BASIC ELECTRICAL SAFETY

HAZARDS OF
ELECTRICITY
The
primary
hazards
associated with electricity
and its use are:

SHOCK-1
Electric shock occurs when the
human body becomes a part of a
path through which electrons can
flow. The resulting effect on the body
can be either direct or indirect

Direct

Injury or death can occur

whenever electric current flows
through
the
human
body.
Currents of less than 30 mA can
result in death.

Indirect
Although the electric current
through the human body may be
well below the values required to
cause noticeable injury, human
reaction can result in falls from
ladders
or
scaffolds,
or
movement
into
operating
machinery. Such reaction can
result in serious injury or death.

BURNS 2
Burns can result when a person
touches
electrical
wiring
or
equipment that is improperly
used or maintained. Typically,
such burn injuries occur on the
hands.

ARC-BLAST -3
Arc-blasts occur from high-amperage
currents arcing through air.
This abnormal current flow (arc-blast) is
initiated
by
contact
between
two
energized points. This contact can be
caused by persons who have an accident
while working on energized components,
or by equipment failure due to fatigue or
abuse.
Temperatures as high as 35,000F have
been recorded in arc-blast research.

4-EXPLOSIONS
Explosions occur when electricity
provides a source of ignition for
an explosive mixture in the
atmosphere. Ignition can be due
to overheated conductors or
equipment, or normal arcing
(sparking) at switch contacts.

5- FIRES
Electricity is one of the most common
causes of fire both in the home and
workplace.
Defective
or
misused
electrical equipment is a major cause,
with high resistance connections being
one of the primary sources of ignition.
High resistance connections occur
where wires are improperly spliced or
connected to other components such as
receptacle outlets and switches

 Heat is developed in an electrical

conductor by the flow of current at the
rate I2R. The heat thus released elevates
the temperature of the conductor
material. A typical use of this formula
illustrates a common electrical hazard. If
there is a bad connection at a
receptacle, resulting in a resistance of 2
ohms, and a current of 10 amperes flows
through that resistance, the rate of heat
produced (W) would be

If you have ever touched an

energized 200 watt light bulb, you
will realize that this is a lot of heat to
be concentrated in the confined
space of a receptacle. Situations
similar to this can contribute to
electrical fires.

BASIC ELECTRICAL SAFETY

Electricity is potentially lethal. It
must be treated with respect at
all times and used only in
approved ways. Hundreds of
people every year die as a result
of the misuse of electricity. They
die as a direct result of electric
shock, or as an indirect result of
faulty
or
misused
electrical
equipment that causes fire.
Listed below are some important
points
to
remember
when

1 Never work on live equipment

(unless a special live test is
required, for which you will need
to
be
an
experienced
and
competent person).
2
Always
ensure,
by
using
approved test instruments, that
equipment is dead.
3 Never accept another persons
word that a circuit is safe to work
on; always check.
4 Ensure that all supplies to
equipment to be worked on are
isolated at the appropriate places
and locked OFF if possible, and

5 If work is to be carried out on

dead equipment which is adjacent
to live supplies, ensure that
barriers are used to define safe
areas,
or
DANGER
LIVE
APPARATUS notices are placed on
all adjacent live equipment.

Safe isolation of supplies

The Electricity at Work Regulations
require that no live working is
undertaken
unless
it
is
impracticable to work dead.
All electrical circuits, apparatus etc.
must, therefore, be switched off,
isolated (these can sometimes be
achieved
by
one
action,
e.g.
switching of a circuit breaker also
isolates the circuit) and, whenever
possible, locked in the off position.
In order to prove the system dead
and safe to work on, an approved

1- Identify the circuit/equipment to

be worked on.
2- Ensure that it is safe/convenient
to switch off.
3- Isolate the supply.
4- Using an approved voltage
indicator:
check the indicator works, on a
known supply then use it to test to
check the system is dead then recheck the indicator is still working,
on the known supply again.
5- Lock off the isolator or remove
the fuse and keep in a safe place. If

Safe use of electrical

equipment
When one is using electrical
equipment such as drills, saws,
sanders, etc. On site or in a
workshop, great care must be
taken to ensure that the tools are
in good condition and that the
cables supplying them are not
damaged in any way and are
adequate for the job they have to
do.
Any connections of cables must

First aid
No matter how careful we are,
there are times when we or
our
workmates
have
an
accident. Prompt action can
relieve unnecessary suffering,
prevent permanent disability
and, in extreme cases, save
life. This action is first aid.

Electric shock
An electric shock is experienced
when a current passes through the
body. Not everyone would have the
same level of shock from the same
source;
it
would
depend
on
variables such as the individuals
body resistance, his or her health,
etc. However, it is generally
accepted that 50 mA (0.05 ampere)
is the lethal level. Below this level,
contact with a live source throws
us away from the source. Above 50
mA the muscles contract or freeze

Electric shock
Also, interruption of the hearts
rhythm takes place and its beating
may stop altogether (ventricular
fibrillation). Burns to the parts of
the body in contact can occur,
together with burning of internal
organs and loss of breathing
It is clearly essential that prompt
action be taken in the case of
severe
electric
shock.
The
following
procedure
must
be
adopted:

1 Do not touch the casualty with

the hands.
2 Switch off the supply.
3 If this is not possible, pull the
casualty away from contact using
insulating material, i.e. a scarf,
piece of wood, newspaper, etc.
4 If heart or breathing or both have
stopped, apply resuscitation and
cardiac massage until the casualty
recovers.
5 Treat for burns.
6 Check for other injuries; treat as
necessary.

Method of resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary

resuscitation (CPR)

Place victim flat

on back on a
hard surface
A.
Open
the
airway
If
unconscious and
not breathing tilt
head back and
support jaw

B. Breathing.
Look, listen and feel
for breathing. If not
breathing
give
mouth
to
mouth
resuscitation.
Close nostrils with
fingers and blow
into mouth. Make
sure there is no air
leak and the chest
expands.
Give
2
normal
breaths.
Feel
for
carotid
pulse in neck. If no

C.Perform
chest
compressions.
Place both hands
on the lowest third
of
breastbone.
Depress
sternum
11 inches at a rate
of 80 compressions
(1.5-2)inches
per
minute.
Alternate 2 breaths
with
15
compressions.
Check pulse after 1
minute and every 3