Sheel News Letter September 2022

Electrical Lockout
Safety Tagout

6'E's (by Bajirao

Lockout Dethe) Electrical
Tagout Safety

Electrical Electrical
Safety Compliance
Audit
Electrical Electrical
Safety Hazards
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 Sheel News Letter September 2022
Electrical faults are the main cause of industrial
disasters in the India. Electricity is considered a
"Silent Killer" in most workplaces
because it is essentially invisible.
Electricity cannot be heard, seen,
smelled or tasted. As a result,
most workers are unaware of the
potential exposure to electrical hazards present in

Electrical Safety their work environment, which, in turn, makes them

vulnerable to electrical injuries.
Electricity is an essential part of our lives, both at
home and in the workplace and today every
workplace is powered by electricity, so electrical
injuries at the workplace are a real hazard
anywhere. All electrical systems used in the
workplace have the potential to cause serious
Electricity has long been recognized as a serious
damage, especially if used or maintained
workplace hazard, causing human beings to suffer
improperly. Electrical safety is a common practice
electric shocks, electrical burns, fires and
for workers operating and maintaining electrical
explosions. Sparks from electrical equipment can
equipment. A series of guidelines are followed to
serve as an ignition source for flammable or
reduce the risk of electric
explosive vapors. However, in most fire hazards it is
shock and prevent dangerous
assumed that the probable cause of the fire is an
consequences of accidents.
electrical short circuit. Loss of electrical power can
Failure to comply with
result in extremely dangerous situations in any
electrical safety requirements can result in
process industry, hospital etc.
accidents, potential accidents and even death. At
work sites, if workers correctly identify and control
hazards, they can be very safe without any electrical
hazards. However, inadequate training, experience
in management, and failure to identify potential
hazards can result in electric shock or death.

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 Sheel News Letter September 2022
According to the studies, electrical hazards cause Objectives of Industrial Electrical Safety
more than 300 deaths and over 4,000 injuries in the
 The first objective of safety is the prevention
workplace each year. In India, faulty electric wiring
of accidents that can cause any type of loss
and appliances are one of the most common causes
in industries and plants by minimizing and
of fires in industrial and commercial premises,
eliminating hazards.
accounting for 5,000-6,000 of the 25,000-30,000
 Reduction of insurance rates and cost of
non-residential accidental fires. The Central
accidents.
Electricity Authority of India, data attributes nearly
 To avoid life loss and disabilities that in turn
40% of deaths at workplaces to electrical issues.
prevent from losing source of income.
 To elevate the morale of employees by
providing them a safe workplace and
promotion of healthy and safe practices.
 To organize supervision and inspection
activities to maintain a safe environment.
 To create awareness about well-being and
Majority of the short-circuit fires are triggered by
safety. This can be done by promoting
improper wiring, poor electrical fittings and bad
education among all members working at
maintenance of wires. Worldwide, deaths and
different levels of an organization.
injuries arising from electrical hazards at work are a
result of poorly maintained electrical equipment, or Take care
people coming into contact with electricity while when using
working near overhead power lines or underground
electricity it
cables. Working close to machines, equipment, and
has the
tools that are connected to power lines may also be
fatal due to the lack of circuit interrupters. There
power to
are several other common causes of injury too. kill!
These include working near live wires or electrical
equipment and using unsuitable electrical
equipment in a flammable or explosive atmosphere,
where a spark from the equipment triggers a fire or
explosion.

