Safety Initiative

Electrical Safety
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Electrical Safety
Electricity is an important part of

our modern world and sometimes it
is easy to forget just how
dangerous it can be.
Given the correct circumstances,

electricity can cause serious injuries
or even death.
Electrical Safety
• Electrocution is the cause of

12% of all workplace deaths
among young workers.
• Electrocution is the third

leading cause of work-
related deaths among 16
and 17-year-olds.
Electrical Injuries
The most common types of electrical injuries are:
• Electrical shock
• Electrocution (death due to
electrical shock)
• Burns
• Falls
Electrical Shock
Touching a live wire and an

electrical ground will cause a
shock.
Electrical Shock
Touching two live wires of

different voltages will cause
electrical shock.
Electrical Shock
The severity of the shock depends on:
• Path of the current through your

body
• Amount of current flowing
through your body
• Length of time your body is in
contact with the circuit
LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT

MEAN LOW HAZARD
Burns
Burns are the most common injury caused by

electricity. The three types of burns are:
• Electrical burns
• Arc burns
• Thermal contact burns
Electrical burns can occur

when you come into direct
contact with electricity.
Burns
An arc occurs when there is a

gap between conductors and
current travels through the air.
•Electrical burns
•Arc burns
•Thermal contact burns
Burns
Thermal contact burns can occur

when electricity ignites combustible
material.
• Electrical burns
• Arc burns
• Thermal contact burns
Falls
Another common type of

electrical injury is falling.
Workers who experience a shock

on elevated work surfaces such
as platforms, ladders or scaffolds
can fall resulting in serious injury
or death.
Electrical Hazards
To avoid injuries, you should be aware of electrical hazards.
Some of the most common electrical hazards are:
• Exposed electrical parts
• Overloaded circuits
• Defective insulation
• Improper grounding
• Damaged power tools
• Overhead power lines
• Wet conditions
Let’s take a closer look at each of

these hazards.
Exposed Electrical Parts
Exposed electrical parts can include:
• Breaker boxes without a cover

• Electrical terminals in motors,
appliances, and electronic
equipment
Overloaded Circuits
Overloading a circuit increases the potential for
fires to occur. Overload hazards exist if:
• Too many devices are plugged into a circuit

• The wire insulation melts
• An improper overcurrent protection
device is used
• No overcurrent protection
device is used
Overloaded Circuits
Overcurrent protection devices include:
• Circuit breakers
• Fuses
• Ground fault circuit
interrupters (GFCI)
A circuit breaker automatically

“trips” and shuts off the current in
a circuit if it becomes overloaded.
Overloaded Circuits
A fuse contains an internal part that melts and shuts off

the current if there is an overload.
• Fuses
• Ground fault circuit interrupters
Overloaded Circuits
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)

detects current leaking from a circuit to
ground and shuts the current off.
• Fuses
• Ground fault circuit interrupters
Receptacle type
Defective Insulation
To protect you, electrical wires are

insulated by a plastic or rubber
covering. Insulation prevents
conductors from coming in contact
with each other and with people.
Make sure the insulation of tools

and cords you are using is not
damaged.
Grounding
When an electrical system is

properly grounded, there is a
path that allows the current to
travel to the earth (the ground).
When any electrical system is

not properly grounded, a hazard
exists.
Power Tools
Power tools that are damaged or

not properly maintained can
cause you to be seriously injured.
If you touch a metallic part of a

power tool that is energized
because of damaged insulation
or improper grounding, you could
be shocked.
Power Tools
To protect you from shock,

burns and electrocution, tools
must:
• Have a three-wire cord with

ground and be plugged into
a grounded receptacle.
• Be double insulated.
• Be powered by a low-voltage
isolation transformer.
Overhead Power Lines
Overhead power lines are not usually

insulated, and cause more than half of
all electrocutions.
Wet Conditions
Wet conditions are hazardous because you can

become an easy path for electrical current.
There are many circumstances that create wet

conditions:
• Standing in water
• Wet clothing
• High humidity
• Perspiration
Safe Work Practices
You can StartSafe and StaySafe by using

the following safe work practices:
• Inspect cords before each use

• Never overload a circuit
• Stay away from all
unguarded conductors
• To unplug, pull on the plug, not
the cord
• Don’t wear jewelry or use other
metal objects around electrical
equipment
Safe Work Practices: Training
Training concerning electricity is very important.
Training for employees working with electrical
equipment must include how to:
• De-energize the equipment
• Use lockout and tag procedures
• Use insulating protective
equipment
• Maintain a safe distance from
energized parts
• Use appropriate PPE
Safe Work Practices: Lockout/Tagout
When performing lockout/tagout on circuits,

trained employees will do the following:
• Turn off the power supply

• Put a lock on all power sources
to the circuit
• Apply a tag
• Test the circuit
Summary
It is very important to StartSafe and StaySafe around

electricity. In order to do so:
• Know the hazards

• Plan your work and plan for safety
• Avoid wet working conditions and
other dangers
• Avoid overhead power lines
• Use proper wiring and connectors
• Use and maintain tools properly
• Wear the correct PPE for the job

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Safety Initiative

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Electrical Safety

Electricity is an important part of

Given the correct circumstances,

• Electrocution is the cause of

• Electrocution is the third

The most common types of electrical injuries are:

Touching a live wire and an

Touching two live wires of

The severity of the shock depends on:

• Path of the current through your

LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT

Burns are the most common injury caused by

Electrical burns can occur

An arc occurs when there is a

Thermal contact burns can occur

Another common type of

Workers who experience a shock

Let’s take a closer look at each of

Exposed electrical parts can include:

• Breaker boxes without a cover

• Too many devices are plugged into a circuit

Overcurrent protection devices include:

A circuit breaker automatically

A fuse contains an internal part that melts and shuts off

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)

To protect you, electrical wires are

Make sure the insulation of tools

When an electrical system is

When any electrical system is

Power tools that are damaged or

If you touch a metallic part of a

To protect you from shock,

• Have a three-wire cord with

Overhead power lines are not usually

Wet conditions are hazardous because you can

There are many circumstances that create wet

You can StartSafe and StaySafe by using

• Inspect cords before each use

When performing lockout/tagout on circuits,

• Turn off the power supply

It is very important to StartSafe and StaySafe around

• Know the hazards

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