ELECTRICAL SAFETY
AWARENESS TRAINING
ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
DEPARTMENT of ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH & SAFTEY
X4150
KOBRIA KARIM - INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
TRAINING OUTLINE
! Hazards of Electrical Work
! How One Might Become Exposed to
Electrical Hazards
! Where One Can Find Electrical Hazards
in the Workplace
! Adverse Health Effects
! How to Protect Yourselves from
Electrical Hazards
ELECTRICAL SAFETY TRAINING
OUTLINE (cont’d)
! Supervisors’ Responsibilities
! Workers’ Responsibilities
! How to Respond in an Emergency
! How to Report Problems
! Video
! Questions & Answers
! Quiz
ELECTRICITY IS DANGEROUS
SOME SOBERING FACTS
! An average of one worker is
electrocuted on the job every day of
every year
! Electrocution is the third leading cause
of work-related deaths among 16 to 17
year olds, after motor vehicle deaths &
workplace homicide
! Electrocution is the cause of 12% of all
workplace deaths among young workers
ARE YOU CONCERNED
ABOUT ELECTRICITY?
! How many sets of Christmas lights do you
plug into one extension cord?
! Do you still use your hot sparking electric
drill?
! Is your vacuum cleaner’s cord twisted
and frayed?
! Have you installed outlet covers to
protect your toddler?
BASICS OF ELECTRICITY
! Electrical Source
! Electrical User
! Wires
! Electricity travels in a completed circuit
! Electricity always travels in the path of
least resistance
! Electricity tries to travel to ground
HOW ONE MIGHT BE EXPOSED TO
ELECTRICIAL HAZARDS
! Touching two wires that are at different
voltages at the same time
! Touching both live wires of a 240 volt
cable
! Wearing wet clothing, the presence of
water, perspiration & high humidity
! Touching exposed wires
! Touching defective electrical equipment
which is energized
HOW ONE MIGHT BE EXPOSED TO
ELECTRICIAL HAZARDS (cont’d)
! The dangers from electrical shock depend
on:
! amount of electric current
! duration of electric current
! path of electric current
! Amount of current is inversely related to
the resistance, V = I x R (Ohm’s Law)
HOW ONE MIGHT BE EXPOSED TO
ELECTRICIAL HAZARDS (cont’d)
! Low voltage doesn’t always mean low
hazards
! High voltages can cause additional
injuries, such as:
! violent muscular contractions
! falls
! internal bleeding
! destruction of tissue, nerves and
muscles
BODY’S RESISTANCE
! Skin offers most of the body’s electrical
resistance
! Increased resistance is found in thick &
callused skin (foot and hand) and dry skin
! Decreased resistance is found in thin skin
(inner forearm), wet or sweaty skin and
broken or abraded skin (scratches)
RESISTANCE VARIES
! Different levels of electrical resistance
exist for each person
! Ranges from 500 to several thousand
ohms
! A similar voltage shock can be minor to
one person and deadly to another
EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
CURRENT ON THE HUMAN BODY
! 1 mA: Can be felt by the body
! 2-10mA: Minor shock, might result in a
fall
! 10-25 mA: Loss of muscle control, may
not be able to let go
! 25-75 mA: Painful, may lead to collapse
or death
! 75-300 mA: Last for 1/4 second, almost
always immediately fatal
PATH OF THE CURRENT
! Currents through the heart, chest or the
nervous system are most dangerous
! Current through part of the limb before
exiting the body can cause severe burns
! Current passing through the chest is
often fatal
! Current passing between hands and
feet involves lungs and the heart and is
often fatal
BURNS CAUSED BY
ELECTRICAL SHOCK
! Electrical burns: occur when
improperly used or maintained electrical
equipment is touched
! Thermal burns: occur as a consequence
of electrical burns
! Arc Blasts: occur when high amperage
current passes through air
WHERE ONE CAN FIND ELECTRICAL
HAZARDS AT WORK
! Inadequate wiring
! Exposed electrical parts
! Overhead power lines
! Wires with bad insulation
! Electrical systems and tools that are not
grounded or double-insulated
! Overloaded circuits
WHERE ONE CAN FIND ELECTRICAL
HAZARDS AT WORK (cont’d)
! Improper grounding or lack of grounding
! Damaged power tools and equipment
! Using the wrong tool
! Using the wrong PPE
! Defective ladders and scaffolding
! Ladders that conduct electricity
! Wet location, equipment, or worker
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELVES
FROM ELECTRICAL HAZARDS?
