Monthly Safety Day

HS&E Department

TOPIC: HAZARDS OF WORKING WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Agenda

 Electrical Accident – Statistics

 Classification of Exposure
 Electrical Hazards
 Electrical Hazard Control

Electrical Accidents – Statistics

 25% of all fires occur due to electricity (NFPA)

 411 deaths from job related electrical accidents per year (NIOSH)
 Electrocution – the fifth leading cause of death (1982 – 1990) NIOSH
 About 12 deaths due to electrocution NCRB, (India)
 42% of total fires occur due to electrical sources (source – OISD)
 8% death that occur in Indian factories are due to electricity

Why electrical protection is Compulsory?

 Electrical current which is used in our home, workplace and in institutes has so much
power that they can lead to death of us. Even to change a simple Bulb may also be
dangerous if we came in contact with energies wire.

Which facts we required to know about electrical power?

 There is possibility of danger to human in every electrical devices/systems.

 Generally electrical power is either static or dynamic.
 The electrical power which we get in our home, workplaces and in institutes are
dynamic.
 Static electrical power is generated due to accumulation of charge and also by the
friction between two bodies.

Classification of Exposure

High Voltage >3.3 KV : typically associated with “outdoor” electrical transmission.

Accounts for 60% of electrocutions (OSHA).

Medium voltage (3.3 KV>Medium voltage>415).

Low Voltage <415 volts: typically associated with “indoor” electrical service.
Accounts for 32% of electrocution (OSHA). Low voltage does not imply safe voltage.

Electric near misses & Accidents – Major Causes

 Working on live equipments w / o authorization or PPE

 Wiring mistakes coupled with failure of safe-energy conditions.
 Leaving unsafe conditions.
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HS&E Department

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

Electrical Hazards

 Electrocution
 Electrical shock
 Arch Flash

Electrical Hazards – (Electrical Shock)

 Shock occurs when current passes through the body.

 Severity of the shock depends on:
o Path of current
o Amount and type of current
o Duration of exposure
 Electrocution is a fatal electrical injury.

Electrical Hazards – Conductor Vs. Resistor

 All materials exhibit some resistance to electrical current.

 Materials with low resistance are called conductors (ex. Copper, aluminum, gold, water).
 Materials with high resistance are called resistors (ex, rubber, glass, air, most plastics).
 Electricity wants to find the path of least resistance to the ground.
 Human tissues and body fluids are relatively good conductors because of high water
content.
 So if a person touches an energized bare wire or faulty equipment while grounded,
electricity will instantly pass through the body to the ground, causing a harmful,
potentially fatal, shock.

Electrical Hazards – Grounding / Earthing

 Grounding is a method or protecting employees from electric shock.

 By grounding an electrical system, a low-resistance path to earth through a ground
connection is intentionally created.
 This path offers low resistance and has sufficient current-carrying capacity to prevent the
build-up of hazardous voltages.
 A three pronged cord offers a grounding connection.
 Most electrical equipment is designed with a earthing system.
 Earth all equipment with metallic body.
 Double & Single earthing
 Carry out earthing tests annually as per NFPA 70
 Take action on high earthing values
 Identify all earth pits, maintain a Earth Pit Lay out.
 In any case, never remove the third (grounding) prong from any three-prong piece of
equipment.

Electrical Hazards – The “Ground fault” accidents

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HS&E Department

 A ground fault accident occurs when a person touches or grasps an electrically

energized object while the feet or other body parts are in contact with the ground or a
grounded surface.
 In some cases a ground fault accident occurs when the opposite hand touches the
ground or a grounded object.

The Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCBs) /

 ELCBs reduce the likelihood of fatal shocks

 Detect small amount of leakage current and automatically switch off the power
 Fuses and circuit breakers protect equipment, not people.
 Use the right sensitivity ELCBs (30, 100, 300 mA)

Electrical Hazards – Static Electricity

 Created when materials rub together

 Can cause shocks or even minor skin burns.
 Can damage sensitive electronic equipment.
 Reduced or prevented by:
o Proper grounding
o Anti-Static rubber matting
o Bonding & earthing of equipment, pipelines

Arch Flashover

 Most common nonfatal electrical injury.

 Types:
o Internal: “deep tissue”.
o Skin: “entry” and “exit” points.
o Arc: “flash” burns from heat and radiant energy.
 Circuits may produce electrical burns with relatively massive amounts of tissue
destruction by heating the tissues.

