Session 16

Electrical Safety

ELEMENT 5
Learning outcomes
• On completion of this element, candidates
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 all workplace conditions.
Basic Principles
• A simple electrical circuit can be described by
reference to three parameters:
– Current (I)
• The flow of charge within a conductor. Measured in amps (A)
– Voltage (V)
• The energy/pressure required to move a charge
– Resistance (R)
• The property of any object or substance of opposing the flow
of an electrical current. Measured in ohms (Ω)
• Linked by a simple relationship called Ohm’s law
= ×
Definitions
• Conductor
– A material which offers little resistance to the flow of a current
• Insulator
– A material which offers a high resistance to the flow of an
electric current
• Circuit
– The path of an electrical current.
• Direct Current (DC)
– Unidirectional flow of electric charge
• Alternating current (AC)
– Electric current in which the flow of electric charge periodically
reverses direction
• Frequency
– Number of cycles per second
HAZARDS, RISKS AND
DANGER OF
ELECTRICITY
Hazards
• Electric shock.
• Burns.
• Fire and explosion.
• Arcing.
• Secondary effects.
Electric Shock
• The effect produced in
the body and
particularly the nerves,
by an electrical current
passing through it.
• Its magnitude depends
on the amount of
current passing, but as
the resistance of each
persons body differs a
great deal, people feel
shocks at different
thresholds.
Electric Shock

• Damage depends on
a number of factors:
– Path of travel
– Current
– Time/duration
– Resistance
Magnitude
Current (mA) flowing Effect
through the body
0.5 – 2 Threshold of sensation.

2 – 10 Tingling sensations, muscle tremor, painful sensations.

10 – 60 Muscle contractions, inability to let go, inability to

breathe.

60 and above Ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest, extreme muscle

contractions, burns at contact points and deep tissues.
Electrical Burns
People receive burns in two different ways during
electrical accidents:
• Direct electrical burns

• Indirect electrical burns

Electrical Fires
Electricity can cause fires in several
different ways:
• Electrical equipment may be faulty
-> overheat -> fire.
• The system may be overloaded ->
increased current-> overheats.
• Equipment may be misused
• A flammable atmosphere may be
present
• Electrical equipment may produce
heat or sparks as part of its normal
operation.
Arcing
• Arcing is where electricity jumps across an air gap. it
occurs in a very limited way inside some low-voltage
electrical equipment (e.g. a portable electric drill).
• The dangers increase at higher voltages: the higher
the voltage the greater the distance.
• the main risks associated with arcing are:
– Electric shock as a result of being struck by the arc.
– Direct burns as a result of being struck by the arc.
– Indirect burns from the radiant heat given off by the arc
and from the melting of any equipment struck.
– Damage to the eye as a result of the ultraviolet light (uV)
that is emitted by the arc.
Secondary effects
• Any sort of injury that results indirectly from
receiving an electric shock is a secondary effect.
• Common secondary effect injuries occur when
people undergo violent muscle contractions
during an electric shock accident.
• Include:
– Injuries from being thrown across a room – cuts,
bruises, broken bones
– Falls from height: even a relatively minor shock can
cause enough of a reaction to lead to a fall.
Workplace electrical equipment
Wide variety of workplace equipment is operated
by electricity, including:
• Equipment that is ‘hard-wired’ directly into fuse
or distribution boards and distribution systems
such as bus-bars.
• Portable appliances. (Generally defined as
equipment with a flex and plug on it that can be
moved from one location to another for use.)
Workplace electrical equipment
• A high proportion of electric shock accidents involve
portable electrical equipment.
• As an example of vulnerable portable electrical
equipment, consider a small concrete breaker used
on a construction site. it is:
– Subject to frequent heavy use in an outdoor environment.
– Often handled and transported
– Used by a variety of users who may not own the item and
therefore have little interest in taking care of it.
• the same hazards apply to these types of
equipment, but the risks can be different, especially
with portable appliances
Workplace electrical equipment
Conditions and practices likely to lead to accidents:
• Using unsuitable equipment.
• Using equipment in wet, damp or humid conditions.
• Misuse.
• Physical abuse, e.g. pulling the plug out by tugging at
the flex etc.
• Inadequate maintenance or repairs carried out by
unauthorised personnel or carried out badly, e.g. a split
flex taped up with insulating tape.
• Continued use of faulty, defective equipment.
• Chemical damage to the flex, e.g. by corrosive wet
cement.
• Physical damage to the flex by hostile environments.
• Lack of routine inspection, testing or maintenance.
Work near Overhead Power Lines
• Most overhead power lines are uninsulated (bare
conductors).
• Any work carried out near to these power lines
has a risk of electrical arcing.
• Remember, the distance that the arc can jump
will depend on the voltage and environmental
factors, such as air humidity.
Underground Power Cables
• Striking buried power cables is a significant risk
associated with excavation work. it can lead to
electric arcing, shock and burns, not to mention
major business disruption to service users.
Work on mains electricity supplies
• Any work on or near exposed live mains supply
conductors is inherently high risk because of the
severity of injury that might result in the event
of an accident.
• As an example, mains electricity supplies in the
UK and Qatar operate at 230V.
Wet environments
• Water decreases the resistance of objects and
environments to the passage of electricity
• Work using electrical equipment in wet
environments increases the risk.
• Not only are electric shock accidents more likely
to happen in these conditions but the severity of
injuries received can be greater
• Remember lower resistance means higher
current flow.
CONTROL MEASURES
Protection of Conductors
• Electrical conductors should be protected by
insulation so that a person is not exposed to a
live conductor. For example:
– Cables should be insulated by an unbroken,
undamaged sheath so that the live copper conductors
are never exposed.
– The casing on a drill should be intact so that the user
cannot make contact with the live components within.
Strength and Suitability of Equipment

