F

u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Basic
Basic Electrical
Electrical Safety
e

Safety
H
o
m

√ Course not designed to teach you

I
n

to work on electrical equipment.

s
p

e
c

√
t

You will not be qualified to work on

i
o

electrical equipment.
s

√ If you spot problems with electrical

equipment you should report it to
your supervisor.

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Objectives
l

Objectives
e
H
o
m

• Be familiar with the fundamental

e
I
n

concepts of electricity.
s
p

e
c
t

• Be familiar with the effects of electricity

i
o

n
s

on the human body.

• Be able to recognize common electrical
hazards.

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Objectives
Objectives
l
e
H
o
m

e
I

• Be familiar with electrical protective

n
s
p

devices.
e
c
t

i
o

n
s

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Fundamentals of Electrical
l
e
H

Hazards
o
m

•
I

To flow electricity must have a

n
s
p

complete path.
e
c
t

•
i

Electricity flows through conductors

o

n
s

– water, metal, the human body

• Insulators are non-conductors
• The human body is a conductor.

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Fundamentals of Electrical
l
e
H

Hazards
o
m

e
I
n
s
p

Have You Ever Been Shocked?

e
c
t

i
o

n
s

THE BASICS
Basic Electrical Safety
F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Fundamentals of Electrical Hazards

l
e
H
o

√ More than 3 ma
m

painful shock
I
n

√ More than 10 ma
s
p

muscle contraction “no-let-go” danger

e
c

√ More than 30 ma
t

i
o

lung paralysis- usually temporary

s

√ More than 50 ma
possible ventricular fib. (heart dysfunction, usually fatal)
√ 100 ma to 4 amps
certain ventricular fibrillation, fatal
√ Over 4 amps
heart paralysis; severe burns. Usually caused by >600 volts
Basic Electrical Safety
F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Fundamentals of Electrical Hazards

l
e
H
o

• Hazards of Electricity
m

– Electrocution/Shock/Burns/Death
I
n
s
p

• Minimum distance from overhead lines 10

e
c

ft.
t

i
o

• Inspect all electrical tools and equipment

s

Frayed, cut, broken wires

grounding prong missing
Improper use of cube taps
improperly applied or missing strain relief
Basic Electrical Safety
F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Electrical
Electrical Protection
Protection
l
e
H
o

•
m

Circuit Breakers
e

– Provided to protect EQUIPMENT not people

I
n

– Do not reset breakers with a line voltage higher than 120V

s
p

and only reset if you know why it tripped

e
c
t

i
o

• GFCI’s
s

- Provided to protect people

- Trip range 4-6ma
- Monthly test

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Electrical
Electrical Protection
Protection
l
e
H
o
m

• Distance
e
I
n

– If you sense the presence of an

s
p

electrical hazard or exposed conductors

c
t

i
o

that may be energized, keep your

n
s

distance and STAY AWAY

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Terminology
e
H
o
m

e
I
n
s
p

e
c
t

i
o

n
s

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

l
e

Electrical Grounding
H
o
m

e
I
n
s
p

e
c
t

i
o

n
s

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

l
e
H
o
m

e
I
n
s
p

e
c
t

i
o

n
s

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

l
e
H
o
m

e
I
n
s
p

e
c
t

i
o

n
s

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

l
e
H
o
m

e
I
n
s
p

e
c
t

i
o

n
s

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

l
e
H
o
m

e
I
n
s
p

e
c
t

i
o

n
s

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Fundamentals of Electrical
l
e
H

Hazards
o
m

•
I

Voltage
n
s
p

– electrical pressure (water pressure)

e
c
t

•
i

Amperage
o

n
s

– electrical flow rate (gallons/min)

• Impedance
– restriction to electrical flow (pipe friction)

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Fundamentals of
l
e
H

Electrical Hazards
o
m

• Circuit
I
n
s
p

– path of flow of electricity

e
c
t

• Circuit Element
i
o

n
s

– objects which are part of a circuit and

through which current flows.
• Fault
– current flow through an unintended path.
Basic Electrical Safety
F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Fundamentals of Electrical
l
e
H

Hazards
o
m

• What is Grounding?
I
n
s

– Protection from electric shock

p

e
c
t

• normally a secondary protection measure

i
o

• A ground is a conductive connection

s

– between electrical circuit or equipment and

earth or ground plane
– creates a low resistance to the earth.

