Electrical Hazards

Introduction
Electricity if flow of charge through a conductor.
Electricity is essential to modern life, both at home and on the job.
Some employees engineers, electricians, electronic technicians,
and power line workers, among them work with electricity directly.
Others, such as office workers and sales people, work with it
indirectly.
More importantly, we tend to overlook the hazards electricity poses
and fail to treat it with the respect it deserves.
Quick Fact
Guess what is National Electrical Safety Month?
Current month!
May is National Electrical Safety Month
Source: The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) - Non-profit organization dedicated
exclusively to promoting electrical safety in the home, school, and workplace.
Accident #1: Employee Electrocuted
While Installing Electrical Panels
At around 3pm on Nov 28, 2007, a foreman was completing the
installation of electrical panels in an electrical meter room inside a
newly-constructed single-story commercial building in Hawthorne,
CA.
He was discovered by coworkers on the ground in the panel room,
next to a 480V pull panel from which the cover had been removed.
Rushed to the Little Company of Mary Hospital, where he was
pronounced dead at 4:55 pm
One of the firemen later stated that the 480V pull panel was
energized and that one energized conductor was hanging loose in the
panel.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor | OSHA Accident Reports
Accident #1: Employee Electrocuted
While Installing Electrical Panels
Cause of death: Electrocution, from contact with energized electrical
equipment due to the lack of proper work procedures, safeguards,
and barriers, and the lack of personal protective equipment.
Employer was cited for a violation, regulatory, of T8CCR 342(a), for
failing to report a serious accident; for a violation, general, of T8CCR
1509(b), for the lack of a code of safe practices for electrical work;
and an accident-related violation, serious, of T8CCR 2320.2(a), for
work on energized equipment without proper procedures.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor | OSHA Accident Reports
Accident #2: Employees Sustain
Electrical Shock, One Is Electrocuted
At approximately 12:30 p.m. on June 2, 2008, a crew of five employees was
removing a storm-downed tree top and limbs off of two power distribution lines
and a neutral line that crossed under and perpendicular to three energized power
lines.
Employee #1 and Employee #2 were using their hands to move a 7,200-volt
phase to ground the power distribution lines.
Employee #3 was standing over a power distribution line using a chain saw to cut
limbs from the tree top
Employee #4 was pulling limbs and brush from the pile and Employee #5 was
setting a chain saw down.
The power distribution lines that the employees were working on had the fused
cutouts open on one end and were cut at the other end. Protective grounds were
not installed. The power distribution lines that the employees were working on
contacted the energized lines.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor | OSHA Accident Reports
Accident #2: Employees Sustain
Electrical Shock, One Is Electrocuted
Employee #1 was electrocuted, CPR was performed at the scene and
he was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Employee #2 was air lifted from the scene to another hospital burn
unit with burns to his abdomen, left hand and arm, left and right feet
and legs.
Employee #3 was transported to a third hospital by ambulance then
to a burn unit with burns to his right leg which was amputated, left
foot and leg.
Employee #4 was transported by private vehicle to the hospital where
he was treated and released.
Employee #5 was not injured.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor | OSHA Accident Reports
Why should you be concerned about
Electrical Hazards?
Electricity has long been recognized as a serious workplace hazard,
exposing employees to electric shock, electrocution, burns, fires, and
explosions
In 1999, for example, 278 workers died from electrocutions at work,
accounting for almost 5 percent of all on-the-job fatalities that year,
according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What makes these statistics more tragic is that most of these fatalities
could have been easily avoided.
Lets look at the statistics!

Annual Electrical fatalities declined by more than 50% for the period 1992-2010
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Statistics

The Construction Industry alone sustained 52% of all electrical fatal accidents for the period 2003-2010
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Statistics
Contact with Overhead Power lines
Contact with Live Circuits
Not following Lockout/Tagout procedures
Poorly Maintained Extension Cords
Defective Power Tools
Causes of Electrocution Failures
There are three direct and two indirect types of electrical
injuries:
Direct:
Electrocution or death due to electrical shock
Electrical shock
Burns
Indirect:
Falls
Fire

Electrical Injuries
Severity of the shock depends on:
Path of current through the body
Amount of current flowing through the body
(amps)
Duration of the shocking current through the body,
LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT MEAN LOW HAZARD
Shock Severity
Some examples of potential Electrical
Hazards at the workplace
Office Setting rats nests
Overloading
No grounding
Unlabeled or open equipment
Improper chemical storage near electrical equipment
Power lines or other electrified objects
Many others. Too numerous to name!
Electrical Hazards
Desk Areas/Work Stations
(rat nests)
Ungrounded Equipment
Electricity will take the path of least
resistance.
When equipment is grounded,
current will take the path through
ground wire rather than through the
person touching the failed
equipment because human body is
more resistant than ground wire
Overloaded Circuits
Use a single plug for each
connection
Do not overload circuits!
Electrical Hazards