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Types of Electrical Injuries
The four types of injuries that can occur due to
electricity are:
 Electric shock
 Burns
 Falls
 Electrocution
How Injuries Can Happen
 Direct contact with exposed electrical
circuits or energized conductors.
 Electricity arcs (due to exposed energized
conductors or circuit) circulating in the air
can pass through a person who is grounded.
 If the skin gets in touch with the heat
generated from electric arcs, it burns the
internal tissues.
 The light emitted from an electric arc flash
(UV and IR) can cause damage to the eyes.
 When the potential pressure is released
from an arc flash, there is an arc blast, which
can collapse your lungs, cause physical
injuries, or create noise that can damage
hearing.
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Who is at Risk?
Engineers, electricians, and overhead line workers,
both contractors and subcontractors are at the top
of the list of professionals who are most exposed to
electrical hazards.
Common Electrical Hazards in the Workplace
Electricity has long been recognized as a serious
workplace hazard, exposing workers to a wide range
of occupational injuries.
The most common types of electrical hazards that
can be found in the workplace include:
Overloaded Outlets: Overloading electrical circuits
and extension cords can result in a fire.
Unsafe/Non-Approved Equipment: The use of
unsafe, poorly maintained or non-approved
equipment can lead to electrical shorts, creating fire
and/or shock hazards.
Electrical Cords across Walkways and Work Areas:
The use of extension cords across walkways or
aisles creates a potential tripping hazard.
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 Sheel News Letter
Defective or Improperly Installed Cords: If the
outer jacket of a cord is damaged, the cord may no
longer be water-resistant. Consequently, the
insulation can absorb moisture resulting in an
excessive current leakage to the ground.
Furthermore, if the wires within the cord are
exposed, they may cause shock via contact.
Unguarded Live Parts: A Wall receptacle with
exposed current-carrying components, as well as
the presence of loose wall plates, increases the
probability of electrical shock.
Working on "Live Equipment": Cleaning, adjusting
or applying flammable solutions to equipment
connected to a power supply may result in
electrocution.
Obstructed Electrical Panel Doors: In the event of
an electrical malfunction, the panel door (and
anything else in front of the door) will become very
hot, which increases the risk of fires and explosions.
Overhead Power Lines: Overhead powered or
energized electrical lines have high voltages which
can cause major electrocution to workers.
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September 2022
Tips to Prevent Workplace Electrical Incidents
Electrical safety matters because electricity is
powerful and potentially harmful. Mishandled
electricity can cause serious
injury or death, so keeping
electricians safe at work
requires use of the proper
techniques. Make sure your
employees have electrical
safety training. This knowledge
enables workers to make smart decisions when
working with electricity. Training also prevents
incident-related costs for organizations. It’s an
employer’s responsibility to train their workers.
If insufficient training causes an accident, the
employer could be held accountable, so be sure
your workers are familiar with these key electrical
safety tips for industrial work:
Replace or Repair Damaged Power Lines: Exposed
wiring is dangerous that cannot, or rather should
not, be overlooked. If you witness the protective
coating on a wire is stripped away, be sure to
replace it or cover it with electrical tape as soon as
possible.
Outlets Should not be Overloaded: Every outlet in a
residential place is designed to deliver a certain
amount of electricity. By plugging in too many
devices into an outlet at once, there could be a
small explosion or a fire. If you have a lot of devices
to plug in, use a power strip that can safely
accommodate your requirements.
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 Sheel News Letter
Preferably Avoid Extension Cords: Running
extension cords through the house
can trip residents; this can cause
injury and damage to the wire or
outlet if it causes the cord to be
ripped out of the wall. If you are
using extension cords frequently,
consider having an electrician
install new outlets across the
length and breadth of your home.
Keep Electrical Equipment or Outlets Dry: Water is
a good conductor of electricity. Hence, even the
slightest exposure to water can lead to injury. Make
sure you wipe away any spill to ensure that plugs or
outlets don’t get wet.
Employee Training on Electrical Hazards: Proper
employee training on electrical hazards plays a vital
role in minimizing and avoiding electrical injuries.
September 2022
Electrical Safety Dos and Don’ts
Here are general Electrical Safety Dos and Don'ts
that can be communicated to workers and staff to
understand electrical hazards and ensure safety
precautions in the workplace.
 Follow the electrical
isolation procedure for
handling any electrical
equipment.
 Check Lock Out-Tag
Out (LOTO) in each isolation.
 Make sure that each group working on the
equipment has their LOTO.
 Use rubber mats for high voltage gear

 Proper electrical safety signs help employees operations.

and visitors by providing key information on  Repair electrical equipment only by

potential hazards that exist in the workplace authorized personnel.

to stay safe and prevent them from  Carefully inspect equipment prior to

electrical injuries. normalization.

 Organizations should provide adequate  Insulate all junction joints and make sure

training to employees on electrical safety, there are no breaks.

which helps to avoid incidents and enhance
business productivity. It is a fact that most
electrical injuries can be easily minimized
with simple caution methods and regular
checks.
 Use the appropriate connection pins for the
relevant equipment.
 Use only cables or wires or cords of the
proper gauge for a particular equipment
according to its load requirements.

