ELECTRICAL SAFETY
AWARENESS
OBJECTIVE:
To provide information for the control of electrical hazards
so as to reduce incidences of undesired accidents & unexpected
fires due to electrical causes.
The OSHA has devoted an entire section (Rule 1210) which specify
standards on ELECTRICAL SAFETY.
The employer must train employees in safe work practices in working
with electrical equipment.
The training rules distinguish between workers who work on or near exposed
energized parts and those who do not.
Even if you are not qualified to work on electrically energized equipment, you must
know the specific safety practices which apply to your job.
Electricity is energy looking for some place to go. When it finds the
path of least resistance, whether it’s a light bulb, motor, or a human
being, it is going to take that path. Until a circuit is completed,
electricity is in the form of potential energy, an energy waiting to be
used.
To understand the hazards of electricity, it is not necessary to know
precisely what it is, even though such knowledge might be helpful and
desirable. What is more important in handling electricity is to
understand the characteristics of electricity.
To handle electricity safely, including working with electrical equipment, you
need to understand how electricity acts, how it can be
approached, the hazards it presents, and how those hazards
can be controlled.
Basically, there are two (2) kinds of electricity:
STATIC (stationary)
DYNAMIC (moving)
Three basic terms are defined using the analogy that
electricity flowing through a circuit can be likened
to the flow of water through a pipe, and if this analogy
is kept in mind, these terms are not troublesome. These terms
are:
CURRENT (I)
VOLTAGE (V or E)
RESISTANCE (R)
CURRENT may be thought of as the total VOLUME of water
flowing past a certain point in a given length of time. Electric current is
measured in amperes, which is a very large quantity; therefore, in
relation to the effect of shock on the human body, the
measurement used is the MILLIAMPERE (0.001 ampere).
VOLTAGE may be thought of as the PRESSURE in a pipeline: it is
measured in volts.
RESISTANCE is any condition which RETARDS flow; it is measured
in ohms.
LOW VOLTAGE is 24 to 600 volts, and “safety” low voltage
refers to voltages below 24 volts.
OHM’S LAW
V (voltage)
I (current) = -----------------------
R (resistance)
SHOCK EXPLOSIONS
BURNS FIRES
ARC BLAST
Exit Wound
Entrance Wound
No sensation.
A slight tingling sensation.
Shock.
Painful shock.
Loss of muscle control can cause victim to
lock on to the source.
Severe injuries and possible death.
The amount of CURRENT that flows through the body and the
path that the current takes from entry to exit the body.
In general, the longer the current flows through the body, the
more serious may be the result. Considerable current is
likely to flow from high-voltage sources, and in general only
very short exposure can be tolerated if the victim
is to be revived.
Most Metals 10 to 50 Ohms
Dry Wood 100,000,000 Ohms
Wet Wood 1,000 Ohms
Rubber 100,000,000,000,000 Ohms
Human Resistance
Human Body (dry skin ) 100,000 to 600,000 Ohms
Human Body (wet skin) 1,000 Ohms
Internal Body – hand to foot 400 to 600 Ohms
Internal Body – ear to ear (about) 100 Ohms
1)
5) Defective appliances,
Using unapproved equipment
electrical and tools
equipment appliances
2)
6) Defective wiring installation
Failure to ground equipment
3) Personal factor (“Do-it-yourself” conditions)
7) No proper rated protective device
4) Lack of maintenance of equipment
8) Overloading of circuits
Conformance to requirements of NEC on:
Grounding provisions
Insulation requirements
Enclosure requirements
Electrical circuit protection (use of standard fuses or circuit breakers)
Strict conformance to Lockout/Tag-out (LO/TO) System
Implementation of Preventive Maintenance of Electrical Installations
Understand the basics:
How current flows through a circuit (the
greater the current the greater the danger).
Which materials are conductors and which are
insulators.
When working around electrical equipment:
NEVER make repairs, unless the power is off and
unplugged from the circuit.
NEVER use equipment or appliances with frayed
cords.
NEVER operate, repair, submerge or work with
equipment in or around water.
A material having many free electrons
that can move easily.
Metals (especially copper) are good
conductors.
A copper wire will allow billions of
electrons to flow in the same direction to
create a great source of electrical current.
A material having few free electrons
that cannot move easily.
Rubber, dry wood, porcelain, and clay are
good insulators.
Insulators prevent electricity from flowing
where it should not flow and control the flow
of electricity in order to prevent accidents.
Do not guess – every line Make temporary wirings safe.
should be assumed Observe NEC during
energized. installation.
Use right instruments to Only qualified electricians
test. should be allowed to work on
Inspect regularly. electrical jobs.
Use appropriate PPE, fuse Never use metallic ladders
tongs & insulated tools. when working on electricity.
Use Lockout/Tag-out (LO/TO) Never bridge a fuse with
System. wire.
Never work alone on Always have a high respect
electrical lines. for electricity.
Cut off electrical source immediately.
Break connection between the victim and the power
source, or remove the victim from the current source
without endangering yourself.
As soon as you can touch the victim safely, apply
artificial respiration (CPR) immediately.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
END OF SLIDE
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