Unlabeled/Open equipment
All panel/circuit boxes must
be labeled with maximum
voltage on the outside of
the front cover
Keep them closed when not
being serviced
Improper Chemical Storage
This is a bottle of Xylene (very
flammable and combustible
substance)
Must never be placed near
breaker boxes, panels, etc.
Overhead Power Lines
Keep 10 feet clearance
from overhead power
lines with 50kV or less;
4 feet more for every
10kV
Know the hazards of electricity
Know the equipment
Use PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
Use Safe Work Practices
Dont work on energized circuits without permission
Its Your Job to know!
To protect workers from electrical shock:
Use barriers and guards to prevent passage through areas of exposed
energized equipment
Pre-plan work, post hazard warnings and use protective measures
Keep working spaces and walkways clear of cords
All electrical work must comply with the National Electrical Code
Use non-conductive ladders around electrical equipment
Never exceed the capacity by overloading circuits
Never reach blindly into an electrical cabinet
Use illumination when needed
Secure doors and openings that could bump you into an energized
part
Safe Work Practices
Electrical equipment may be maintenance ONLY by
employees who have been properly trained and
authorized to do so.
Electrical Equipment Safety
Determining Energized parts
How do you determine if something is energized?
Voltage testers are used to test poles and any
associated hardwares.
Visual inspection
Is the circuit open or closed?
Are there any visible indicators that the system is
energized
Are there audible indicators?

Grounding
Ensure there is a path of low resistance to ground if
there is an equipment failure
Grounding works by connecting all the non-current
carrying metal parts together and then connecting
them to ground
It is important that the grounding conductor is
firmly attached
Ground Fault Interrupters (GFIs)
Detect leaks (but not over-current)
Can be permanently mountable or portable
Must be used on all 120V, single phase, 15- and 20-
ampere receptacle outlets on construction sites, which
are not part of permanent wiring
Must be tested to ensure its working properly
Must be marked with manufacturers name and
applicable rating
Electrical Safety Lockout / Tagout
(LO/TO)
Lockout and Tagout is a technique used to prevent the release of
hazardous energy, or to prevent the hazardous energy from escaping
It is a VERY SPECIFIC and STRINGENT OSHA program
It covers electrical energy sources, as well as other types of energy
such as steam, pressure, weighted objects, and moving machinery
parts
Lockout / Tagout (LO/TO) Hazards
Even office equipment can require some sort of Lockout / Tagout
(LO/TO) controls to prevent energization of moving parts or electrical
shock
Many types of automatic LO controls exist
For instance, if you open a tray of service door, the equipment will
not run (Example of combination of LO and machine guarding)
Fatal Five Main Causes of Lockout /
Tagout (LO/TO) Injuries
Failure to stop equipment
Failure to disconnect from power source
Failure to dissipate residual energy
Accidental restarting of equipment
Failure to clear work areas before restarting
Lockout / Tagout (LO/TO) Devices