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Sheel News Letter September 2022
 Read the equipment manual before use.  Don’t use electrical
equipment in wet floor or
 Make sure there are no cuts or joints, cracks,
location.
abrasions on the cables or wires.
 Don’t overload
 Wear electrically resistant gloves and
electrical outlets or accessories.
equipment.
 Don’t use metal ladders when working with
 Arrange or lay electrical cables correctly to
or near power lines or power lines.
avoid tripping and falling.
 Don’t plug a two-prong adapter into a three-
 Maintain a minimum distance of 10 feet
prong outlet and a two-wire cable with a
from overhead power lines.
three-prong plug.
 Install safety barriers and signs to warn all
 Don’t remove the ground pin as it is
workers or occupants nearby.
responsible for unwanted voltage return to
 All electrical equipment and appliances
ground.
should be inspected regularly by a qualified
 Don’t use an earth connection as a neutral.
electrician.
 Don’t use outlets or cords with exposed
 Turn off the equipment immediately if you
wiring.
feel any abnormally hot plugs or cords.
 Don’t use portable power tools connected
 Must know where the panel and circuit
by cord and plug with the guards removed.
breakers are, which helps in an emergency.
 Don’t use underrated or oversized fuses.
 Clearly label all circuit breakers and fuse
 Don’t overload an outlet and use
boxes.
appropriate circuit breakers
 Each switch must be positively identified
 Don’t work a minimum distance from
with respect to the outlet or device for
overhead power lines.
which it is intended.
 Don't ignore any signs and electrical
 Keep power cords away from tools during
warnings.
use.
 Don’t use nails to tape extension cords to
 Replace open front plugs with dead front
the wall or floor.
plugs. The dead front plugs are sealed and
 Don’t tie cords in tight knots. Knots can
present less risk of electric shock or short
cause short circuits and shocks. Loop the
circuit.
cords or use a twist lock plug.

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Sheel News Letter September 2022

Six 'E's – A Way for Effective Safety

Management / Accident Prevention

There are so many aspects to creating and maintaining a safe

working environment that sometimes it’s easy to get lost in it
all. To truly succeed in creating a safe place of work, the key is
to develop and implement an effective safety management
system.

A safety management system combines all the different

elements in your workplace that need attention to ensure you
provide a safe working environment for everyone who enters
it.

Safety management systems make health and safety an

integral part of your business’s core operations. By designing,
developing and implementing an effective safety
management system, you will have methods for managing
reporting, responsibilities, planning and resourcing to create a
safer workplace.

Effective Safety management systems can be achieved

through below Six-E elements:

1. ENGINEERING +

2. ENFORCEMENT+

3. EVALUATION+

4. EDUCATION / TRAINING+

5. ENTHUSIASM+

6. EXAMPLE SETTING

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 Sheel News Letter September 2022
Safety or accident prevention can be achieved by 2. Enforcement (of safety rules)
the following five methods:  Safe Operating Procedure
 Work instructions
1. Engineering controls (to prevent unsafe
 Safety Rules & Regulations
conditions)
 Work Permit System
 Proper Planning
All statutory safety provisions should be followed
 Proper Designing
for our own safety and safely of others. Self
 Proper Layout
initiation for full
Poor illumination and ventilation, unguarded
compliance is
machinery, mechanical, electrical, physical and
necessary, otherwise
chemical hazards, dangerous location or situation
government
etc., are unsafe conditions which can be eliminated
authorities may take
in the design stage or subsequent engineering
action. In addition,
revision and controls. This is the first and most
other safety rules for
effective remedy.
our plant should also
be framed and followed. Wilful neglect or disobey
of safety rules or orders should be dealt with
strictly.
Enforcement measures include –
 New Law
 Amendment in Old Law
 Company Safety Rules
 Implementation and Legal Action

Some engineering controls are substitution of less

hazardous material, machine, method, process,
vessel etc., risk reduction, process modification,
isolation, segregation, guarding, fencing,
barricading, enclosure, dilution, safe design; failsafe
device and safety devices including alarms, trips,
safety valve, NRV, PRV, EFV, FFE, etc.

