Electrical Hazards Awareness

Briefing

Basic Electrical Safety Hazard Awareness

Module 1

Purpose

The purpose worker safety

Raising your awareness of electrical hazards
Instructing you on how to recognize electrical hazards
Providing ways to eliminate, remove and prevent
electrical hazards in the workplace
Emphasizing the extreme importance of observing all
electrical safety requirements and practices
Instructing you on what to do during an electrical
accident

Introduction
An average of one worker is electrocuted on the job every
day
An average of one person is electrocuted in the home
every 36 hours
Electrical incidents are far more likely to be fatal than
other types
There are four main types of electrical injuries:

Electrocution (death due to electrical shock)

Electrical shock
Burns
Falls

Electrical Terminology
Current the movement of electrical charge
Resistance opposition to current flow
Voltage a measure of electrical force
Conductors substances, such as metals, that
have little resistance to electricity
Insulators substances, such as wood, rubber,
glass, and bakelite, that have high resistance to
electricity
Grounding a conductive connection to the earth
which acts as a protective measure

Electrical Shock
Received when current passes
through the body
Severity of the shock depends on:
Path of current through the body
Amount of current flowing
through the body
Length of time the body is in the
circuit

Dangers of Electrical Shock

Currents greater than 75 mA*
can cause ventricular fibrillation
(rapid, ineffective heartbeat)
Will cause death in a few
minutes unless a defibrillator is
used
75 mA is not much current a
small power drill uses 30 times
as much

Defibrillator in use

* mA = milliampere = 1/1,000 of an ampere

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How is an electrical shock received?

When two wires have different potential differences
(voltages), current will flow if they are connected
together
In most household wiring, the black wires are at
110 volts relative to ground
The white wires are at zero volts because they
are connected to ground
If you come into contact with an energized (live)
black wire, and you are also in contact with the
white grounded wire, current will pass through your
body and YOU WILL RECEIVE A SHOCK
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How is an electrical shock received?

(contd)
If you are in contact with an energized wire or any
energized electrical component, and also with any
grounded object, YOU WILL RECEIVE A SHOCK
You can even receive a shock when you are not in
contact with a ground
If you contact both wires of a 240-volt cable,
YOU WILL RECEIVE A SHOCK and possibly
be electrocuted

Low Voltage Does Not Mean Low

Hazard
A small amount of electrical current can cause injury,
even death
The current from a 7.5-watt, 120-volt lamp, passing
across the chest, is enough to cause fatal
electrocution
Deaths from 120 volts represent about 12 percent of
all electrocutions

Electrical Burns
Most common shock-related,
nonfatal injury
Occurs when you touch
electrical wiring or equipment
that is improperly used or
maintained
Typically occurs on the hands
Very serious injury that needs
immediate attention

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Recognize the Hazards

Have you seen areas like these?

Both are NEC violations and present a safety hazard, based on inaccessible circuit control devices
Do not block the working space around electrical equipment (600 volts, nominal, or less). This space provides
and maintains sufficient access and working space to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such
equipment
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Recognize the Hazards

What do you do if you see these situations?

Call a timeout and inform your supervisor

Do not remove or open receptacle covers, switch plates, or covers of electrical equipment
unless qualified and authorized
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Recognize the Hazard

Assume all exposed wiring
is energized until proven
otherwise. STOP, protect
the area and contact
supervision if you
encounter this situation
Potentially
energized
exposed wire
with status
unknown
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Recognize the Hazard

Tripping and Abrasion Hazards
Dont cause tripping
hazards or create
pinch points for
cords
If you must run a
cord temporarily
across the floor,
protect your coworkers by
covering the cord
appropriately

Not OK

OK

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Recognize the Hazards

Remove from service damaged or frayed cords
Report electrical equipment damage to your supervisor

Stay clear of
bare, exposed
wiring and
REPORT IT!

