BASIC ELECTRICAL SAFETY

GROUP 4
WOOTON
PAGARAN
PANGDA
ESCOBIDO
ABSUELO

WHAT IS ELECTRICITY?

ELECTRICITY
the presence of and flow of
electric charge
is a form of energy that
comes in positive and
negative forms, that occur
naturally (as in lightning), or
is produced (as in a
generator).

ELECTRICAL MATERIALS

Conductors contains
many free electrons
Insulators contains few
free electrons, usually
non-metallic

GENERATING ELECTRICITY
Static Electricity produced by friction that causes
sparks or crackling or the attraction of dust or hair
Electromagnetic induction production of an
electromotive force or voltage across an electrical
conductor due to its dynamic interaction with a
magnetic field (turbine)
Electrochemistry direct transformation of
chemical energy into electricity, as in a battery

GENERATING ELECTRICITY
Photovoltaic Effect transformation of light into
electrical energy, as in solar cells
Thermoelectric Effect direct conversion of
temperature differences to electricity
Piezoelectric Effect generates electricity from the
mechanical strain of electrically anisotropic
molecules or crystals
Nuclear transformation creation and
acceleration of charged particles

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
Electric Shock a sudden
discharge of electricity through a part
of the body
ex. electrocution

Burns can result when a person

touches electrical wiring or
equipment that is energized

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
Electric arc a discharge of current through air; may
be caused by excessive voltage ionizing an air path,
or from accidental contact between two conductors
Arc flash is the extremely high-temperature
discharge produced by an electrical fault in air
Arc blast is a high-pressure sound wave caused by a
sudden arc fault

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
Arc flash
80% burns due to

ignition of clothing
Temperature 35,000
Fahrenheit or above
Serious burns 10 ft
from the arc

Arc blast

Pressure Wave
Destruction from the
intense radiant heat
produced by the arc

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
Causes of Arc blast
Short circuit caused by working on energized

equipment
Occurs in milliseconds
Temp: 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit
Air expands violently (15 tons of pressure)

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

The three primary hazards associated

with an arc blast are:
Thermal radiation
Pressure wave
Projectiles

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
Explosion occur when electricity provides
a source of ignition for an explosive mixture
in the atmosphere

Fire electricity is the most common causes

of fire. Defective or misused electrical
equipment is a major cause.

ELECTRICAL WIRING
Electrical wiring uses insulated conductors.
Wires and cables are rated by the circuit voltage,
temperature and environmental conditions (moisture,
sunlight, oil, chemicals) in which they can be used,
and their maximum current. Wiring safety codes vary
by country, and the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) is attempting to standardise wiring
amongst member countries. Colour codes are used to
distinguish line, neutral and earth (ground) wires.

ELECTRICAL WIRING
Wiring Safety Codes are intended to protect people
and property from electric shock and fire hazards.
Regulations may be established by city, county,
provincial/state or national legislation, usually by
adopting a model code (with or without local
amendments) produced by a technical standardssetting organisation, or by a national standard
electrical code.

ELECTRICAL WIRING
Colour Code - To enable wires to be easily and safely
identified, all common wiring safety codes mandate a
colour scheme for the insulation on power
conductors. In a typical electrical code, some colourcoding is mandatory, while some may be optional.
Many local rules and exceptions exist per country,
state or region. Older installations vary in colour
codes, and colours may fade with insulation exposure
to heat, light and ageing.

ELECTRICAL WIRING

WIRING METHODS
Materials for wiring interior electrical systems
in buildings vary depending on:
Intended use and amount of power demand

on the circuit
Type of occupancy and size of the building
National and local regulations
Environment in which the wiring must
operate.

WIRING METHODS
Early wiring methods The first interior power

wiring systems used

conductors that were bare or
covered with cloth, which were
secured by staples to the
framing of the building or on
running boards. Where
conductors went through
walls, they were protected with
cloth tape.

WIRING METHODS
Knob and tube the earliest standardised method of

wiring in buildings.

WIRING METHODS
Metal-sheathed wires an early form of insulated cable

consisted of two impregnated-paperinsulated conductors in an overall lead

sheath. Joints were soldered, and special
fittings were used for lamp holders and
switches. These cables were similar to
underground telegraph and telephone
cables of the time. Paper-insulated cables
proved unsuitable for interior wiring
installations because very careful
workmanship was required on the lead
sheaths to ensure moisture did not affect
the insulation.