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 Sheel News Letter September 2022
3. Evaluation (Safety Program / activities) This has long-term and permanent effect. This is the
 Review / Recheck most powerful remedy for unsafe act of the
 Safety Inspection workers. It helps in finding out unsafe conditions
 Safety Audit / Survey also. The workers' safety training programmes

 Accident / Incident investigation should include:

Whatever systems /SOP’s/Rules enforced, need to  Understanding of specific hazards of the

be evaluated through periodic review / Safety plant, process, building etc.
Audits etc…to ensure whether that system is  Safety rules and safe procedures
effectively working or not or need upgradation.  Training for specialised or difficult job
 Job safety analysis and
 Safety instructions for variety of jobs.
5. Enthusiasm (to maintain interest)
 Safety Reward
 Safety Performance Contest
 Safety Contest

4. Education & Training (To prevent unsafe acts)  Safety Suggestion Scheme
 Safety Champion / Leader
 Safety Training
 System Training
 Induction Training
 On the Job Training

Like a catalyst it adds to safety awareness and

motivation. It should come from the top
management to the lowest worker. It will keep the
workers safety conscious. It can be developed and
maintained by proper safety attitude, competition,
prizes, awards, publicity, incentives etc. This
includes motivation and participation in safety
programmes.

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6. Example setting (to lead for safety)
Set an example which is foolproof & accepted to all
 Machine Guarding
 Safety Kaizen
 Work Permit System Implementation
 Safety Hero / Champion
 Safety Steward
The top executives, managers and supervisors
should set an example to others by the self-
enforcement of safety rules. Then others will follow
them. This is a chain reaction to increase and
maintain safety.
September 2022
Remember, it is not enough to simply adopt a
satisfactory safety management system. You must
also actively implement that system in your
workplace. To do this, you must ensure that:
 Workers comply with procedures and
instructions;
 Workers are appropriately trained; and
 Workers are subject to ongoing supervision.
In Way Forward…LET’S FOLLOW SIX “E” PRINCIPLES
TO STREGTHEN ENGINEERING CONTROLS &
WORKPLACE SAFETY AT LARGE.

Conclusion
You can achieve 100% Effective
Safety Management by
implementing Six E Elements as
below:

1. Engineering 40%
2. Enforcement 25%
3. Evaluation 15%
4. Education & training 10%
5. Enthusiasm 5%
6. Example setting 5%

Total Effectiveness = 100 % Taking “Ownership” for above

things, is key to Success

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Lockout Tagout
Thousands of workers are killed and more are
seriously injured each year when employees fail to
de-energize and lockout equipment before working
on it. While many deaths result from electrocutions,
workers have also been crushed and many have
suffered amputations or other injuries. The
following types of energy need to be controlled
through Lockout/ Tagout procedures: electric,
hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, heat, and
pressurized liquids, vapors, steam and gases.
LOTO is a very serious safety practice for every
organization that aims to provide protection to its
employees. It is designed to help improve safety in a
facility. When implemented correctly, it can help to
dramatically reduce the risks associated with
maintenance and servicing of the machinery or
electrical equipment.
“Mistakes can be deadly! Always
follow Lockout Tagout”
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For industrial workers, working with and around
electrical equipment, electrical conductors or circuit
parts, and power lines is a common occurrence.
Moreover, employees who undertake maintenance,
repair, and service work for electrical equipment
and machinery are also exposed to electrical
hazards. There is always the possibility of de-
energized equipment becoming suddenly energized
while employees are inspecting, servicing, or
repairing electrical equipment, circuits, conductors.
Therefore, not only must employees fully
understand the hazards associated with electrical
work (for example shocks, burns, fires, explosions,
and arc flash) but must be conversant with the
lockout tagout procedures to operate within
electrically safe work conditions. Working with
electricity can be dangerous.
Workers performing service or maintenance on
machinery and equipment may be injured by
unexpected startup of machinery or equipment, or
by the release of electrical energy stored in the
equipment. In fact, failure to work on machinery
before it is turned off is a major cause of injury and
death.
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This is why locks and tags are so important to
employee safety. These deaths and injuries can be
prevented by establishing and following an effective
lockout/tagout program. Lockout and tagout go
hand in hand, and work best when used together.
One cannot simply lock the equipment before
carrying out maintenance and leave it without a tag
on it. The process of lockout tagout is incomplete
without the tag on it. Similarly, putting a loose tag
on a machine that is capable of locking is again
incomplete.
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The Lockout Tagout Procedure
Lockout/Tagout is a part of an
Energy Control Program. The
lockout tagout procedure can be
divided into six steps. When
employees begin repairing or doing maintenance
work on electrical equipment, they must ensure to
follow these steps to ensure their safety and the
safety of other employees working in proximity to
them. The specific actions for applying LOTO will
differ from equipment to equipment, and from
facility to facility.
Every workplace should have an energy control
program in place, with LOTO safety being one part
of that program. An energy control program
includes established procedures for:
 Using locks and tags;
 The locks and tags themselves;
 Training workers on hazards of hazardous
energy and lockout/tagout procedures,
policies, and equipment; and
 Periodic reviews and inspections of the
system (at least annually).
LOTO is a way of life!
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Reasons for Lockout Tagout Failures Lack of Training: Each employee entrusted with

