Safety Management
Basic Electrical Safety
Did you know that?
• THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR INJURED EACH YEAR DUE
TO ELECTROCUTIONS.
• MANY FATALITIES ARE UNREPORTED AS ELECTROCUTIONS SINCE
LOW ALTERNATING CURRENT LEVELS GOING THROUGH THE CHEST
AREA CAN TRIGGER VENTICULAR FIBRILLATION, STIMULATING A
HEART ATTACK.
• IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT 31% OF THE KNOWN ELECTROCUTION
FATALITIES OCCUR IN THE HOME
• 24% IN GENERAL INDUSTRY & 55% ARE DUE TO CONTACT WITH WITH SO-
CALLED LOW VOLTAGE CIRCUITS, 600 VOLTS & UNDER
• ELECTRICITY IS THE NO.1 SOURCE OF FIRE!
Did you know that?
Worst case of electrical-related accident!
What does electrocution happen?
In basic flow of electricity:
Resistance, R (ohms)
Voltage, V
(volts) Current, I (ampere)
Load
What does electrocution happen?
Resistance, R (ohms)
During the event of electrocution
man who accidentally touches a
Voltage, V
live circuit, becomes part and
Load
(volts)
completes the circuit, causing
harmful current to pass through
his body which is a very good
conductor of electricity.
Current takes path of least resistance
What is the effect of electrocution on the human body?
How does the current enter the body?
Typical points of
entry are the hands
and feet as they come
in contact with
electrical current.
Moisture beneath a
ring or watch will
decrease the skin's
resistance and allow
current flow.
Why does the current enter the body?
The body, composed mostly of
water, is a conductor of
electricity, so current travels
easily.
Current travels the path of least
resistance to complete its circuit.
This path could be through upper
limbs or between upper and
lower limbs.
If this includes the heart and
respiratory systems, it can result
in serious injury.
What is the resistance of the human body to a household electricity of 220V?
220 volts
------------- = 220 m.a. current flow
1,000 ohms
If a human body with 1,000 ohms resistance is exposed to household
electricity at 220 volts a current of 220 milli-amperes will flow through the
body.
What is the resistance of the human body to a household electricity of 220V?
8 - 15 m.a. - Pain
15 - 20 m.a. - Pain, loss of muscular control
20 - 100 m.a. - intense pain and paralysis of breathing
muscles;
- possible suffocation.
100 - 200 m.a. - Ventricular fibrillation which will cause
death.
Above 200 m.a. - health movement stops; recovery
possible if treated within 3 minutes;
burns also occur.
Severity of Shock
• SEVERITY OF SHOCK IS NOT DETERMINED BY
VOLTAGE ALONE BUT DEPENDS ON…
• QUANTITY OF CURRENT
• PATH / PASSAGE OF THE CURRENT
• LENGTH OF TIME
• TYPE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY
• HUMAN / PHYSICAL CONDITION
What are the common causes of electrocution/electric shock?
• Faults in facilities such as exposed charged part of electrical
machines and equipment
• Damaged insulation of electrical wirings
• Short Circuit
• Accidental contact with a live line
• Overloading
• Worker’s attitude such as working without appropriate PPEs.
• Improper working method
• Wearing of metal objects as watches, necklaces & rings.
• Wet and/or damp locations
What are the common electrical hazards to look out for?
Loose electrical connections
Cord with frayed insulations
Plugs that do not match their outlets,
e.g., 3-prong male plug to 2-plug female outlet
Non-waterproof cords, plugs and outlets used outdoors
Equipment running over capacity
Tools that smell, smoke, spark or shock
Wires running across the floor
Electrical cords in contact with hot appliances or soaked in water
Extension cords instead of permanent wiring
Octopus connections
What are the measures to prevent electric shock?
Use grounding system
Isolation of electrical conductors
- Vault & boxes
- Warning signs
Safe Clearance
- Elevation (at least 10 ft minimum) of electrical cable specifically at
construction site
- Minimum approach distance
Insulation
- Use double-insulated royal cord for tools
- Provide good insulation for appliances
- Insure insulation between feet and moist ground
Use appropriate PPE
Use Lock-Out/Tag-Out
Proper Grounding
• The frames or cases of all tools or structures in which electric devices or circuits
are present should be grounded.
• The ground wire should be of low resistance & large enough to resist
mechanical breakage & to carry off the heaviest current flow that might result
from any insulation breakdown.
• Particulars regarding details of conductors sizes & nature of grounds can be
obtained from the provision of the Philippine Electrical Code governing them
How to respond to an electrical accident
Step #1: Turn off the Power
Find the Emergency
Machine Off (EMO)
button and turn off the
power.
Know in advance
where these buttons
are located.
How to respond to an electrical accident
Step #2: Safely Free the Victim
If you cannot find the EMO switch,
attempt to safely free the victim.
Never attempt to pull the victim away
by hand; you could also lock onto the
source.
Use the proper equipment such as a
body hook or a non-conductive object
to pry or knock the victim free.
How to respond to an electrical accident
Step #3: Call for Help
Pick up the phone and call for help.
Be sure you know (ahead of time) the
emergency number at your site.
How to respond to an electrical accident
Step #4: Do Not Leave the Victim
Stay with the victim
until help arrives.
Inform people in the
area in order to avoid
further injuries.
End of Presentation