Visually inspect electrical equipment

before each use for damage and/or
external defects such as loose,
missing or deformed parts, pinched
or crushed outer jackets or
insulation. This type of external
damage may indicate internal
damage to the equipment.
Electrical cords that are worn or
damaged must be replaced without
delay.
Before cleaning electrical equipment,
turn it off and unplug it.

15

Recognize the Hazard

Cabinets, Boxes, and Fittings
Junction boxes, pull boxes
and fittings must have
approved covers in place
Unused openings in cabinets,
boxes and fittings must be
closed (no missing knockouts)
Photo shows violations of
these two requirements
Report this situation to
management
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Recognize the Hazards

Never daisy chain multi-outlet strips (plugging into each other)

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Recognize the Hazard

Observe all barricades,
postings, and warning
signs regarding dangerous
voltages
Do not enter or approach
electrical work areas
unless specifically
authorized and qualified.

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Recognize the Hazards

Not permitted and should be taken out of service!

Electrical boxes with knockouts are designed to
be installed in or on walls, not used as multioutlet extension cords.
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Recognize the Hazard

Grounding Path
The path to ground from
circuits, equipment, and
enclosures must be permanent
and continuous
Violation shown here is an
extension cord with a missing
grounding prong
Do not make alterations to
polarized blades or ground pin
to make plug fit into nonpolarized or non-grounded
outlet
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Recognize the Hazards

Electrical hazards may exist
overhead indoors

Stay at least 10 feet away from overhead lines

Crane power rails are an

example

Electrical hazards may also

exist overhead outdoors
Most lines are bare and
higher voltage than the
normal insulated wiring
Contact is not required to
initiate an arc or cause shock
and burn injuries
Maintain safe approach
distances when working near
energized overhead lines
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Recognize the Hazard

Electrical equipment and
wiring must not be exposed
to physical damage
Picture shown here is
physical damage to conduit
Stay away from damaged
equipment and report
equipment damage to
supervision

22

Recognize the Hazard

Treat it as it is
designed to be
treated
Pull the plug, not the
cord

Handle portable electrical equipment carefully, in accordance with manufacturers

instructions, and in a manner that will not cause damage
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Clues that Electrical Hazards

May Exist
Tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses
Hot to the touch on tools, wires, cords, connections, or junction
boxes
Dim and flickering lights
Sizzles and buzzes-unusual sounds from electrical system
Odor of hot insulation
Mild tingle from contact with case or equipment
GFCI that shuts off a circuit
Worn or frayed insulation around wire or connection
Burn marks or discoloration on receptacle plates or plug prongs

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Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter

Always use a GFCI receptacle or circuit for cord
connected tools and equipment used outdoors or
near water
This device protects you from electrocution
The GFCI detects a difference in current between
the black and white circuit wires
(This could happen when electrical equipment is
not working correctly, causing current leakage
known as a ground fault.)
Perform the test function on the GFCI to
determine if it is functioning properly by pushing
the button to verify it shuts off
Repeated resetting not allowed. Contact local
E&I to troubleshoot if GFCI continues to trip.

25

Prohibited Uses of Flexible Cords

Examples

Substitute for
fixed wiring

Run through walls,

ceilings, floors,
doors, or windows

Concealed behind
or attached to
building surfaces
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Safe Practices
Cord Control
Do not fasten electrical cords to surfaces with staples, nails,
wire, or any other method that might damage the cord
Extension cords

Place them in appropriate locations

Understand they are for temporary use only
Tool cords
Keep track of them, to assure they do not become
damaged
Do not plug or unplug electrical cords with wet hands or
while standing in water

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Safe Practices
Cord Control Cont.
Do not use portable electrical equipment or extension cords in
wet or damp locations without a ground fault circuit interrupter
(GFCI) ahead of the plug connection
GFCIs are also required for temporary power applications in
wet or damp locations, including extension cords
Remove loads from an appliance or extension cord before
unplugging it
If a plug wont stay placed snugly or fits loosely in a receptacle,
dont use it; call local E&I to replace it