Lockout/Tagout mistakes can lead to serious maintenance or repair jobs must be trained on

accidents leading to injuries and death. Here are a safety and lockout procedures for systems and

few common lockout tagout mistakes that may equipment under their control. Lack of training not

prove fatal. only puts the technician’s life at risk, but also

Leaving the keys in the lock while performing compromises on the safety of others on the shop

Lockout: floor.

A worker performing lockout leaves his key in the

Failure to De-energize: It is a common precaution
lock, thinking that he
to shut down the machine and disconnect it from
might lose the key
the power source before
and starts performing
putting it to work. However,
service and
some employees
maintenance tasks.
accidentally or deliberately
This is a big mistake,
skip this step. There are a
anyone could come
few other cases where units
along and remove the lock, not realizing that
are energized using multiple
someone’s life can be in danger.
sources, which makes it mandatory to identify all
Failure to double-check the settings: Making sure
sources of energy and shut down all of them. A
that the power sources are disconnected, movable
switch is just one intermediate powering device.
machine parts firmly locked in place, residues
Flipping it off is not equivalent to disconnecting the
emptied and
main power.
equipment locked
out is a must before Not using lockout for a few minute tasks:

commencing repairs. Many a time workers make this

Missing out of any of mistake of ignoring the
the above checks importance of lockout. Even if the
usually prove fatal. work demands only a few minutes
Similarly, it is also important to check if tools and for its completion, do not just shut
floors are cleared and all connections restored down the equipment controls and start working as
before unlocking and re-starting the machines to it can be dangerous.
open up the place for regular use.

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Non-compliance of lockout MSP procedures: Preventive Measures
Employees often make the mistake of not following Lockout Tagout accidents are always preventable, if
the written MSP(Machine Safety Procedure) for everyone start taking LOTO seriously. Preventing
lockout. Make sure any worker performing accidents at the workplace is a joint responsibility of
lockout/tagout is properly trained, evaluated, and the employer & the employees together.
follows written lockout procedures. In most cases, it
 Training should be imparted to not only
is also overconfidence, experience and familiarity
personnel who actually man and maintain
with the facilities or procedures that influences
the equipment, but to all employees who
people to overlook these lockout basics.
have access to the workplace. They must be
made aware of the lockout/tag out process,
the relevance of tags and devices, and more
importantly enlightened on why not to
tamper with these tags or devices.

Performing Maintenance by just locking out

control circuit, and not verifying the lock of main
switch:
An employee simply turns off the control circuit and
starts working without verifying whether the main
switch are locked which can lead to a major
accident. Always ensure that the main power source
is disconnected before performing maintenance  Periodical audits of the process are a must

work, as the machine may start inadvertently. to verify if employees scale up to real-time
challenges, identify shortfalls or areas of
concern, and make appropriate changes to
lockout procedures.
 While strict procedures are mandatory to
ensure the lockouts go as planned, training
staff and instilling a sense of responsibility is
a must to avoid accidents.

