Electrical Safety

Electricity - The Dangers

About 5 workers are
electrocuted every week
Causes 12% of young
worker workplace deaths
Takes very little
electricity to cause harm
Significant risk of causing
fires
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
 BASIC ELECTRICAL TERMS
 What are the definitions of these terms?
 Electricity
 Ohms
 Current
 Direct current
 Voltage
 Alternating
 Resistance current
 Amps  Conductor
 Volts  Insulator
 Electrical Injuries
There are four main types of electrical injuries:
Direct:
Electrocution or death due to electrical shock
Electrical shock
Burns
• Indirect - Falls
RESISTANCE OF THE HUMAN BODY
TO DIFFERENT AMPERAGES

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.
Over 200 m.a. from 220V household voltage

Defibrillator in use
Burns
Most common shock-related
injury
Occurs when you touch
electrical wiring or equipment
that is improperly used or
maintained
Typically occurs on hands
Very serious injury that
needs immediate attention
 Electrical Burns

Exit Wound

Entrance Wound
Arc or Flash Burns Thermal Contact Burns
Internal Injuries
Involuntary Muscle Contraction
 Current flows through the body from the entrance point,
until finally exiting where the body is closest to the ground.
AVOID THE FOLLOWING UNSAFE ACTS:

Worker’s attitude such as working without

appropriate PPEs.

Improper working method

Wearing of metal objects as watches, necklaces &

rings.

Working in wet and/or damp locations

AVOID THE FOLLOWING UNSAFE ACTS:
AVOID THE FOLLOWING UNSAFE ACTS:
AVOID THE FOLLOWING UNSAFE ACTS:

Failure to de-energize, lockout and tagout hazards

during maintenance, repair or inspections of fuse box.

Use of defective and unsafe tools.

Use of tools or equipment too close to energized

parts.

Not draining off stored energy in capacitors.

Double Insulated Tool
AVOID THE FOLLOWING UNSAFE ACTS:

Using 3 wire cord with a 2 wire plug.

Remove and replace wrong fuse.

Not verifying power is off when making

repair.
UNSAFE EQUIPMENT
What equipment can cause electrical accidents:

Faults in facilities such as exposed

charged part of electrical machines and
equipment
Damaged insulation of electrical wirings
Short Circuit
Overloading
Improper grounding
 HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT

Flammable vapors, liquids

and gases
Combustible dusts
Corrosive atmosphere
Explosive environments
 HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT

Deteriorated cords, where the exterior insulation

has cracked, exposing the wires inside.
Cords and/ or plugs produced from substandard
materials.
Use of cords which have no appropriate current
(amp) rating for either the plug or the equipment.
 HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT

Use of extension cords for permanent

installations.
Equipment which has been incorrectly
wired, representing either a shock or fire
hazard.
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS TO WATCH 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
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS TO WATCH OUT FOR

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
Electrical Plugs and Extension Cords
Electrical Plugs and Extension Cords
MEASURES TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK

Use grounding system

Install GFCI
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
PREVENTIVE MEASURE ON ELECTRIC SHOCK

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 and Tag-Out
JHA
GROUNDING
Particulars regarding details of conductors sizes &
nature of grounds can be obtained from the
provision of the Philippine Electrical Code
governing them

GROUNDING ROD SPECIFICATION

Steel Rod - 5/8” dia. & 8 ft long
Copper Clad Steel Rod - 1/2” dia. & 8 ft long
Galvanized Pipe - 3/4” & 8 ft long
Resistance should not exceed 25 ohms
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

Portable Ground Fault

Circuit Interrupters
GFCI Panel Mounts
Preventing Electrical Hazards - PPE

Proper foot protection

(not tennis shoes)
Rubber insulating
gloves, hoods, sleeves,
matting, and blankets
Hard hat (insulated -
nonconductive)
SIMPLE RULES TO
FOLLOW
DO NOT GUESS
USE PROPER INSTRUMENTS
ALWAYS USE SAFETY DEVICES
LOCKING & TAGGING
PROCEDURE
NEVER WORK ALONE
USE DANGER SIGNS
THANK YOU ALL!