Download Electrical Hazards and Safety

Better
Safe Than
Sorry
A WORLD THAT STARTS WITH ELECTRICAL HAZARDS AND
SAFETY. ELECTRICITY IS A VERY SERIOUS BUSINESS AND THE
EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN, ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND OTHER
OBJECTS CAN BE VERY DEVASTATING. CHECK OUT THIS SLIDE TO
LEARN ALL YOU CAN. REMEMBER WATCH OUT FOR ELECTRICAL
HAZARDS AND THINK FIRST!!
Effects of Alternating Currents
on the Body
The human body CAN become a part of an
electrical circuit.
The damage is done by 3 factors:
•The amount of current flowing through the
body
•The pathway of the electricity
•The duration of the event
The blue arrow indicated the flow of current
through the head to the heart then to
ground. This is the most fatal scenario
AC Currents
Safety Equipment
• Hard Hat – To prevent major head injury in event
of falling objects
• Ear Plugs – To protect the Hearing sense
• Tight Sleeves and trouser Legs – Prevent Being
Pulled into Dangerous Equipment
• No Rings on Fingers – Metal can conduct
• Safety Shows – For protection of those toes from
falling objects
• Rubber Boots – To prevent body from forming a
complete conducting electrical circuit
Electrical equipment is used in everyday tasks. Qualified technicians should be called to inspect any area frequently to ensure that
the risk of any electrical hazard is minimized.
Some protective devices are:
Distribution Panel: This is a circuit breaker and contains many electrical circuits. Using this, a circuit can be turned on or off.
Circuit breakers and Fuses: These protect wires from overheating and are found in the distribution panel box. When there is an
overload, that is, too much current flowing, the fuses will blow or the circuit breakers will trip. Fuses and circuit breakers are
rated so therefore at a particular current, they will be damaged by the circuit will be off. The average household in Trinidad
and Tobago has 60A breakers. GFCI or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupts are a type of circuit breaker and looks like an electrical
outlet. They have the ability to break the circuit in a very short period of time (milliseconds).
Switches: Switches can energize circuits, that is, they allow a current to flow through. If carelessly used, these can cause damage
to a person and to equipment. Receptacles connect the appliances to a circuit.
NOTE: DO NOT PLUG A 115V RATED APPLIANCE INTO A 230V ELECTRICAL SOCKET.
DO NOT MODIFY A 230V PLUG TO FIT INTO A 115V SOCKET BY REMOVING THE 3RD METAL
CONTACT
Remember look out for these hazard signs and take
note of them
These safety signs keep
persons aware of hazards
and warn them to take the
necessary precautions.
Sources of Electrical Hazards
Electrical Cords can Cause Trip Hazards
Frayed power cords are dangerous
Overloading Electrical Sockets
Damaging Cords by Running over them or placing heavy objects on them
Modifying Electrical Plugs
Overheating Machinery by not having adequate ventilation
Damaged Electrical Outlets
Exposed Wires
Working Close to Power Sources, Overhead Lines
Water Dripping on Live Equipment
CAN YOU THINK OF ANY OTHERS??
Electrical cord present under the rug
Bulb intensity too high
Man is tugging on the electrical equipment cord
Television left on
Power outlet is overloaded as too many electronic equipment attached to it
Lamp cord is taped
CAN YOU THINK OF ANY METHODS TO REDUCE THESE HAZARDS?
This is the skin when it succumbs to
varying amounts of electricity to it.
As can be seen, a third degree burn is
almost irreversible and can lead to
death. Symptoms include: weakness,
skin burns, bone fractures, headache,
sudden hearing impairment, muscle
contraction and seizures.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Do NOT plug appliances rated at 230 V into an 115V electrical socket
Place all lamps on level surfaces and away from things that can burn
Use bulbs that match a lamps’ rated wattage
Do not try overloading an electrical outlet, that is, connecting several devices into a single receptacle using any device eg
‘cube taps’
Do not tug or pull roughly any electrical cords
If the outlet or switch is feeling warm, shut off the circuit and call an electrician to check the system
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for plugging a device into an electrical outlet
Avoid running extension cords under carpets or across doorways
Do not connect the cord of an old electrical device to a newer cord using any sticking material
Replace and repair frayed or loose cords on all electrical devices
Keep all electrical appliances away from water
Contact electricity authority if any damage done to overhead cables, outdoor panel boxes, or trees touching high voltage
lines is seen. Contact before doing any work involving digging
Take heed to all warning signs on electrical hazards
Ensure a fire extinguisher is placed where the likelihood of a hazard occurring is great
Always wear safety equipment when around electrical equipment
• DO YOU KNOW ANY OTHERS?
•
•
•
This exercise serves to allow the individual the chance to determine electrical hazards present in any place. Let’s first give some
definitions:
Hazard: Something that has the potential to cause harm
Risk: Likelihood of the hazard occurring and resulting in illness, injury or death
•
•
•
•
•
•
Now we follow some basic steps in the risk management process
Identify the Hazards present
Assess the Risk
Decide on Control measures
Implement Control measures
Review Control Measures
•
Fill out the following table based on the following ratings:
# of Possible or Actual occurrences – this is the number of times during your assessment that you find the hazard occurring
•
Likelihood of the hazard•
Likelihood 4 – very likely – allot 8 points
•
Likelihood 3 – likely – allot 6 points
•
Likelihood 2 – not very likely – allot 4 points
•
Likelihood 1 – rare, not likely to happen – allot 2 points
Severity of the Hazard
•
Severity 4 – very severe, can cause death, major injury/fatalities – allot 8 points
•
Severity 3 – severe, can cause major injury – allot 6 points
•
Severity 2- not very severe, minor injuries – allot 4 points
•
Severity 1 – negligible, small burns – allot 2 points
Pareto Analysis = # of Possible or Actual occurrences x Likelihood of the hazard x Severity of the Hazard