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 Visual indicators, posters or line diagrams
right next to a specific system or machine
can help people easily recognize power
sources and movable parts, use
information either to lockout
equipment, or simply avoid accidentally
starting up the system.
 Laying out a clear set of policies for third-
party service providers is a must to prevent
accidents. The hired maintenance or repair
firms must conform to visual indications and
tags to ensure employees at the maintained
facility recognize these warnings and avoid
using equipment or areas that have been
locked out.
 Opting for the right form of tags also makes
a difference. Simple messages, engravings,
bold colours or even photo ID tags can make
the devices easily noticeable.
 Use of appropriate lockout tagout devices is
necessary to get the right message across
and get it noticed as well.
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Advantages of Lockout Tagout
Builds Trust and Confidence in the Employees:
When employees work in a risk- free environment,
the they feel empowered. LOTO enables every
the employee to reach home safely, work with
confidence and a sense of security.
Protects the Workers from Accidents: Accidents
tend to occur when Lockout Tagout is not taken
seriously. Lockout Tagout acts as life saving devices,
which when used properly, following the given
LOTO procedures, protects the employees from the
release of hazardous energies during servicing or
maintenance of machines or equipment.
Protects Workplace from Damage: It is very
important to make sure that we are living in a safe
and accident free workplace and this can only be
done if we follow Lockout Tagout procedures
carefully. It reduces incidents and increases safety
of machines, equipment and workplaces.
Reflects the concern of the owner towards the
safety of the employees: Implementation of proper
LOTO procedure at the workplace, depicts the
unprecedented commitment of the top
management, towards its employees.
Ensuring safety and security of the employees at all
times is amongst the biggest responsibilities of any
employer and this responsibility increases many
folds when employees are servicing or maintaining
machines and equipment that put them at the risk
of physical harm or even death, if tasks are not
handled or controlled properly.
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Electrical Safety Audit is examining the security of
electrical installations of any industrial unit or
organization. Electrical Safety Audit is performed by
enquiry, inspection, testing and verification.
Electrical Safety Audits are conducted by
experienced professionals who assist clients in
reducing risk and help to ensure compliance with
applicable Safety Standards and Regulations.

Electrical Safety Audit

Fires caused due to electricity cause extensive
damage to property and human life. More than 40%
of fires in India are caused by faulty electrical
circuits. The risk in electrical work is greater than in Presently, electrical safety audits are carried out
any other job. Any fault in the electrical circuits in according to the Central Electricity Authority 2010
the workplace can make the system less efficient or Regulations for Safety and Electricity Supply.
put employees' lives at high risk. People associated Why is Electrical Safety Audit Necessary?
with electrical work should be on Identification & elimination of safety hazards
high alert at all times. Thus, the Knowing about the potential risks and hazards that
importance is on electrical safety can arise due to electrical systems helps in taking
as we cannot clearly realize that a appropriate actions and measures to mitigate those
simple cable carries current. Also, it risks beforehand. An
is not possible to find out whether the conductor is Electrical Safety
alive or dead. This scenario becomes the root cause Audit does just that.
of most electrical accidents. Electrical safety is It helps you know
mainly affected due to wrong electrical design, and identify the
wrong selection of electrical part, untrained person possible hazards
handling electrical work, poor maintenance etc. This that can arise so
is why corrective action checks in the form of that an emergency
electrical audits are necessary in all workplaces. preparedness plan is
Ignoring this can result in huge losses in business. in place before a tragedy breaks out.

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Identification of flaws in the existing system Measures to be taken for electrical safety
An Electrical Safety Audit will analyse the existing Only identifying the potential electrical hazards is
system in place and thus helps in identifying the just half the work done. Having a proper plan for
faults in the system. There can be flaws in the the measures and actions to be taken for
system of the existing facility or the system may be eliminating the risk of hazards and for mitigation if
outdated or would have become redundant as per the hazard or accident occurs, will make you fully
the current prepared for any electrical safety failure and these
requirement and electrical safety audits does just that.
standards. So,
identification of
these flaws in the
existing electrical
systems can help
industries
prevent any Ensuring compliance with Govt. Safety Laws and

greater loss later. practices

Electrical Safety Audits ensure that all the standard

Ensuring the longevity of big & expensive electrical laws and practices set up by the Government and

equipment other recognized institutions are followed and are

Disruptive and non-uniform voltage in compliance with the practices followed in the

supply, electrical fire accidents, industry. Thus these audits are a great way to be in

short circuits and other electrical synchronisation with the laws and ensure safety

accidents cause damage to the electrical machinery simultaneously.

and may cause its permanent failures which will

result in increased financial losses. Going in for an
electrical safety audit can avoid the damages as it
eliminates and reduces the risk of these accidents
and thus protecting the expensive equipment which
in turn helps in saving unnecessary expenses and
ensures smooth disruption free and smooth
functioning of industry operations.

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Who needs an Electrical Safety Audit? 6. Personnel and program auditing as required by
Every kind of entity, be it a large hazardous industry applicable regulations or site policies.
or a small service unit, 7. Shock Hazard awareness
electrical safety is one of the o Understanding the application of safety rules
fundamental requirements for in shock prevention.
their loss prevention strategy. o Understanding the various boundaries,
Even, electrical safety is very including Limited Approach, Restricted
important for our industries. Few of the entities are Approach, Public Safety, and Minimum
mentioned below: Approach Distances.
 Hazardous industries and processes 8. Arc Flash hazard awareness
 Manufacturing units o Labeling of site equipment.
 Office buildings o If using NFPA 70E® tables, local

 Warehouses understanding of how to properly interpret.