WIRING METHODS
Cables - Over time, rubber-insulated cables become

brittle because of exposure to atmospheric oxygen, so

they must be handled with care and are usually
replaced during renovations. When switches, socket
outlets or light fixtures are replaced, the mere act of
tightening connections may cause hardened
insulation to flake off the conductors. Rubber
insulation further inside the cable often is in better
condition than the insulation exposed at connections,
due to reduced exposure to oxygen.

WIRING METHODS
Copper conductors - Electrical devices often contain

copper conductors because of their

multiple beneficial properties,
including their high electrical
conductivity, tensile strength,
ductility, creep resistance, corrosion
resistance, thermal conductivity,
coefficient of thermal expansion,
solderability, resistance to electrical
overloads, compatibility with electrical insulators
and ease of installation.

WIRING METHODS
Aluminium conductors was common in North

America due to the rising cost

of copper. Because of its
greater resistivity, aluminium
wiring requires larger
conductors than copper. For
instance, instead of 14 AWG
(American wire gauge) for
most lighting circuits, aluminium wiring would be 12
AWG on a typical 15 ampere circuit, though local
building codes may vary.

WIRING METHODS
Raceways Insulated wires may be run in one of

several forms of a raceway between

electrical devices. This may be a
specialised bendable pipe, called a
conduit, or one of several varieties of
metal (rigid steel or aluminium) or
non-metallic (PVC or HDPE) tubing.
Wires run underground may be run in
plastic tubing encased in concrete, but
metal elbows may be used in severe pulls. Wiring in
exposed areas, for example factory floors, may be run
in cable trays or rectangular raceways having lids.

WIRING METHODS
Bus bars, bus duct, cable bus - For very high currents in

electrical apparatus, and for high

currents distributed through a building,
bus bars can be used. Each live conductor
of such a system is a rigid piece of copper
or aluminium, usually in flat bars (but
sometimes as tubing or other shapes).
Open bus bars are never used in publicly
accessible areas, although they are used
in manufacturing plants and power
company switch
yards to gain the benefit of air cooling. A variation is to use
heavy cables, especially where it is desirable to transpose or
"roll" phases.

WIRING METHODS
Electrical panels - are easily accessible junction

boxes used to reroute and

switch electrical services. The
term is often used to refer to
circuit breaker panels or
fuseboxes. Local codes can
specify physical clearance
around the panels.

DEGRADATION BY PESTS
Rasberry crazy ants have been known to consume the
insides of electrical wiring installations, preferring DC
over AC currents. This behaviour is not well
understood by scientists.

Squirrels, rats and other rodents may gnaw on

unprotected wiring, causing fire and shock hazards.
This is especially true of PVC-insulated telephone and
computer network cables. Several techniques have
been developed to deter these pests, including
insulation loaded with pepper dust.

EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN BODY

Depends on:
Current and voltage
Resistance
Path through body
Duration of shock

EFFECTS OF AC ELECTRICITY
More than 3 mA painful shock; cause

indirect accident
More than 10 mA muscle contraction; no
let go danger
More than 30 mA lung paralysis, usually
temporary
More than 50 mA ventricular fibrillation,
usually fatal

EFFECTS OF AC ELECTRICITY

100 mA - 4A certain ventricular

fibrillation, fatal
Over 4 A heart paralysis, severe burns

CAUSES & FACTORS OF ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS

Most electrical accidents result from one of

the following causes:
Unsafe equipment or installation
Unsafe environment
Unsafe work practices

CAUSES & FACTORS OF ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS

Investigations into these accidents have identified

some of the causes of injuries and fatalities and
point to several contributing factors:
Faulty insulation

Improper grounding
Loose connections
Defective parts

Unguarded live parts

PROTECTIVE MEASURES

The best way to avoid exposure to these hazards is

to STAY OUT OF THE CIRCUIT or to keep as far
away as possible from electrical equipment and
systems that have exposed live parts or where the
electrical equipment is being operated.

PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Additionally, electrical accidents are largely
preventable through safe work practices. Examples
of these practices include, but are not limited to, the
following:
De-energizing electrical equipment before inspection
or repair
Keeping electrical tools and equipment properly
maintained

PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Exercising caution when working near exposed
energized lines and equipment
Using appropriate personal protective equipment
insulated tools.