Electrical Safety

DeShawn Peterson, Maggie Eichelberger, Montadar Almutawa,

YongHee Kim, Zach Szymanek
(Loss, 2017)
Training Objectives
1. Briefly explain how electricity works
2. Identify and explain the safety standards used to keep employees safe
3. Describe hazards associated with electrical work
4. Inform about common electrical injuries
5. Offer solutions and corrective measures to avoid injuries
There were 136 electrical fatalities in
2017. Over 2,000 were injured.

(ESFI Occupational Injury and Fatality Statistics, 2019)

1. Electricity
A Review of the Basics
● Electricity is the flow of electrons through a conductor (“Electrical Safety in the
Workplace”, n.d.)

● Electricity safely travels through a closed circuit, flowing from high voltage
to low
● Injuries occur when electricity exists outside of a closed circuit, or when a
person becomes a part of a closed circuit
Common Terms
Conductor- a material that allows electricity to pass easily, the human body is a
conductor

Insulator- a material that restricts the flow of electricity

Voltage- force that drives the flow of electricity

Current- rate at which electricity flows

Voltage is the cause and current is the effect. But, it is the current that causes
electric shock, not voltage.
2. Safety Standards
Organizations must abide by the electrical safety standards detailed by OSHA.
These are the standards minimally required by the law.

See OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S for general industry standards

See OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart K for standards specific to the construction ind
ustry

However...

OSHA standards should be considered the bare minimum. The National Fire
Protection Association has developed their own set of more stringent
electrical safety standards that go beyond OSHA requirements.

See NFPA 70E

OSHA 29 CFR Subpart S
● Electrical equipment will be free of recognized hazards that are likely to
cause serious physical harm or death
-1910.303(b)(1)

● Electrical equipment will be installed and used according to instructions

and labeling
-1910.303(b)(2)

● Installations will be free of short circuits and grounds (other than those
required or permitted)
-1910.303 (b)(3)
OSHA 29 CFR Subpart S (Continued)
● Electrical equipment will be installed in a neat and professional manner
-1910.303(b)(7)

● There will be no damaged parts that may impair the safety or strength of
equipment
-1910.303(b)(7)(iv)

● Internal parts may not be damaged or contaminated by debris

-1910.303(b)(7)(iii)
OSHA 29 CFR Subpart S (Continued)
● No conductors or equipment will be stored in damp or wet locations
where it could be exposed to elements that have a deteriorating effect
(unless equipment is designed for this sort of environment)
-1910.303(b)(6)

● Any openings where electrical equipment is housed will be properly

closed when not in use
-1910.303(b)(7)(i)

● Equipment that produces arcs, sparks, flames, or molten metal will be

stored separately and isolated from all combustible material
-1910.303(d)
OSHA 29 CFR Subpart K
● Employees will not be allowed to work in proximity to an electric power
circuit that they could contact in the process of doing their work, the
circuit must be de-energized, grounded, or guarded
-1926.416(a)(1)

● Before starting work the employer must investigate the location to

determine if any part of an energized circuit is located in an area where it
could be contact by man or machine in the process of doing their work,
warning signs must be posted and employees must be properly advised
-1926(a)(3)
OSHA 29 CFR Subpart K (Continued)
● Workspaces for electrical equipment cannot be used as passageways
when energized parts are exposed, barriers or guards should be in place
-1926.416(b)(1)

● Existing installations cannot be changed to increase the load greater than

the load rating of the circuit wiring
-1926.416(c)

● Worn or frayed cords or cables will not be used

-1926.416(e)(1)

● Extension cords cannot be fastened with staples, hung from nails, or

suspended by wire
-1926.416(e)(2)
NFPA 70E
● Portable cords will be visually inspected before each use for defects and
signs of damage
-110.5(c)(a)

● Defective or damaged equipment will be removed, and will not be used

until it is repaired and tested to guarantee safety
-110.5(c)(b)

● Equipment should only be worked on and operated by qualified people, a

qualified person is one who has been trained to identify & avoid electrical
hazards
-110.2(1)
 3. Common
Electrical Hazards
 Damaged Tools and
Overhead Power Lines
Equipment
● Overhead powered and
energized electrical lines
have high voltages which
can cause major burns and
electrocution to workers.

(Safety Signs & Notices, 2019)

(Elliot, 2015)
Inadequate Wiring and
Overloaded Circuits Exposed Electrical Parts

(PAT Institute, 2017) (My Safety Sign, 2019)

● Using wires with inappropriate size for the current can
cause overheating and fires to occur.
● Also, do not overload an outlet and use proper circuit
breakers
● Examples of exposed electrical parts include
temporary lighting, open power distribution units,
and detached insulation parts on electrical cords.
Improper Grounding Damaged Insulation

(Mini Physics, 2019)

(OSHAcademy, 2019)

● Proper grounding can eliminate ● Defective or inadequate

unwanted voltage and reduce insulation is a hazard. Be
the risk of electrocution. aware of damaged insulation
and report it immediately.
Wet Conditions Arc Blast

(Metro Water Tuscan Board, n.d.)