 Service sectors like IT Hubs / Data Centres, Possibilities for Fire Due to Electricity

Hospitals, Hotels, Educational Institutes  Heat could be external or due to overload.

 Housing & colonies  Loose contacts, loose connections, results

It is applicable for organisations of all sizes and into sparking.

types.  Conducting an insulated parts come close to

What is Involved in an Electrical Safety Audit? each other resulting into sparking.
The basics of any Electrical Safety Audit will cover  Insulation gets damaged due to heat,
the following topics: overvoltage or mechanical impact.
1. Training, including site interviews to determine  If such sparks fall on inflammable material
level of electrical safety knowledge. like wood, cloth etc. it catches fire.
2. Electrical Qualification Process, including Task-  Unwanted short circuits due to Rodents,
Qualification (if used at the site). Rats cause flashover.
3. PPE – selection and proper usage.
4. Boundary determination (both Shock and Arc
Flash) and proper setup.
5. Electrical Safety tools, including 1000-volt and
tools specific to higher voltage applications (shot-
gun sticks, insulating blankets, etc.).

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 Sheel News Letter September 2022
Key Benefits of an Electrical Safety Audit Scope of Electrical Safety Audit
Electrical Safety Audit not only secures everyone  Identification of Electrical Hazards ( shock,
from electric hazards but at the same time, it fire, explosion etc)
provides other benefits as well.  Review of protection devices & system of
the electrical installation.
 Review of major cables on sampling basis
capacity and sizing.
 Review of Electrical Preventive Maintenance
Program through document review.
 Identification of Hot Spot at Electrical Panels
by the state of the art instrument Thermal
 It makes your electric system efficient which Image.
ultimately reduces your energy cost.  Survey of Earthing System (Maintenance
 It ensures a higher degree of safety to its Aspects).
occupants.  Preparation of electrical safety audit report
 It provides peace of mind to the property (Report Mainly consist of Checklist,
owner. Observations, recommendations/
 It helps in compliance with electric safety suggestions according to Risk Category ).
standards. Methodology of Electrical Safety Audit
 It reveals common electrical mistakes made Electrical Safety
by regular or local electrician. Audit is about
 It recognizes outdated wiring safety devices examining the
other components that have degraded over safety & security of
time. electrical
 It spots inappropriate safety or faulty safety installations of any
devices and other faults that could lead to industrial unit or
an accident. organization.
 It helps you meet your insurance Electrical Safety Audit is performed by conducting
requirements. enquiry, inspection, testing and verification of any
 It exposes the real picture of electric safety entity installed with electrical equipment and
in our premises. appliances.

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Sheel News Letter September 2022

The CEA (Measures relating to Safety and

Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010

Key Points of The CEA (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010:

 It has been made it mandatory to appoint an ‘Electrical Safety Officer’ for every electrical

installation including factory registered under the Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1948) and mines

and oil field as defined in the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952), where more than 250 kW of

electrical load is connected.

 The Electrical Safety Officer shall ensure periodic inspection of electrical installations, get

them tested and keep a record thereof and such records shall be made available to the

Electrical Inspector if and when required.

 Earthing measurement log shall be kept a minimum of two times a year. The measurement of

earthing is required to be done/demonstrated to the third party at sample locations as a

minimum.

 Inspection of High Voltage works is required to be done every two years.

 If there are any issues observed, the audit is required to highlight and witness the closure of

the points. This is done every three years.

 For an existing plant with no history of any electrical issues, a third-party audit can be

conducted every 5 years.

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Sheel News Letter September 2022

Sheellms.com Building EHS Community

Sheel News Letter September 2022

Sheellms.com Building EHS Community

 Sheel News Letter September 2022

Electrical Hazards Electrical Safety

1. D 2. A 3. D 4. B 5. D 1. B 2. B 3. B 4. B 5. B

6. B 7. D 8. D 9. C 10. C 6. C 7. B 8. D 9. B 10. D

CONTACT US

9460144882

hemlata@sheeltecnologies.com
Sheellms.com
www.sheeltechnologies.com Building EHS Community