Unit : 14 Electrical Hazards and safety Precaution

Most common electrical hazards are listed below :

1. Overloaded Circuits
2. Defective Insulation
3. Improper grounding
4. Damaged power tools
5. Overhead power lines
6. Wet condition
Safety Precaution
1. Power Cord should be of High quality
2. Install power strips in such location where air passage should be at best to scatter heat because too
much heat may cause short circuits in wiring that’s why this is suggested to keep away from the heating
area.
3. High voltage appliances should not be plugged into one outlet.
4. Electrical wires used shouldn’t be cracked or damaged so check electrical cords Should be checked
once in a month.
5. Unused electrical items need to be unplugged until for further use. Because it will increase the
electricity consumption
6. Choose Licensed Electrician.
7. Electrical joints should be minimized.
8. Use M.C.B for overload and short circuit protection at mains and at power point.
9. Never touch any electrical appliance with wet hand and never touch any electrician working on
Electrical installation.
10. All Metallic part should be properly earthed.
11. All transformer should be Earthed at four corners.
12. Always use proper rating of Fuses.
13. Always use insulating wires and insulating tapes and also use proper tools.
14. There should be "No Smoking" Zone near transformer oil, Diesel and electrical Equipment.
15. There should not be water dripping near cables / Panel boards.
16. Sand buckets and fire Extinguishers should be placed near electrical panels.
17. Never use two different wire of different rating ie thickness.
First Aid for Electric Shock Victims
1. Don’t touch them!
2. Unplug the appliance or turn off the power at the control panel.
3. If you can’t turn off the power, use a piece of wood, like a broom handle, dry rope or dry clothing, to
separate the victim from the power source.
4. Do not try to move a victim touching a high voltage wire. Call for emergency help.
5. Keep the victim lying down. Unconscious victims should be placed on their side to allow drainage
of fluids. Do not move the victim if there is a suspicion of neck or spine injuries unless absolutely
necessary.
Unit : 14 Electrical Hazards and safety Precaution

6. If the victim is not breathing, apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If the victim has no pulse, begin
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Then cover the victim with a blanket to maintain body heat, keep
the victim’s head low and get medical attention.
Electrical Protective Device
A device used to protect equipment, machinery, components and devices, in electrical and electronic
circuit, against short circuit, over current and earth fault, is called as protective devices.
Necessity of Protective Devices 
Protective devices are necessary to protect electrical appliance or equipment against
a)Short Circuit
b)Abnormal variations in the supply voltage
c)Overloading of equipment
d)To protect operator against accidental contact with the faulty equipment, falling which the operator
may get a severe shock.
Types of Protective Device 
Different types of the protective device that are commonly used in electrical and electronic circuit
1. Fuse Wire or Fuse 3.MCB – Miniature circuit breaker
2.Earthing or Grounding
1. Fuse
Fuse generally means a fuse wire, placed in a fuse holder. It is a safety device, which protects electrical
and electronic circuit against over loads, short circuit and earth faults.
The fuse link or fuse wire is made of low resistivity material and low melting point.
Operation of a Fuse –
Fuse is a short length of wire designated to melt and separate in case of excessive current.
The fuse is connected in the phase of the supply.
It is always connected in series with the circuit / components that need to be protected.
When the current drawn by the circuit exceeds the rated current of the fuse wire,the fuse wire melts
and breaks.This disconnects the supply from the circuit and thus protects the circuit and the
components in the circuit.
2.EARTHING OR GROUNDING
Connecting the metal body of an electrical appliance, machinery or an electrical installation to earth,
through a low resistance wire, is called Earthing or Grounding.
Necessity of Earthing 
Earthing is necessary for all domestic, commercial and industrial installation to safeguard the operator,
tall buildings and machinery against lightning.
Metal body of all the electrical appliances, equipment and machinery, the earth points of all three-pin
sockets and the body of the energy meter are connected to earth through a thick G.I. wire.
Whenever a live wire comes in contact with the body of the appliance, it is directly connected to earth
the grounding wire and hence the body voltage comes to zero.Therefor the operator does not get any
shock, when he comes in contact with body of the appliance.
The high voltage included during lightning  is discharged to earth through grounding wire and thereby
building and machinery are protected.
 
Unit : 14 Electrical Hazards and safety Precaution