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Safe Practices
Resetting Breakers
When circuit breakers and fuses trip, dont reset or
replace them!
Only qualified and authorized personnel are allowed
to reset breakers and replace fuses
Contact qualified personnel to determine the cause of
trips

29

Safe Practices
Conductive Apparel
Dont wear loose
conductive apparel,
(such as rings,
watch bands,
bracelets,
necklaces, etc.)
when plugging in
electrical cords

Charm
contacted
plug
Burn
from arc

Charm
contacted plug
here

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Safe Practices
Wall Penetrations
When penetrating walls to hang pictures, bulletin boards,
signs, understand and follow site requirements to ensure
that concealed electrical wiring, conduit or piping will not be
contacted
A non-obtrusive survey (e.g., Ground Penetrating Radar,
proximity detection device) may be required, along with a
review of applicable drawings, to ensure that the electrical
system is not penetrated or contacted

31

Safe Practices
Equipment Applications

Consumer electrical equipment or

appliances should be tested and
labeled by a recognized testing
laboratory. (Look for the UL, CSA,
ETL or MET Label)
Always read and follow the
manufacturers instructions carefully.
Be sure that the equipment or tool is
rated for the environment (wet, damp,
etc.)
Plug portable space heaters directly
into outlet: Do not use extension cord.
Use a circuit with as little else on it as
possible since space heaters take a
lot of power.
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Safe Practices
Qualifications
Do not remove/replace receptacle covers, switch
plates, or covers of electrical equipment that may
contain energized conductors without electrical
qualifications and authorization
Only qualified electrical workers may perform
activities such as electrical probing, measuring and
testing electrical energized components (such as
performing an absence of voltage test)

33

Electrical Emergencies
Do you know what dangers could be encountered?
Attempts to rescue an accident victim may pose as
great a hazard for the rescuer as it does for the
victim
A victim of an electrical accident is often unable to
move or release the electrical conductor, because of
muscle clamping
Caution should be a primary consideration during
any electrical accident or emergency

34

Electrical Emergencies

Do you know the proper actions to take if you see someone receiving a
shock or locked onto an energized electrical line?
Approaching the accident:
Never rush into an accident situation-Assess your own safety
Call 911 as soon as possible
Unplug portable electrical equipment to remove power (1st choice)
Open a disconnecting device or circuit breaker to de-energize fixed
electrical equipment
Use a dry wood broom, leather belt, plastic rope, or something
similar that is non-conductive such as wood or plastic cane with
hook on the end to free the person from the energy source

35

Electrical Emergencies
Downed Power Lines
Do you know the proper actions to take?
Approaching the accident:

Move away from downed power line

Shuffle away with small steps keeping feet together
If you see someone in direct contact with line, do not
touch person
Call 911 as soon as possible
Do not attempt to move downed power line
Get the aid of trained electrical personnel if possible
If you are in your car and it is it contact with the downed
line, stay in car. Honk horn for help and tell others to stay
away from your vehicle
36

What Now?
Inspect your work areas
Existing unsafe conditions
- Bare wires
- Open enclosures containing exposed wires
- Loose or missing covers or fasteners
- Use good electrical safe practices
- No daisy-chaining
- No overloading outlets
- Pull on plug, not cord
37

What Now?
What do I do if I identify a hazardous condition?
When unsafe electrical conditions are found, correct
them if possible, or take steps to warn other
employees
Report unsafe electrical conditions verbally and/or in
writing to supervision so corrective actions can be
taken immediately
Barricade the area, if an immediate hazard exists
Notify supervision for correction and documentation

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For More Information

Contact:
Your Site Electrical Safety Officer, or
Your Safety Engineer
WEB Sites
See DOE Electrical Safety Campaign at
www.eh.doe.gov/paa/electrical
See Electrical Safety Foundation International at
www.electrical-safety.org
EFCOG Electrical Improvement
Project

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