Electrical Safety

Electrical Safety

FRUMENCIO T. TANAccredited Safety Consultant

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

Current

Voltage

Resistance

Amps

Volts

Ohms

Direct current

Alternating current

Conductor

Insulator

Electrical Injuries

There are four main types of electrical injuries:

Direct:Electrocution or death due to electrical shockElectrical shockBurns

• Indirect - Falls

RESISTANCE OF THE HUMAN BODYTO 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

Entrance Wound

Exit 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 equipmentDamaged insulation of electrical wiringsShort CircuitOverloadingImproper 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 connectionsCord with frayed insulationsPlugs that do not match their outlets, e.g., 3-prong male plug to 2-plug female outletNon-waterproof cords, plugs and outlets used outdoorsEquipment running over capacity

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Tools that smell, smoke, spark or shockWires running across the floorElectrical cords in contact with hot appliances or soaked in waterExtension cords instead of permanent wiringOctopus connections

Electrical Plugs and Extension Cords

Electrical Plugs and Extension Cords

MEASURES TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK

Use grounding systemInstall GFCIIsolation of electrical conductors

Vault & boxesWarning signs

Safe ClearanceElevation (at least 10 ft minimum) of electrical cable specifically at construction siteMinimum approach distance

PREVENTIVE MEASURE ON ELECTRIC SHOCK

InsulationUse double-insulated royal cord for toolsProvide good insulation for appliancesInsure insulation between feet and moist ground

Use appropriate PPEUse Lock-Out and Tag-OutJHA

GROUNDINGParticulars regarding details of conductors sizes & nature of grounds can be obtained from the provision of the Philippine Electrical Code governing them

GROUNDING ROD SPECIFICATIONSteel Rod - 5/8” dia. & 8 ft longCopper Clad Steel Rod - 1/2” dia. & 8 ft longGalvanized Pipe - 3/4” & 8 ft longResistance 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 GUESSUSE PROPER INSTRUMENTSALWAYS USE SAFETY DEVICESLOCKING & TAGGING PROCEDURENEVER WORK ALONEUSE DANGER SIGNS

THANK YOU ALL!