ELECTRICAL SAFETY

OBJECTIVE :
AVOID

GETTING
ELECTRICAL

SHOCK.
 HOW ELECTRICITY ACTS?
The source of electricity is the power generating station;

Current travels through electric conductors like wires;

Electrical pressure or force, known as electromotive force,

measured in volts is provided by a generator.

Some substances such as metals, offer very little resistance

to the flow of electric current and are called conductors
 HOW SHOCKS OCCUR?
Electricity travels in closed circuits, and its normal route is through
a conductor.

It occurs when the body becomes a part of the electric circuit. The
current must enter the body at one point and leave at another.

Electric shocks normally occur in 3 ways:

INDIVIDUALS while in contact with the ground must come in

contact with BOTH WIRES of the electric circuit.

One wire of an energized circuit and the ground, or a metallic

part that has become “hot” by contact with an energized conductor.

conductor
 SEVERITY OF SHOCKS
Whenever electricity is involved, the primary hazard is the risk to
electric shock. Although the human body is a conductor, it does offer
resistance to the passage of current through it. The severity of an
electrical shock depends on how much current passes through the
body and also on the path that the current takes. For example, current
generally takes the shortest possible path through the body. If a
person is touching energized conductors with both hands, the current
will pass directly through the person’s heart. However, if only one
hand is touching an energized conductor, the current travels to
ground along the path of least resistance. In this case, the current
moves up the arm, down the body, and through the nearest leg. The
current tends to stay on one side of the body, so it is likely to pass
through the heart.
 SEVERITY OF SHOCKS
There are 3 primary factors when a person becomes in
contact of an electric circuit.
circuit

1. The amount of current flowing through the body.

2. The path of the current through the body.

3. Length of time the body is in the circuit.

REMEMBER : LOW
VOLTAGE DOES NOT
IMPLY LOW HAZARD!
 SEVERITY OF SHOCKS
Resistance of one’s body is affected by several factors such as
individual physiology, a person’s emotional state, and the
moisture that may or may not be on a person’s skin.

Some of the different resistances in a typical body are:

.Ear to ear = 100 
.Hand to foot = 500 
.Dry Skin = 350,000 
.Wet Skin = 1,000 

Example (Use Ohm’s Law at 110volts) :

Absorbed Current (ear to ear) = 110 volts/100  = 1.1 A
Absorbed Current (Dry Skin) = 110 volts/350,000  = <1 mA
 EFFECTS OF ELECTRIC
CURRENT IN THE HUMAN BODY
CURRENT (A/C) REACTION
1 ma (JIS) Just a faint tingle
5 ma Slight shock felt
6-25 ma(women) Painful shock (may lose some muscular control)
9-30 ma(men) Freezing current (let-go range)
(severe muscular contraction, breathing difficulties)

50-150 ma Respiratory arrest (may result to immediate death

unless treatment is available)

1000-4300 ma Nerve damage occur

10,000 ma Cardiac arrest

JIS = Japanese Industrial Standard (Safe current should not be more than 1 mA A/C.
 BURNS AND OTHER
INJURIES

Burns suffered in electrical incidents are of 3 types:

1. Arc burns

2. Electrical burns

3. Thermal contact burns.

 PREVENTING
ELECTRICAL HAZARD
INSULATION

GUARDING

GROUNDING

CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICES

SAFE WORK PRACTICES (include working on Energize/deenergized circuitry)

OVERHEAD LINES
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (check if puncture-free)
 CLEAR POINTS
Electrical hazard is an important part of every safety and health
program

Responsibility for this program should be delegated to

individuals who have complete knowledge of electricity and
safe work practices.

Everyone has the right to work in a safe environment through

cooperative efforts, employers and employees can learn to
identify and eliminate/control electrical hazards.
 ELECTRICAL
SAFETY CHECKLIST
Keep these safety pointers in mind to help you avoid damage
and injury from electrical current.

1. Read warning signs. They’re posted to inform and protect

you.

2. Study the operation manual for tools and equipment before

you use them, then follow instructions.

3. Light your work safely with extension lamps that have non-
conductive handles, sockets and guards.
 ELECTRICAL
SAFETY CHECKLIST

4. Take care of extension cords so they don’t twist or break.

Make sure they’re out of the way, so they won’t get walked on.
Don’t allow these cords to pass through doorways as door has
been closed on an extension cord cutting it in two.

5. Disconnect cords by grasping the plug. Don’t yank them out.

6. Watch for makeshift wiring that can cause shocks and fires.
 ELECTRICAL SAFETY
CHECKLIST
7. Follow lockout and tag-out procedures before you begin
repairs. Move the switch into the “Off” position. Test equipment
with meters. Are you sure the circuit is dead?

8. Use Ground Fault Circuit Interupters. Always ensure that

electrical bonding on pipe work is in place and restored after any
maintenance activities

9. Choose battery powered tools whenever possible, especially

when your working outside.
 ELECTRICAL SAFETY
CHECKLIST
10. Report immediately any defective or damaged equipment,
machinery, tools or wiring to your supervisor.