Use PPE (Personal Protective
Equipment)
While working on electrical equipments, use some of these PPEs:
Leather gauntlet gloves over rubber insulated gloves
Hard hats (rated for electrical work)
Eye protection gear
Rubber or non-conductive clothing
Rubber-soled shoes or boots
Rubber blankets
Do not wear metal jewellery when working around exposed energized
parts
Effects of Electric Current in the
Human Body
Current Reaction
Below 1 mA Generally not perceptible
1 mA Faint tingle
5 mA Slight shock felt; not painful but disturbing. Average
individual can let go. Strong involuntary reactions can
lead to other injuries.
6 25 mA (women) Painful shock, loss of muscular control
9 30 mA (men) The freezing current or let-go range. Individual
cannot let go, but can be thrown away from the circuit
if extensor muscles are stimulated.
50 150 mA Extreme pain, respiratory arrest, severe muscular
contractions. Death is possible.
1,000 4,300 mA Rhythmic pumping action of the heart ceases.
Muscular contraction and nerve damage occur; death
likely.
10,000 mA Cardiac arrest, severe burns; death probable
What OSHA Standards address
Electrical Safety?
OSHA standards cover many electrical hazards in many different industries.
OSHAs general industry electrical safety standards are published in:
Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1910.302 through 1910.308 Design Safety Standards
for Electrical Systems, and 1910.331 through 1910.335 Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices
Standards.
OSHAs electrical standards are based on the National Fire Protection Association Standards NFPA 70,
National Electric Code, and NFPA 70E, Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces.
OSHA also has electrical safety standards for the:
Construction industry, in 29 CFR 1926
Subpart K. OSHAs standards for marine terminals, in 29 CFR 1917
Longshoring, in 29 CFR 1918, reference the general industry electrical standards in Subpart S of Part
1910.
Shipyard standards, in 29 CFR 1915, cover limited electrical safety work practices in 29 CFR 1915.181.
Although OSHA operates a federal occupational safety and health program, 24 states and 2 territories
operate their own OSHA-approved programs.
How do OSHAs standards minimize
Electrical Hazards?
OSHA standards focus on the design and use of electrical equipment
and systems.
The standards cover only the exposed or operating elements of an
electrical installation such as lighting, equipment, motors, machines,
appliances, switches, controls, and enclosures, requiring that they be
constructed and installed to minimize workplace electrical dangers.
How can OSHA help you?
OSHA can provide extensive help through a variety of programs,
including assistance about:
Safety and Health programs
State plans
Workplace consultations
Voluntary protection programs
Strategic partnerships
Training and education, and more.
Safety and Health Program
Management Assistance
Working in a safe and healthful environment can stimulate innovation and creativity and
result in increased performance and higher productivity
To assist employers and employees in developing effective safety and health programs,
OSHA published recommended Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines
(Federal Register 54(18):39043916, January 26, 1989).
These voluntary guidelines can be applied to all worksites covered by OSHA.
The guidelines identify four general elements that are critical to the development of a
successful safety and health management system:
management leadership and employee involvement,
worksite analysis,
hazard prevention and control, and
safety and health training
State Plans
State plans are OSHA-approved job safety and health programs
operated by individual states or territories instead of Federal OSHA.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) encourages
states to develop and operate their own job safety and health plans
and permits state enforcement of OSHA standards if the state has an
approved plan.
Once OSHA approves a state plan, it funds 50 percent of the
programs operating costs.
There are 26 state plans: 23 cover both private and public (state and
local government) employment, and 3 (Connecticut, New Jersey, and
New York) cover only the public sector
Workplace Consultations
OSHAs consultation service provides free, onsite assistance in
developing and implementing effective workplace safety and health
management systems that emphasize the prevention of worker
injuries and illnesses.
Includes:
Hazard survey of the worksite
Appraisal of all aspects of the employers existing safety and health
management system
Offers assistance to employers in developing and implementing an effective
safety and health management system
Employers also may receive training and education services, as well as limited
assistance away from the worksite.
Voluntary Protection Program (VPP)
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPPs) represent one part of OSHAs
effort to extend worker protection beyond the minimum required by
OSHA standards.
VPP along with onsite consultation services, full-service area
offices, and OSHAs Strategic Partnership Program (OSPP)
represents a cooperative approach which, when coupled with an
effective enforcement program, expands worker protection to help
meet the goals of the OSH Act.
How does Voluntary Protection
Programs (VPP) work?
There are three levels of VPPs: Star, Merit, and Demonstration. All are
designed to do the following:
recognize employers who have successfully developed and implemented
effective and comprehensive safety and health management systems;
encourage these employers to continuously improve their safety and
health management systems;
motivate other employers to achieve excellent safety and health results in
the same outstanding way; and
establish a relationship between employers, employees, and OSHA that is
based on cooperation.
OSHAs Strategic Partnership
Program (OSPP)
OSHA Strategic Partnerships are alliances among labor, management,
and government to foster improvements in workplace safety and
health.
These partnerships are voluntary, cooperative relationships between
OSHA, employers, employee representatives, and others such as
trade unions, trade and professional associations, universities, and
other government agencies.
OSPPs are the newest member of OSHAs family of cooperative
programs.
OSHAs Occupational Safety and
Health training for employers and
employees
OSHA Training Institute in Des Plaines, IL, provides basic and advanced
training and education in safety and health for federal and state
compliance officers, state consultants, other federal agency personnel, and
private-sector employers, employees, and their representatives.
Institute courses cover diverse safety and health topics including electrical
hazards, machine guarding, personal protective equipment, ventilation,
and ergonomics. The facility includes classrooms, laboratories, a library,
and an audiovisual unit.
In addition, OSHAs 73 area offices are full-service centers offering a variety
of informational services such as personnel for speaking engagements,
publications, audiovisual aids on workplace hazards, and technical advice.
Does OSHA give money to
organizations
for training and education?
OSHA awards grants through its Susan Harwood Training Grant
Program to nonprofit organizations to provide safety and health
training and education to employers and workers in the workplace.
Grants are awarded for 1 year and may be renewed for an additional
12 months depending on whether the grantee has performed
satisfactorily.
OSHA is making a difference!
In four decades, OSHA and our state partners, coupled with the
efforts of employers, safety and health professionals, unions and
advocates, have had a dramatic effect on workplace safety.
Since 1970, workplace fatalities have been reduced by more than 65
percent and occupational injury and illness rates have declined by 67
percent. At the same time, U.S. employment has almost doubled.
Worker deaths in America are downon average, from about 38
worker deaths a day in 1970 to 12 a day in 2012.
Worker injuries and illnesses are downfrom 10.9 incidents per 100
workers in 1972 to 3.4 per 100 in 2011.