ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

Smt Dibyasikha Sahoo

Lecturer
GEC, Jagdalpur
 OUTLINE
Introduction
Causes of Electrical Hazards
Electrical Hazards Control
Summary
 Electricity – How it Works
Electricity is the flow of
energy from one place to
another
Requires a source of
power: usually a
generating station
A flow of electrons
(current) travels through a
conductor
Travels in a closed circuit
 Classification of Exposure
High Voltage:
>600 volts: typically associated with “outdoor”
electrical transmission.
Accounts for 60% of electrocutions (OSHA).
Note: some people classify >480 volts as high voltage.

Low Voltage:
<600 volts: typically associated with “indoor”
electrical service.
Accounts for 32% of electrocutions (OSHA).
Low voltage does not imply safe voltage.
Effects of Amount of AC Current
ma=1/1000th
ma=1/1000th of
of an
an amp
amp

3 ma- painful shock which cause indirect accidents

10ma- muscle contraction...”no let go” danger
30ma- lung paralysis- usually temporary
50ma- possible ventricular fibrillation (heart
dysfunction, usually fatal)
100 ma- certain ventricular fibrillation, fatal
4 amps- heart paralysis, severe burns
 Electrical Hazards
Electricity wants to find the path of least
resistance to the ground.
Human tissues and body fluids are
relatively good conductors because of
high water content.
So if a person touches an energized bare
wire or faulty equipment while grounded,
electricity will instantly pass through the
body to the ground, causing a harmful,
potentially fatal, shock.
 Electrical Hazards
There are three direct and two indirect types of
electrical injuries:
Direct:
Electrocution or death due to electrical shock
Electrical shock
Burns
Indirect:
Falls
Fire
 Shock Severity
Severity of the shock depends
on:
– Path of current through the body
– Amount of current flowing
through the body (amps)
– Duration of the shocking current
through the body,
LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT
MEAN LOW HAZARD
 Overhead Power Lines Hazard
Usually not insulated
Examples of equipment that
can contact power lines:
– Crane
– Ladder
– Scaffold
– Backhoe
– Scissors lift
– Raised dump truck bed
– Aluminum paint roller
Control - Overhead Power Lines
Stay at least 10 feet away
Post warning signs
Assume that lines are
energized
Use wood or fiberglass
ladders, not metal
Power line workers need
special training & PPE
“An employee working on a roof made contact
with the service entrance riser into the home
and was electrocuted…”
 Control – Use GFCI
(ground-fault circuit interrupter)
Protects you from shock
Detects difference in current between
the black and white wires
If ground fault detected, GFCI shuts off
electricity in 1/40th of a second
Use GFCI’s on all 120-volt, single-phase,
15- and 20-ampere receptacles, or have
an assured equipment grounding
conductor program.
How it works
Are these safe practices?
 Hazard – Overloaded Circuits
Hazards may result from:
Too many devices plugged into
a circuit, causing heated wires
and possibly a fire
Damaged tools overheating
Lack of overcurrent protection
Wire insulation melting, which
may cause arcing and a fire in
the area where the overload
exists, even inside a wall
Control - Electrical Protective Devices
Automatically opens circuit if
excess current from overload or
ground-fault is detected –
shutting off electricity
Includes GFCI’s, fuses, and circuit
breakers
Fuses and circuit breakers are
overcurrent devices. When too
much current:
 Fuses melt
Circuit breakers trip open
 Lock & Tag
Lock & Tag all Sources
– Place Lock & Tag on each disconnecting
means used to de-energize circuits

– Attach lock to prevent operating the

disconnecting means

– Place Tag with each lock

Note: Only the person who places the lock may remove it.
Lockout Devices
 If a Lock cannot be applied…
A tag used without a lock must be
supplemented by at least one additional safety
measure that provides a level of safety equal to
that of a lock.
Examples:
– Removal of an isolating circuit element
such as a fuse
– Blocking of a controlling switch
– Opening of an extra disconnecting device.
Tag out
 Release Stored Energy
Stored electric energy must be released
before starting work.

– Discharge all Capacitors

– Short-Circuit & Ground all high capacitance

elements
 2
1 3

4
Cords – Items to consider before use.
1. Use per Listing and Labeling
2. Inner wires exposed – Don’t use.
3. Plug not fully seated – Don’t use.
4. Cords run through doors / pinch points – Don’t use.
5. Outer sheath damaged – Don’t use.
6. Cord tightly coiled may cause a problem – Don’t use.
7. Tightly coiled cord that had a meltdown because it 5
8 couldn’t cool properly when overloaded.
8. Cords must be GFCI protected or under an Assured
Equipment Ground Conductor program.

6
7
 Portable Electric Tools -
Things to look for:

Damaged/Broken case

Ground prong missing

on three-prong plugs.
Some tools are double
insulated and won’t
have a ground prong.
That’s OK.
Damaged Cord – outer
sheath broken
Moisture provides a conductive path that
could result in death.

Never work with wet tools or clothing.

Remove Your Jewelry.

 OBEY ALL SIGNS AND BARRIERS!

Signs, Symbols, Tags, and Barricades

are used to warn personnel of potential
electrical hazards.

CAUTION

HIGH
AREA VOLTAGE
AREAININFRONT
FRONTOF
OFTHIS
THIS
ELECTRICAL
ELECTRICALPANEL
PANELMUST
MUSTBEBE
KEPT CLEAR FOR 36 INCHES
KEPT CLEAR FOR 36 INCHES
OSHA
OSHA- -NEC
NECREGULATIONS
REGULATIONS
 Summary – Hazards & Protections
Hazards Protective Measures
Inadequate wiring Proper grounding
Exposed electrical parts Use GFCI’s
Wires with bad insulation
Use fuses and circuit
Ungrounded electrical systems
breakers
and tools
Overloaded circuits Guard live parts
Damaged power tools and Lockout/Tagout
equipment Proper use of flexible
Using the wrong PPE and tools cords
Overhead powerlines Close electric panels
All hazards are made worse in wet Training
conditions
 REMEMBER!
 The results of a mistake with electrical energy
occur at the speed of light. There is not time to
react after the error is made. You must think
ahead.
 Pre-job briefs, planned work instructions, and
facility requirements are not optional. Pay
attention and obey all the rules, not just the
ones that are convenient. They provide the
edge you need to be safe with electrical energy.

Post-job reviews help keep us from repeating

errors – participate in them.
You are responsible for your safety.
“A tree trimmer was electrocuted
when he touched an overhead
electrical line while descending a
palm tree…”

Always remember…
It’s your life!
“An employee was
electrocuted while working
on an A/C unit…”
Thank You