NEBOSH International General Certificate in

Occupational Safety and Health

Unit IGC2

Element 5: Electrical Safety

© RRC Training
 Learning Outcomes
On completion of this element, you should be able to
demonstrate understanding of the content through the
application of knowledge to familiar and unfamiliar
situations. In particular you should be able to:

• Outline the principles, hazards and risks

associated with the use of electricity in the
workplace
• Outline the control measures that should be
taken when working with electrical systems or
using electrical equipment in normal workplace
conditions
© RRC Training
 Unit IGC 2
Element 5.1

Principles, Hazards and Risks

Associated with The Use of Electricity
in The Workplace

© RRC Training
 Basic Principles
• An electrical circuit comprises 3 elements:
• Pressure = potential difference
– Measured in volts (V)
• Flow rate = current
– Measured in amps (I)
• Resistance = obstruction in circuit
– Measured in ohms (R)
• Linked together by Ohm’s Law:
V=I×R
© RRC Training
 Potential Difference
• “Electrical pressure”
• The driving force or pressure
which “pushes” an electrical
current around a circuit
• Voltage: unit = volts (V)

© RRC Training
 Current
• Current can be thought of as “flow”
• Electrons flow through the materials
making up a circuit
• Current: unit = amps (A)

© RRC Training
 Resistance
• “Resistance to flow”
• The resistance of a circuit to the
passage of the electrons
• Resistance: unit = ohm (Ω)

© RRC Training
 Ohm’s Law
V=I×R

I = V/R V

R = V/I
I R

NB Current is given the symbol “I”

So, if you know the values for 2 of the elements, you can calculate
the third

© RRC Training
 AC/DC
• Alternating current (AC):
− Mains supply is AC
− Current flows backwards and forwards
− UK = 230 volts, 50Hz
− USA = 120 volts, 60Hz

• Direct current (DC):

− Battery supply is DC
− Current flows in one direction only

© RRC Training
 The Hazards of Electricity
• Electric shock
− Heart fibrillation
− Muscle Contraction
− Burns
− Arcing
• Fire and explosion
• Secondary effects

© RRC Training
 Electrical Shock
Current (Ma) flowing Effect
through the body
0.5 - 2 • Threshold of sensation
• Tingling sensations
2 - 10 • Muscle tremor
• Pain
• Muscle contractions
10 - 60 • Unable to release grip
• Unable to breathe
• Ventricular fibrillation
• Cardiac arrest
60 + • Extreme muscular
contractions
© RRC Training
• Burns
 Severity of Shock Influenced By:
• Voltage – the higher the voltage, the greater the
current
• Duration – the length of time that a person is
exposed
• Current path – the route that the electricity takes
through the body
• Frequency – of the AC current
• Resistance – skin condition, clothing, etc.
• Contact surface area – the more skin that is in
contact, the more severe the injury
• Environmental factors – metal surfaces, humidity,
etc.
© RRC Training
 Electric Burns

Direct contact
• Current flowing through the
body
• Entry and exit point and
internal

Indirect contact
• As result of arcing, fire or
explosion following an
© RRC Training
electrical accident
 Fire and Explosion
Causes
• Electrical equipment may be faulty and
overheat
• The system may be overloaded
• Equipment may be misused
• A flammable atmosphere may be present
• Electrical equipment may produce heat or
sparks as part of its normal operation
• Poor internal connections

© RRC Training
 Static Electricity
• Build-up of potential
difference (volts) between
surfaces
• Caused by friction
• Surfaces become
"charged"
• Spark caused on contact
with earth
© RRC Training
 Arcing
• Ability of electricity to “jump” across an
air gap
• Usually involves high voltage
• Main hazards
− Electric shock
− Burns (direct, indirect)
− Damage to eyes from UV radiation emitted

© RRC Training
 Secondary Effects
Physical injury caused by an electrical
incident, such as:

• Cuts
• Bruises
• Broken bones

© RRC Training
 Group Discussion Point
What type of incidents could occur when
using portable electrical equipment?

© RRC Training
 Portable Electrical Equipment
Accidents with Portable Electrical
Equipment can be due to:
• Using unsuitable equipment
• Using in damp conditions
• Misuse
• Physical abuse such as driving
over cables
• Repairs carried out improperly
• Continued use of faulty, defective
equipment
• Chemical/abrasion damage to the flex
• Lack of inspection testing or
maintenance

© RRC Training
 End of Section Quiz
1. Explain what is meant by the terms:
• Voltage?
• Current?
• Resistance?
2. What are the hazards associated with
electricity?
3. How can electrical equipment cause
fires?

© RRC Training
 Unit IGC 2
Element 5.2

Control Measures

© RRC Training
 Protection of Conductors
• Insulated to prevent contact with live
conductor:
− Cable coverings unbroken
− Equipment casing intact

• Inspect to ensure protection is in place

• Ensure electrical panels are locked

© RRC Training
 Group Syndicate Activity
What factors do you think
should be considered
when selecting suitable
electrical equipment for
use on a construction site?