! Electrical systems are inherently
safe
! Injuries typically occur when:
! procedures are inappropriate
! procedures are not followed or ignored
! safety systems are circumvented
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELVES
FROM ELECTRICAL HAZARDS? (cont’d)
! Review your assignments and safety
practices with your supervisor
! Only work on areas which you are
qualified
! Only qualified workers perform
electrical work
! Have an action plan and safety plan
before you begin your work
! Anticipate problems
! Work with a buddy
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELVES
FROM ELECTRICAL HAZARDS? (cont’d)
! Qualified workers should shut off and de-
energize circuits. Lock out and tag out
procedures should be used
! Test the circuit to confirm de-energization
! Treat all conductors even “de-energized”
ones as though they are energized
! Remove jewelry and metal objects
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELVES
FROM ELECTRICAL HAZARDS? (cont’d)
! Plan to avoid falls
! Avoid wet working conditions
! Prevent overloaded wiring
! Use insulation and wire nuts
! Use overcurrent protection devices
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELVES
FROM ELECTRICAL HAZARDS? (cont’d)
! Use extension cords properly and
inspect them routinely
! Use an extension cord with sufficient
capacity for the current
! Do not coil or hang extension cords in
any manner that could cause kinks or
damage to insulation
! Do not pull on cords
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELVES
FROM ELECTRICAL HAZARDS? (cont’d)
! Use and maintain tools properly
! Inspect your tools before each use
! Use the right tool for the job and use it
correctly
! Never carry a tool by the cord
! Protect your tools from heat, oil, and
sharp objects
! Use double insulated tools
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELVES
FROM ELECTRICAL HAZARDS? (cont’d)
! Wear the correct PPE and follow the
manufacturer’s instructions
! Wear proper foot protection
! Wear a proper hard hat, if required
! Use the appropriate insulated gloves
! Use properly rated mats
SUPERVISORS’ RESPONSIBILITES
! Review project carefully with your
workers, unless they are routine
assignments
! Emphasize safety practices
! Train workers on area-specific policies
and procedures
! Check your employees’ work practices
to ensure compliance
! Check the final product to ensure that
no deficiencies exist
EMPLOYEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
! Review each project carefully with
your supervisor
! Become thoroughly familiar with
your assignments
! Only perform work in which you are
trained
! If at all in doubt, ask questions
EMPLOYEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
(cont’d)
! Have your supervisor review your
completed project
! Follow your supervisor’s instructions
! Follow safe work practices
! Wear any required PPE
! Alert your co-workers to any unsafe
work practices
EMPLOYEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
(cont’d)
! Report all problems to your
supervisor
! Know what to do in the event of an
emergency
REPORTING PROBLEMS
! Do not ignore signs and clues of
potential electrical problems
! Report all problems to your supervisor
! Tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses
! Tools, wires, connections, extension
cords, cable and fuse boxes or junction
boxes that feel warm to the touch
REPORTING PROBLEMS (cont’d)
! Burning odor
! Worn, frayed or damaged insulation
! GFIs that trip
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES
! Do not panic; remain calm
! In the event of a personal injury:
! Call 911 immediately
! If a person is being shocked, turn of
the source of electricity
! Do not touch someone being shocked
! Remove the person away from the
electrical source using a non-
conductive material
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES
(cont’d)
! Call Security at X4111 and EH&S at X4150
! Notify your supervisor
! In the event of an electrical fire:
! Activate the fire alarm system
! Do not use a Type A, water extinguisher
! If you know how to use an extinguisher, use a
CO2 or dry chemical fire extinguisher
! Alert everyone in the area to evacuate
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES
(cont’d)
! Notify Security at X4111 and EH&S at
X4150
! If you are not sure about using a fire
extinguisher, leave the area and close
any doors behind you
! Wait for the Fire Dept. personnel to
arrive
IN 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
before each use and do not use them if
damaged
IN SUMMARY (cont’d)
! Do not attempt to repair electrical
equipment unless you are trained and
qualified
! Always use lockout/tagout procedures to
de-energize electrical systems
! Use electrical tools and equipment that
are protected by a GFI
IN SUMMARY (cont’d)
! Review your assignments with your
supervisors
! Utilize correct PPE
! Report all problems to your
supervisors
! If at all in doubt, ask questions
