Electrical Safety

Electrical Safety
Concerned About Electricity?

 How many sets of Festival
lights do you plug into one
extension cord?
 Do you still use your hot
and sparking electric drill?
 Is your vacuum cleaner’s
cord twisted and frayed?
 Have you installed outlet
covers to protect your
toddler’s probing fingers?
Electrical Safety Goals
 Electricity and the human body
 Electrical hazards and safe work practices
 Quiz
Electrical Circuits
 Electrical source
 Electrical user
 Wires
Rules of Electricity
 Electricity travels in a completed circuit
 Electricity always travels in the path of
least resistance
 Electricity tries to travel to ground
 All electrical work is governed by Eni Gas
Permit to work
Electricity and People
 A person usually offers a less resistance
for the electricity
 The person forms a completed circuit when
touching the ground
 Electricity always tries to travel to ground
Voltages and Amperes
 Voltage = Amps X Ohms
(resistance)
 Converting voltage to amps
 Typical Industrial Voltages
– 110/120 Volts = 60
milliAmps (mA)
– 220/240 Volts = 120 mA
– 440/480 Volts = 240 mA
Effects on the Human Body
 1 mA: Can be felt by the body
 2-10 mA: Minor shock, might result in a
fall
 10-25 mA: Loss of muscle control, may
not be able to let go of the current
 25-75 mA: Painful, may lead to collapse
or death
 75-300 mA: Last for 1/4 second, almost
always immediately fatal
Body’s Resistance
 Skin offers most of the body’s
electrical resistance
 Increased resistance
– Thick and callused skin (foot or hand)
– Dry skin
 Decreased resistance
– Thin skin (inner forearm)
– Wet or sweaty skin
– Broken or abraded skin (scratches)
Resistance Varies
 Different levels of electrical resistance
for each person
 Ranges from 500 ohms to many thousands
of ohms
 The greater the body’s resistance, the less
chance of harm
 A similar voltage shock can be minor to
one person and deadly to another.
Additional Resistance
 Gloves
 Shoes
 Mats
 Quiz
Training
 Qualified workers
– How to identify exposed energized parts
– How to safeguard or work on energized parts
 Unqualified workers
– How electricity works
– Risks of working with energized equipment
– Tasks to be performed only by qualified
workers
Hazard Control
 Electrical systems are inherently safe
 Injuries typically occur when:
– Procedures are inappropriate
– Procedures are not followed or ignored
– Safety systems are circumvented
General Electrical Hazards
 High-voltage overhead
power lines
 Damaged insulation on wires
 Digging or trenching near
buried lines
 Broken switches or plugs
 Overloaded circuits
 Overheated appliances or tools
 Static electricity
 Flammable materials
Portable Power Tools
 Inspect portable power tools
 Never use damaged equipment
– Tag it out of service
– Have it repaired or replaced
 Never use portable power equipment in wet
or damp areas
 Stop using power tools if they become hot
or start sparking
Extension Cords
 Inspect and check
for capacity
 For temporary work only
 Do not use as a rope
to pull or lift objects
 Should not be fastened with
staples or hung over hooks
Electrical Cord Inspection
 Deformed or missing pins
 Damaged outer jacket or insulation
 Evidence of internal damage
 If damaged, take out of service until
repaired
Circuit Protection
 Energize or de-energize with appropriate
switches, breakers, etc.
 Do not energize or de-energize with fuses,
terminal lugs, or cable splice connections
 If circuit protection device is tripped—
inspect
Grounding Equipment
 Most electrical equipment is designed with
a grounding system
 Do not use equipment with damaged
grounding connectors
 Do not use adapters that interrupt the
grounding connection
Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupters
 GFCIs reduce the likelihood of fatal shocks
 Detect small amount of earth current and
automatically switch off the power
 Used with extension cords and portable
tools
 Fuses and circuit breakers protect
equipment, not people
Static Electricity
 Created when materials rub together
 Can cause shocks or even minor skin burns
 Reduced or prevented by:
– Proper grounding
– Rubber matting
– Grounding wires, gloves, or shoes
Flammable/Ignitable Materials
 Flammable gases, vapors, or liquids
 Combustible dust
 Can be ignited by static electricity
 Require specially designed electrical
equipment
Machine Operators
 Never tamper with electrical interlocks
 Do not repair electrical components of
your machine
 Properly shut off machinery before working
in the point of operation
 Obey warning signs and follow safe procedures
 Quiz
Summary
 Electricity will try to reach ground even if it
means going through a person
 Even the “small” voltage from your home
can cause serious injury
 Always inspect power tools and cords and
do not use them if damaged
 Do not attempt to repair electrical
equipment unless trained and qualified
Quiz
1. Where does electricity always want to go, even if it means
traveling through a person? ______________
2. A shock from an outlet at home may be
painful, lead to collapse, or even death. True or False
3. Which part of the human body offers the most electrical
resistance? _________________________.
4. Flammable materials can easily be ignited by
_________________________________ electricity.
5. Only ___________________ workers are permitted to
work on or near exposed electrical components.
Quiz (cont.)
6. When should power tools and extension cords be
inspected? ________________________________
7. Fuses and circuit breaker are designed
to protect people from shocks. True or False
8. When a circuit breaker trips, you
should immediately reset it. True or False
9. Extension cords should never be used
as a permanent power source. True or False
10. What should be done with a damaged power tool or
extension cord? ____________________________
Quiz Answers
1. Electricity always wants to travel to ground, which
will complete the circuit.
2. True. A 120-volt outlet at home can give the
average person a shock of 60 mA.
3. The skin offers the most electrical resistance.
4. Static electricity can easily ignite a flammable
material.
5. Only qualified and trained workers can repair or
troubleshoot electrical equipment.
Quiz Answers (cont.)
6. Inspect power tools and extension cords before
each use.
7. False. Fuses and circuit breaker protect machinery
and electrical systems.
8. False. A tripped breaker could indicate a problem,
so it should be checked by a qualified worker.
9. True. Extension cords are designed as a temporary
power source.
10. Tag it out of service and have it replaced or
repaired by a qualified worker.

Electrical Safety

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Electrical Safety

Concerned About Electricity?

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