(JMK Engineering Inc., 2019)

● Water greatly increases the ● An arc blast is the name given

risk of electrocution especially to the explosive burst of
if the equipment has damaged energy that occurs during an
insulation. arc flash.
4. Electrical Injuries
Occupations at Risk of Suffering an Electrical
Accident

According to OSHA, the occupations

listed here face a greater risk of
experiencing an electrical accident.

(United States Department of Labor, 1990)

Electrical Injuries
● Electric shock
● Electrocution
● Falls
● Burns
Electric Shock
● Occurs when a person becomes a part of the closed circuit, and the
electrical current moves through their body

● The person may be burned, their heart rhythm is impaired, they may
become unconscious
(United States Department of Labor, n.d.)
Electrocution
● Occurs when a lethal amount of electrical current passes over or through
a worker’s body
● The nervous system is overstimulated,
and internal organs may be damaged
● Results in death

(SciShow, 2018)
Falls
● Occurs when electric shock cause muscles to contract causing a people to
lose his or her balance

● An explosion from an electrical incident can cause a fall

Burns
● Occurs when a worker makes direct contact with energized electrical
wiring or equipment
● Electrical burns can occur anywhere on the
body, but most often occur on the hands and
feet

(Forensic Medicine for Medical Students, 2019)

5. Corrective Measures
Most electrical accidents are caused by

● Unsafe equipment or installation

● Unsafe environment
● Unsafe work practices
Why is insulation important?
● Insulation covers
○ Wires
○ Connectors
○ Plugs
○ Electrical tools

(Helmenstine, 2019)
Grounding
● The act of creating a low resistance path to the earth
● Equipment ground
○ Done as a secondary measure
○ Greatly reduces the risk to the worker
● Service/System ground
○ Protects machines
○ Utilizes a ground wire
C.P.D. (Circuit Protection Devices)

● Stops electrical flow in the event of a ground fault.

● Examples
○ Fuses
○ Circuit breakers
○ GFCI (Ground-fault circuit interrupters)
○ AFCI (Arc-fault circuit interrupters)
Good Workplace Practices
● De Energizing electrical equipment
● Keep electric tools properly maintained
● Exercise caution when working near live wires and power lines
● Proper PPE
References
Electrical Safety in the Workplace (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/fy11_sh-22230-11_ElectricalSafetyManual.pdf
Elliott, F. (2015, December 1). Understand the Dangers of Electrical Shock. Retrieved from
https://ohsonline.com/articles/2015/12/01/understand-the-dangers-of-electrical-shock.aspx
ESFI Occupational Injury and Fatality Statistics. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.esfi.org/workplace-injury-and-fatality-statistics
Forensic Medicine for Medical Students. (2019) [Photograph of electrical burn to foot] Retrieved from
http://m.forensicmed.webnode.com/wounds/burns/chemical-and-electrical-burns/
Helmenstine, Anne Marie (2019, Nov 18). “10 Examples of Electrical Conductors and Insulators”. Retrieved from
https://www.thoughtco.com/examples-of-electrical-conductors-and-insulators-608315
JMK Engineering Inc. (2019) [Photograph of wet conditions] Retrieved from https://jmkengineering.com/electrical-safety-programs/
Loss, Daniel (2017, Sept 29). Electrical Safety by Tim Taylor [Video File]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYsu5ZmL214&t=1s
Metro Water Tuscan Board (n.d.) [Photograph of arc blast] Retrieved from
http://yourmetrowatertucsonboard.com/unlawful-retaliation-should-be-unacceptable-at-tucson-metro-water/
Mini Physics (2019) [Photograph of damaged insulation] Retrieved from https://www.miniphysics.com/dangers-of-electricity.html
My Safety Sign (2019) [Photograph of OSHA safety sign] Retrieved from
https://www.mysafetysign.com/exposed-electrical-equipment-access-qualified-personnel-sign/sku-s-6360
References
NFPA 70E®. (2019). Retrieved November 9, 2019, from
https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=70E
OSHAcademy (2019) [Photograph of improper grounding] Retrieved from https://www.oshatrain.org/courses/mods/809m1.html
PAT Institute (2017, May 8). 7 Signs of Bad Wiring: Guide for Students in Electrician Training. Retrieved from
https://patinstitute.ca/7-signs-of-bad-wiring-for-students-in-electrician-training/
Safety Signs & Notices (2019) [Photograph of construction site safety sign] Retrieved from
https://www.safetysignsandnotices.co.uk/do-not-use-faulty-or-damaged-tools-or-equipment-report-faults-immediatley-pam14b
Train the Trainer- Basic Electrical Safety (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/2019-04/Basic_Electricity_Materials.pdf
United States Department of Labor. (n.d.). Retrieved, from https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/electrical/standards.html
United States Department of Labor. (1990). Table S-4. Retrieved, from https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/electrical/standards.html
United States Department of Labor. (n.d.). “Train-the-Trainer, Basic Electrical Safety”. Retrieved, from
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/electrical/standards.html
Wallace, J. M. (2016). Safety Articles. Retrieved from http://www.workplace-safety-nc.com/articles/Common-elec-inst-viol.html
SciShow (2018, Jan 20). What Happens When You Get Electrocuted? [Video File]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqIVwa9VFDM