put yourself at risk take precautions to protect yourself and anyone else in the vicinity

apply the first aid principles (e.g. DRSABCD)

assess the injuries and move the casualty to a safe area if required administer first aid if trained seek urgent medical attention

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Electrical Hazard Awareness
You could be the victim if you: Dont follow proper procedures around electricity Use electrical equipment improperly Use faulty electrical equipment

Following are the types of injuries due to electric shock: Falls Electric shock; Electric burn; Fires of electrical origin; Electric arcing; Explosions initiated or caused by electricity.

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Effects of Current Flow Levels of effect of current on human body

More than 3 milliamps (mA): painful shock More than 10 mA: muscle contraction More than 20 mA: considered severe shock

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Effects of Current Flow Levels of effect of current on human body continued

More than 30 mA: lung paralysis - usually temporary More than 50 mA: possible ventricular fibrillation (usually fatal) 100 mA to 4 amps: certain ventricular fibrillation (fatal) Over 4 amps: heart paralysis; severe burns

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Effects of Current Flow continued.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Effects of Current Flow continued.

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Effects of Current Flow continued.

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

All electrical incidents must be reported
Electricity is invisible this in itself makes it dangerous It has great potential to seriously injure or kill The company has a duty of care to its employees and contractors

Everyone is exposed to electrical hazards, not just electricians

Report all electrical shocks and near misses

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Protect yourself and your colleagues from electricity Dont wear metal objects

Turn power off Wear appropriate clothing Dont touch live parts Dont install or repair electrical equipment Use qualified personnel Clean and dry leads and plugs before use Use PPE

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Some more safety measures
Heed warning signs Use the right equipment Study the operation manual Take care of extension leads Use only approved extension lamps Dont pull on leads Use residual current devices RCDs Use the proper fuses and circuit breakers

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Regular safety inspections
are a part of YOUR job...

Electrical equipment should be checked each time before use for defects
If not tagged or the tag is out of date then report it and place it out of service

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Controlling Electrical Hazards
Employers must follow the OSHA Electrical Standards (Subpart K) Electrical installation Subpart K includes four proactive methods: Electrical Isolation Equipment Grounding Circuit Interruption Safe Work Practices

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Power line to be approached safely
Up to and including to 33 kV 2.3 m when passing underneath and 3 m when passing to the side Above 33 kV 4 m when passing underneath and 6 m when passing to the side

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Controlling Electrical Hazards Circuit Protective Devices
Circuit Breakers and Fuses Only protect the building, equipment, and tools from heat buildup! Never depend on circuit breakers or fuses to prevent shocks! Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) It is one of the device which will protect the worker from shock and electrocution!

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Controlling Electrical Hazards Circuit Protective Devices

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Circuit Protective Devices
Residual Current Device (RCD):
An RCD is a safety device that disconnects a circuit when it detects an imbalance of the electric current. It works on the principle that the electricity flowing into a circuit must be equal to the current flowing out of a circuit. When a person receives a shock, it means some current is diverted through the body directly to earth.

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Circuit Protective Devices
Residual Current Device (RCD) continued.. If the RCD detects an imbalance in the electrical current, indicating a leakage to earth, it immediately cuts the electricity supply to prevent electrocution. An RCD cannot detect all types of faults, for example if a person receives a shock between the active and neutral conductors. However, these circumstances are rare and the vast majority of incidents occur between the active conductor and earth, which is protected by an RCD.
If a person comes in contact with a live electrical conductor, electricity flows through their body, causing an electric shock. Effects can vary from a tingling sensation or muscular pain to breathing difficulties, burns and heart failure.

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Circuit Protective Devices
Residual Current Device (RCD): continued.. RCDs are extremely sensitive, disconnecting within 10 to 50 milliseconds of detecting a leakage current. This is usually 30 milliamps for domestic residences but may be lower in other locations such as hospitals. This stops the flow of electricity through someones body to earth. Importantly, this response time is much faster than the critical section of the cardiac cycle and therefore significantly reduces the risk of death or serious injury. RCDs also protect against fire caused by faults in appliances, tools and wiring. If these faults go undetected they could cause a fire or personal injury. RCDs provide a means of early fault detection.

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Circuit Protective Devices
Residual Current Device (RCD): continued. RCDs are required to be fitted at the meter box (main switchboard) or distribution board for the residence. Various brands of RCDs are available; however they can all be identified by the test button located on the front of the device. If you press the test button, or the RCD has detected an imbalance, the on/off switch will jump to the off position. Residual-current device is a generic term covering both RCCBs and RCBOs

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Circuit Protective Devices

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

Power Line Corridor
MSI Regulation 5.28 defines a power line corridor as the area under any overhead power line that has not been properly isolated, and 10 metres either side of the power line. It is essential that these areas are respected. They are there for the safety of everyone Do not store equipment, machinery, buildings or structures in power line corridors Do not construct, fabricate or maintain structures, buildings, machinery or equipment in power line corridors

How do you respond to electrical incidents?

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK

First obtain permission to dig
Be aware of the potential hazard from buried electrical cables for the following activities:

excavation
drilling trenching levelling digging driving of stakes or pegs

Do not commence excavation work near buried cables unless a permit has been issued by an authorised person Do you know what precautionary measures need to be taken?

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The key messages are The risk of electric shock from correctly installed and maintained power sources is negligible, provided that sensible precautions are taken by the operator and correct work procedures are followed Ensure that the right person is carrying out electrical work licensed versus competent Electricity is essential but, improperly used, it can be DEADLY!

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK References

29 CFR 1926.400; Subpart K National Electric Code (NEC) AD EHSMS RF Version 2.0 February 2012 CoP 15.0 Electrical Safety

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End of the presentation