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Basic
Basic Rules
Rules of
of Electrical
Electrical Action
e

Action
H
o
m

e
I
n

• Electricity isn’t live until current flows

s
p

e
c
t

i
o

• Electrical current won’t flow until there is

s

a complete loop, out from and back to

the power source.

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

l
e

Preventing
Preventing Accidental
Accidental Electrical
Electrical Contact
Contact
H
o
m

Electrocution Prevention
I
n
s
p

e
c

y
t

ay
icit
i
o

Pa

Gr
n

Aw
ctr
s

th

ou
Ele

ep

nd
Ke

Time
GFCI
Basic Electrical Safety
F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

l
e

Do’s
Do’s and
and Don'ts
Don'ts
H
o
m

• Do plug power equipment into wall

I
n

receptacles with power switches in the Off

s
p

position.
c
t

•
o

Do unplug electrical equipment by grasping

n
s

the plug and pulling. Do not pull or jerk the

cord to unplug the equipment.
• Do not drape power cords over hot pipes,
radiators or sharp objects.

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Do’s
Do’s and
and Don'ts
e

Don'ts
H
o
m

e
I

•
n

Do check the receptacle for missing or

s
p

damaged parts.
c
t

i
o

• Do not plug equipment into defective

n
s

receptacles.
• Do check for frayed, cracked, or
exposed wiring on equipment cords.

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

l
e

Do’s
Do’s and
and Don'ts
Don'ts
H
o
m

• Do check for defective cords clamps at

e
I
n

locations where the power cord enters

s
p

the equipment or the attachment plug.

c
t

i
o

n
s

• Extension cords should not be used in

office areas. Generally, extension cords
should be limited to use by maintenance
personnel
Basic Electrical Safety
F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

l
e

Do’s
Do’s and
and Don'ts
Don'ts
H
o
m

e
I
n

• “Cheater plugs”, extension cords with

s
p

junction box receptacle ends or other

c
t

i
o

jury-rigged equipment should not be

n
s

used.

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

l
e

Do’s
Do’s and
and Don'ts
Don'ts
H
o
m

e
I
n

•
s

Consumer electrical equipment or

p

e
c

appliances should not be used if not

t

i
o

properly grounded. (Look for the UL

s

Label)

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

l
e

Do’s
Do’s and
and Don'ts
Don'ts
H
o
m

e
I
n

•
s

Employees should know the location of

p

e
c

electrical circuit breaker panels that

t

i
o

control equipment and lighting in their

s

respective areas. Circuits and

equipment disconnects must be
identified

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Do’s
Do’s and
and Don'ts
l

Don'ts
e
H
o
m

• Temporary or permanent storage of any

e
I
n

materials must not be allowed within 3

s
p

feet of any electrical panel or electrical

c
t

i
o

equipment.
n
s

• Any electrical equipment causing

shocks or with high leakage potential
must be tagged with a Danger tag or
equivalent.
Basic Electrical Safety
F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Myths
Myths and
and Misconceptions
l

Misconceptions
e
H
o
m

• Electricity takes the path of least

I
n
s

resistance.
p

e
c
t

i
o

•
s

Electricity wants to go to ground.

• If an electric tools falls into a sink or tub

of water, the item will short out.
Basic Electrical Safety
F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

Myths
Myths and
and Misconceptions
e

Misconceptions
H
o
m

e
I

• AC reverse polarity is not hazardous.

n
s
p

•
e

It takes high voltage to kill; 120 volts is

c
t

i
o

not dangerous.
n
s

• Double insulated power tools are doubly

safe and can be used in wet and damp
locations.

Basic Electrical Safety

F
u
l

Electrical
C
i
r

Safety
c

l
e
H
o
m

e
I
n
s
p

e
c
t

i
o

n
s

Basic Electrical Safety