Electrical Hazards

 When electricity flows through a wire, the wire heats up because of its resistance to the
flow of electrical current.
 Both the size of the wire and how many electrical devices on the circuit are drawing
electricity affect the amount of heat generated in the wire.
 This is why electrical fuses or circuit breakers are used in the main electrical panel. Their
function is to sense the overloading of circuits (and short circuits) and shut off power to
that branch circuit before the wires get too hot and start a fire.
 Each circuit must be protected by a fuse or circuit breaker that will blow or “trip” when its
safe carrying capacity is surpassed.
 If a fuse blows or circuit breaker trips repeatedly while in normal use (not overloaded),
check for shorts and other faults in the line or devices.
 Do not resume use until the trouble is fixed.
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HS&E Department

 It is hazardous to overload electrical circuits by using extension cords and multi-plug

outlets.
 Use extension cords only when necessary and make sure they are heavy enough for the
job.
 It is necessary to use ELCB in circuit.
 Keep the total load at any one time safely below maximum capacity.
 When using a high wattage device such as heater, iron or power tool, turn off all
unnecessary lights and devices. Try to connect into a circuit with little electrical power
demand.
 Property damage is a primary event resulting from fire.
 Injuries and fatalities may result from fire (secondary events).

Electrical Hazards – Control

 Extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis in situations where fixed
wiring is not feasible.
 DO NOT use extension cords as permanent wiring. They may not be able to carry the
load.
 However, if it is necessary to use an extension cord, never run it across walkways or
aisles.
 If wires are exposed, they may cause a shock to a worker comes into contact with them.
 Cords should not be hung on nails, run over or wrapped around objects, knotted or
twisted. This may break the wire or insulation.
 Short circuits are usually caused by bare wires touching due to breakdown of insulation.
 Use ISI mark tube at the place of insulation breakage.
 Electrical tape or any other kind of tape is not adequate.
 Cords in areas of water or other conductive liquid must be approved for those locations.
 When the outer jacket of a cord is damaged, the cord may not longer be water-resistant.
 The insulation can absorb moisture, which may then result in a short circuit or excessive
current leakage to the ground.
 Electric cords should be examined on a routine basis for fraying and exposed wiring.
 Electrical cords should be examined visually before use for external defects such as:
o fraying and exposed wiring
o loose parts
o deformed or missing parts
o damage to outer jacket or insulation
o evidence of internal damage such as pinched or crushed outer jacket
 If any defects are found the electric cords should be removed from service immediately.
 Pull the plug not the cord. Pulling the cord could break a wire, causing a short circuit.
 Plug your microwave or any other large appliances into an outlet that is not shared with
other appliances.
 Do not tamper with fuses as this is a potential fire hazard.
 Do not overload circuits as this may cause the wires to heat and ignite insulation or other
combustibles.
 Keep office equipment properly cleaned and maintained.
 Ensure lamps are free from contact with flammable materials.
 Always use lights bulbs with the recommended wattage for your lamp and ceiling
fixtures.
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HS&E Department

 Be aware of the odor of burning plastic or wire.

 Always follow the manufacturer recommendations when using or installing new office
equipment.
 Wiring installations should always be made by a licensed electrician or other qualified
person.
 All electrical appliances should have the label of a testing laboratory.
 Use Linear Heat Sensing cables in cable cellars along with smoke detectors.
 Consider all major electrical fires in EMP
 Install master control switches outside all stores.
 Maintain PFEs (Portable Fire Extinguishers) for electrical rooms.
 Consider local flooding systems for critical panels/switchgear panels.

Fire Hazards – Case Study

 An electrician received a shock while trying to replace a tube light ballast in live power
condition.
 He touched a live conductor. He was not wearing rubber gloves. Current entered his
right hand through his little finger and exited through his left hand.
 Post Accident Correction:
o Working on live circuits not permitted
o LOTO (lock out/tag out)to be strictly enforced.

Fire Hazards – Equipment Operators

 Never tamper with electrical interlocks.

 Do not repair electrical components of your machine.
 Properly shut off machinery before operation.
 Obey warning signs and follow safe procedures.
 Follow PTW procedures strictly.

Electrical Safety Related Information

 Indian Electricity Rule, 1956 (2000 rev.):

o (MOP, CEA web site, http://powermin.nic.in)
 Lightning protection risk assessment: www.furse.com
 National Electrical Safety Foundation: www.nesf.org
 Free safety Power Point Presentations: http://siri.org/
 Electrical Accidents: http://www.safteng.net:
 IEEE IAS ES WS – Delhi Dec. 2004

Electrical Hazards – Standards & Codes

 NFPA 70 E & B-E-Safety & Maintenance

 NFPA 780 – Lightning Protection
 API RP 2003 – Static Electricity
 API RP 500- HAC
 OSHA 29 CFR- Part 1910- Arc Flash
 NFPA 70- NEC
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 IEEE 1584- Arc Flash Protection

 NFPA 77- Static Electricity
 OSGA CFR 1926- Personnel Electrical Safety