E n e r g y t o t h e W o r l d

Drilling & Workover

Basic Electrical Safety

September/October 2014
 Basic Electrical Safety
Contents:
• Background
• Objectives
• Statistics
• Basic electrical safety awareness
• Safe work practices
• Hazard examples

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 Background
 1 Electrical fatality in 2013

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 Background

• Dhahran Area Loss

Prevention Dept. focus
review on electrical
safety.
• Requested to initiate
electrical safety
campaign.
• Requested to provide
reports and updates on
regular basis.

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 Loss Prevention findings

Primary cause of electrical

incidents:
59% related to defective
equipment.
26% due to human error.
14% resulted from
weather causing short
circuits.

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 Loss Prevention findings

Hardware causes of electrical

incidents:
36% due to
damaged/worn out cable.
26% due to
damaged/substandard
electrical plugs.
14% due from not
properly maintained
breakers.

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 Power lines

• General Electric 2013

Report
 16% fatalities at oil fields
due to electrical accident,
explosion or burn.

• 1 Rig move power-line

fatality in 2012.

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Saudi Aramco Requirement

 Only electrical competent person shall repair or

install electrical equipment, or work around live
circuits.

 All electrical works must be properly grounded.

 All works must have the necessary work permit and

be properly barricaded complete with warning signs.

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Requirements

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 Electrical terminology

Term Definition
Current The movement of an electrical charge.
Current is measured in amperes.
Voltage (V) A measure of electrical force.
Ampere (I) Strength of an electrical current.
Resistance The ability of a material to decrease or stop
(R) electrical current. Resistance is measured in
ohms.

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Understanding the basic
facts of electricity
 The flow of electricity must have a complete path to
the ground.
 Electricity flows through conductors:
water, metal, the human body, etc.

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 Electrical Injuries
 Electric Shock

It usually involves burns and abnormal

heart rhythm and unconsciousness.

 Electrocution
Electrocution occurs when electrical
current passes over or through
a worker’s body resulting in a fatality.

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 Electrical Injuries
 Falls
Electric shock may cause muscles to
contract causing a worker to lose balance
and fall. An explosion from an electrical
incident can also cause a fall.

 Burns
Burns occur when a worker contacts
energized electrical wiring or equipment.
Most often occur at the hands and feet.

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 Electric Shock
How Shock Occurs:
 Electric shock occurs when the body becomes part
of the electrical circuit. This can happen when any
of the following occurs:
The body comes into contact with wires in an
energized circuit.
The body comes into contact with one wire of
an energized circuit and a path to the ground.
The body comes into contact with a metallic
part that has become “hot” by contact with an
energized conductor.

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 Severity of Shock

 The severity depends on three factors:

The path of the current through the body.
The amount of current flowing through the
body.
The time of exposure to the current.
 Examples:

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 Effects of electricity on the
human body
 The effects of electricity on
the human body depends on
many variables:
 Strength of the current
 Duration of contact
 Body mass (small frames
provide less resistance,
large frames provide
more)
 Gender
 Body moisture
 The path of the current

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 Effect on Human Body
Current level
Probable Effect on Human Body
(Milliamperes)
Slight tingling sensation. Still dangerous under certain
1 mA
conditions.
Slight shock felt; not painful but disturbing. Average
5mA individual can let go. However, strong involuntary
reactions to shocks in this range may lead to injuries.
Painful shock, begin to lose muscular control. Commonly
6mA - 16mA
referred to as the freezing current or "let-go" range.
Extreme pain, respiratory arrest, severe muscular
17mA - 99mA
contractions. Individual cannot let go. Death is possible.
Ventricular fibrillation (uneven, uncoordinated pumping of
100mA -
the heart.) Muscular contraction and nerve damage begins
2000mA
to occur. Death is likely.
Cardiac arrest, internal organ damage, and severe burns.
> 2,000mA
Death is most likely.
Reference – National Safety Council

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 Safe Work Practices
 All electrical conductors shall
be considered energized
unless properly Locked,
Tagged, Cleared, and Tried.

 De-energize all circuits before

beginning work.

 Use proper PPE.

 Personnel shall not wear rings,

wristwatches, jewelry, or other
similar metallic objects while
working within arm’s length of
energized electrical
equipment.

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 Safe Work Practices

 Blown fuses shall be

removed with approved
fuse pullers and replaced
only with the proper type
and rated fuses.

 Metal ladders shall not be

used around exposed
electrical sources.

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 Safe Work Practices
 Never use defective
electrical equipment.

 When opening or closing a

disconnect switch,
personnel shall stand to the
side, turn head away from
switch, and throw switch
with a quick upward or
downward single motion.

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 Safe Work Practices
 Extension cords shall not
be used in place of
permanent wiring.

 Maximum voltage for

portable electrical hand
tools shall not exceed 125
Volts.

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 Safe Work Practices

 Do not use electrical

rooms as storage or
resting areas.

 Battery rooms shall be

properly ventilated.

 Appropriate electrical
maintenance is to be
done regularly.

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Hazard examples

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 Hazard examples
 Act smart & don’t be a victim.

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Thank You

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