© RRC Training
 Selection and Suitability
• Factors to be considered include:
− Suitability for task
− Capabilities not exceeded (manufacturers
guidelines)
− Environmental conditions
− Weather, natural hazards, temperature, dirt
and contamination, corrosive chemicals, wet
conditions, flammable liquids and vapours
• Foreseeable types of damage

© RRC Training
 Protective Systems

• Fuses
• Earthing
• Isolation of supply
• Reduced and low voltage systems
• Residual Current Devices (RCD’s)
• Double insulation

© RRC Training
 Fuses
• Designed to protect the equipment
not the people!
• Form a weak link in a circuit
• Designed to overheat and melt if the
current exceeds the fuse rating
• Rating should be above operating
current required by equipment but
less than the current rating of the
cable in the circuit
© RRC Training
 Circuit Breaker

• Protects equipment not

people
• Electro-mechanical device
which does the same thing
as a fuse
• Rating should be above
operating current required
by the equipment but less
than the current rating of
the cable in the circuit
• Tamperproof

© RRC Training
 Earthing
• Outer metal casing
connected to earth by
wire
• Provides fault current
with a low resistance
path to earth
• Electric shock should be
minor

© RRC Training
• Will usually blow the fuse
 Isolation and Lock-Off

• Deprives the circuit of

power
• Ensures that it cannot be
re-energised by applying
some form of lock
• Should be clearly labelled
• Circuit should be tested
• Often referred to as Lock-
off/ Tag-out
© RRC Training
 Low Voltages
• For hand tools, the 110 volt centre-tapped
(CTE) system is recommended
• System relies on the mid-point of the
reduced voltage transformer being
earthed
• Maximum shock voltage is 55 volts, but
full 110 volt supply powers the equipment
• Systems reduced to 25 volts are often
used for lighting on construction sites

© RRC Training
 Residual Current Devices
• Designed to protect people!
• Interrupt supply in event of a small leak
of current to earth
• Very sensitive: 30 mA
• Very fast: 30 ms
• Compare current in live and neutral
• Should be regularly tested

© RRC Training
 Double Insulation
• Live parts cannot be touched
• 2 layers of insulation
• Either layer sufficient to provide
protection
• Eliminates need for earth protection

© RRC Training
 Competent Persons – Refresher!
What do we mean by the term
“competence”?

© RRC Training
 Competent Persons
• Knowledge
− Of electricity and electrical work
• Ability
− Understanding of the system, hazards and
precautions
− Understanding of when it is safe/unsafe
• Training
• Experience
− Experience of electrical work
© RRC Training
 Safe Systems of Work
• Work “dead” whenever possible
• Work on or near live electrical
equipment
− only under exceptional circumstances
− and if controlled tightly

© RRC Training
 Working On a Dead System
Before working on a machine check the
following:
• Isolation and lock-off
• Warning signs
• Prove test equipment
• Prove dead
• Prove test equipment again

© RRC Training
 Working On a Live System
• May be controlled by national laws

• Safe system of work to include:

− Permit-to-work
− Competent person
− Insulating PPE
− Boots, gauntlets
− Insulated tools
− Designated work areas
© RRC Training
 Buried Cables
• May be struck during excavations
• Can result in:
− Arcing, shock, burns, fire

• Precautions
− Check plans
− Detection equipment
− Expose by hand digging
− Identify and label
© RRC Training
 Overhead Power Lines

• Usually uninsulated
• Protect by:
− Isolation
− Safe systems of
work/permit-to-work
− Barriers, signs, goal-posts
− Banksmen
− Non-conducting
equipment
© RRC Training
 Group Syndicate Activity
• What action should be taken on finding
a person suspected to have suffered an
electric shock?

© RRC Training
 Emergency Action
• Don’t touch the casualty
• Call for help
• Isolate from the power supply
• Call for ambulance
• Check for breathing
− Recovery position if breathing
− Start CPR if not breathing
• Treat burns
• Treat for physical shock
• Ensure medical help is obtained

© RRC Training
 Inspection and Maintenance
• Applies to:
– Fixed wiring systems
– Portable electrical appliances
• User checks
• Formal visual inspection
• Combined inspection and testing

© RRC Training
 User Checks
• Damage to cable sheath
• Damage to plug
• Flex fully insulated – no kinks/splits
• Inadequate joints
• Unsecured sheath
• Wet or contaminated
• Damage to casing of equipment
• Burns/scorch marks

© RRC Training
 Formal Visual Inspection

• User checks plus:

− Remove plug cover and
check fuse
− Check cord grip
− Check terminals are secure
and no signs of internal
damage
− Done by competent person
© RRC Training
 Combined Inspection and Test
• Often known as PAT testing
• Visual inspection may fail to detect:
− Loss of earth integrity
− Deterioration of insulation

• Inspection and test is justified:

− When suspect equipment is defective
− After repair/modification
− At appropriate intervals

© RRC Training
 How Often Should You Test?
Frequency is determined by:
• Legal standards and codes of practice
• Type of equipment
• Manufacturers’ recommendations
• Initial integrity/soundness of the equipment
• Age of the equipment
• Working environment
• Frequency and duration of use
• Foreseeable abuse of the equipment
• Effects of any modifications or repairs
• Analysis of previous maintenance records

© RRC Training
 Group Question
What are the advantages and limitations
of Portable Appliance Testing?

© RRC Training
 Advantages and Limitations of
Portable Appliance Testing

Advantages:
• Demonstrates legal compliance
• Detects faults not visible to the eye
• Allows early removal/repair of unsafe
equipment
• Identifies trends or patterns of faults

© RRC Training
 Advantages and Limitations of
Portable Appliance Testing

Limitations:
• Provides proof of safety at one moment in
time only
• Does not ensure safe use or prevent
misuse
• Items may be missed and then remain
untested
• Can't be applied to all equipment (e.g.
computers)

© RRC Training
 End of Section Quiz

1. What are the advantages and

limitations of fuses?
2. What do we mean by the term
“isolation”?
3. Live working is only permitted under
certain circumstances – what are
these? What controls are needed?
4. What things should be checked during
routine, visual, user inspections?
© RRC Training