Topic Name: Electrical Safety
Electrical Safety
Electricity is an important part of our
modern world and sometimes it is easy to
forget just how dangerous it can be.
Given the correct circumstances, electricity
can cause serious injuries or even death.
Electrical Safety
• Electrocution is the cause of 12% of
all workplace deaths
• Electrocution is the third leading
cause of work-related deaths
Electrical Injuries
The most common types of electrical
injuries are:
• Electrical shock
• Electrocution (death due to electrical shock)
• Burns
• Falls
Electrical Shock
• Touching a live wire and an electrical ground
will cause a shock.
• Touching two live wires of different voltages
will cause electrical shock.
Electrical Shock
The severity of the shock depends on: LOW VOLTAGE
DOES
• Path of the current through your body NOT
• Amount of current flowing MEAN
through your body LOW HAZARD
• Length of time your body is in contact with
the circuit
Burn
s
Burns are the most common injury caused
by electricity. The three types of burns
are: • Electrical burns
• Arc burns
• Thermal contact burns
Falls
Another common type of electrical injury is falling.
Workers who experience a shock on elevated work surfaces
such as platforms, ladders or scaffolds can fall resulting in
serious injury or death.
Electrical Hazards
To avoid injuries, you should be aware of electrical
hazards. Some of the most common electrical
hazards are:
• Exposed electrical parts
• Overloaded circuits
• Defective insulation
• Improper grounding
• Damaged power tools
• Overhead power lines
• Wet conditions
Exposed Electrical
Parts
Exposed electrical parts can include:
• Breaker boxes without a cover
• Electrical terminals in motors,
appliances, and electronic equipment
Overloaded Circuits
Overloading a circuit increases the
potential for
fires to occur. Overload hazards exist if:
• Too many devices are plugged into a
circuit
• The wire insulation melts
• An improper overcurrent protection
device is used
• No overcurrent protection
device is used
Defective Insulation
• To protect you, electrical wires are
insulated by a plastic or rubber covering.
Insulation prevents conductors from
coming in contact with each other and
with people.
• Make sure the insulation of tools and cords
you are using is not damaged.
Grounding
When an electrical system is properly
grounded, there is a path that allows the
current to travel to the earth (the ground).
When any electrical system is not properly
grounded, a hazard exists.
Wet Conditions
Wet conditions are hazardous because you
can become an easy path for electrical
current.
There are many circumstances that create
wet conditions:
• Standing in water
• Wet clothing
• High humidity
Safe Work Practices
We can Start Safe and Stay Safe by using
the following safe work practices:
• Inspect cords before each use
• Never overload a circuit
• Stay away from all
unguarded conductors
• To unplug, pull on the plug, not the
cord
• Don’t wear jewelry or use other metal
objects around electrical equipment
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Safe Work Practices:
Lockout/Tag out
When performing lockout/tag we must do
• Turn off the power supply
• Put a lock on all power sources
to the circuit
• Apply a tag
• Test the circuit
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Summary
It is very important to Start Safe and Stay Safe around
electricity. In order to do so:
• Know the hazards
• Plan your work and plan for safety
• Avoid wet working conditions and other dangers
• Avoid overhead power lines
• Use proper wiring and connectors
• Use and maintain tools properly
• Wear the correct PPE for the job
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Thank You