Electrical equipment must be carefully selected to

ensure that it is suitable for:
• The electrical system that it will become a part
of.
• The task that it will perform.
• The environment in which it will be used.
Strength and Suitability of Equipment
• The following hazardous environments should be
taken into account:
– Weather – equipment and cables may need to withstand
exposure to rain, snow, ice, wind, dust and lightning.
– Natural hazards, e.g. solar radiation, plants and animals
(e.g. gnawing of cables by rodents).
– Extremes of temperature and pressure, e.g. heat from
motors.
– Dirty conditions – contamination by liquids or solids.
– Corrosive conditions – caused by chemicals.
– Liquids and vapours – immersion, splashing or spraying
with water and solvent vapours, etc.
– Flammable substances, e.g. flammable gases, dusts and
vapours.
Protective Systems
• Fuses
• Earthing
• Isolation of supply
• Double insulation
• Residual current devices
• Reduced and low voltage systems
Fuses and Mini Circuit Breakers

Advantages Limitations
• Very cheap and reliable. • They primarily protect
equipment and not people. It
• Offer a good level of is possible to receive a severe,
even fatal, electrical shock
protection for the from equipment that is
electrical equipment protected by a fuse for two
reasons:
against current overload – a fuse does not stop current
that might damage the flow quickly enough to prevent
ventricular fibrillation.
equipment or cause – the current flow must be above
the fuse rating for the fuse to
overheating, fire or operate; this may be above the
explosion. 60 ma capable of causing fatal
injury.
• Very easy to bypass, e.g. by
wrapping the fuse in
aluminium foil.
Earthing
Advantages
• It protects the person
from fatal electric shock.
• It often provides
secondary protection to
the equipment because a
large fault current flowing
to earth will overrate the
fuse or mcB.
Limitations
• A poor or broken earth
connection will prevent
the earth from working
properly, but since the
earth wire does not take
part in the normal
functioning of the
equipment this fault can
go completely
undetected.
• It is easy to disconnect
and disable.
Isolation of Supply

Advantages Limitations
• Very effective • Certain testing, fault
• No electrical supply finding and electrical
installation and repairs
may have to be carried
out with the electrical
system on, thus isolation
cannot be used in these
circumstances.
Double Insulation
Advantages
• Relies on insulation rather
than the electrical system
itself.
Limitations
• The insulation must be
routinely visually
inspected because there
is no earth protection.
Residual current devices

Advantages Limitations
• Specifically designed to • Do not provide over-current
protect human life in the protection (they are not
event of electric shock. fuses; they work on a
completely different
• Is very sensitive to small principle).
current imbalances in a
• Have to be tested periodically
circuit and is able to (this is often not done).
break the circuit very
• Can cause repeated circuit
quickly.
tripping if there is a fault; this
can encourage people to not
use them or to disable them.
Reduced and low voltage systems

Advantages Limitations
• The system is inherently • Low voltage systems are
safer inefficient at transmitting
power and therefore
cannot be used for many
industrial applications
Competent Persons
• The employer must restrict that work to those
people who have the necessary technical
knowledge or experience to be able to carry out
work safely.
• In this context a competent person has:
– Knowledge of electricity.
– Experience of electrical work.
– An understanding of the system to be worked on.
– An understanding of the hazards and the precautions
needed.
– The ability to recognise whether it is safe for work to
continue.
Safe Systems of Work
• Work on or near live electrical systems
• This SSoW is likely to make use of the following
controls:
– Permit-to-work system.
– Competent persons.
– Insulating ppe (such as gauntlets and boots).
– Insulated tools and equipment (such as screwdrivers).
– Designated work areas (such as “earth-free zones”).
Isolation
• Most work on electrical systems should be
carried out with the system dead.
• This requires that the system is isolated from its
source of electrical power. Isolation usually
requires:
– The breaking of the circuit.
– Physical securing of the break in the circuit.
– Some form of label (or tag).
Contact with overhead power lines
• Most overhead power lines are uninsulated, danger is
created if the power line is touched or if any conducting
material is positioned close enough for electricity to arc
across.
• Prevention of accidents associated with proximity to live
overhead power cables can be achieved by:
– Isolating the power supply when working near power lines. If
power cannot be isolated, it may be possible to sleeve low-
voltage power lines.
– Using ssw and permit systems to control access into danger
areas.
– Using barriers, signage and goal-posts to keep plant and vehicles
a safe distance from power lines.
– Using banksmen when plant is manoeuvring near power lines.
– Using non-conducting equipment, such as fibreglass ladders.
Emergency Procedures Following
an Electrical Incident
• In your groups:
• What steps should be taken when dealing with
an electric shock casualty?
Inspection and Testing
• Electrical installations and equipment should be
routinely inspected to ensure electrical safety –
this includes:
– Electrical equipment installed in buildings, such as the
power distribution circuits and lighting.
– Larger equipment that is not moved.
– Smaller, portable appliances.
• There may also be national requirements
governing the inspection of the electrical
installations, or requirements imposed by
insurance companies.
Inspection and Testing
• User Checks
• Formal Inspection
• Combined Inspection and Testing
Frequency
• The frequency at which user checks, formal
visual inspections and combined inspection and
testing should be carried out will vary depending
on various factors.
– Frequency of use.
– Environment it is used in.
– Tasks the equipment is used for.
Records
• Formal visual inspections and tests
• Maintenance programmes, showing the periods for
inspection and testing.
• Records of the findings and work carried out should also
be kept.
• Often form an inventory of items, especially portable
appliances.
• Trends can be monitored to ensure that the correct
items of equipment are selected and used in the right
places,
• For portable appliances, formal records are often
supported with tags, labels and colour-coding of items to
indicate conformity with the inspection and testing
regime.
PAT Testing
• Advantages
– Detection of faults not visible to
the eye.
– early removal/repair of unsafe
equipment.
– Demonstration of legal
compliance.
– trends or patterns of faults may
be spotted.
• 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.
– cannot be applied to all
equipment (e.g. Computers).