ELECTRICAL &

ELECTRONICS
CH 01: SAFETY

1)Safety
The general rules of shop safety apply
equally to the electrical-electronics
laboratory. The following important shop
safety rules should be observed at all time:

Get your instructors approval before starting your

work
Keeps the floor around your work area
Use tools correctly and do not use them when the
condition is unstable.
Dont disturb another student when he is operating
a machine
Obtain permission before used the power tools

2)Electric Shock
Electric shock occurs when the
human body becomes a conductor,
completing the path for current to
flow
Basic electrical safety is that if a
path is not complete, current will
not flow, and shock will not occur
Like water, electricity will take the
path of least resistance. Current
will most likely flow through a
circuit instead of a human body
unless the body presents a path of
lower resistance.

Open circuit with

worker grounded

Worker receiving
electrical shock from
lighting circuit

3)Effect of Electric Shock

Effects of electrical shock range from mild

tingling to heart failure, depending on the
amount of current

Current as low as 50 milliamps can cause

heart fibrillation
Heart fibrillation is where the ability of the heart to
pump in a regular rhythm is disrupted
Given enough time in this state, it is usually fatal

Severity of a shock is determined by amount

of current and the path through the body

If the current path is through the heart, there

is a much greater chance of death than if the
current passes from one finger to another

At lower currents, respiratory paralysis can

occur, also potentially fatal

Direct effects include pain, paralysis, heart fibrillation,

or tissue burn
Indirect effects include confusion, amnesia, headaches,

or breathing and heart irregularities

Problems may last several days and progress into

vision abnormalities and swelling of affected areas

Over a victims lifetime, long range effects may include

paralysis, speech/writing impairment, loss of taste, and

other disorders

4)Three Prong Plugs

Multi-plug strips
Should only be used for office equipment such
as computers, printers, and fax machines.
Other common items such as microwaves,
refrigerators, and copy machines must be
plugged directly into wall outlets. This is a
requirement of the State Fire Marshal.
Multi-plug strips should have a fuse or circuit
breaker and be UL approved.

 Avoid the following

improper and
hazardous practices:

Never use three prong

adapters that allow a
three pronged plug to
plug into a two prong
outlet.
Never use any item
with a damaged or
frayed electrical cord.
Space Heaters are not
allowed in campus
buildings.

Never daisy chain or

piggy back multi-plug
strips and electrical
cords (plugging strips
and cords into each
other).

Piggy-backed
multi-plug
strips

5) Overloaded receptacles
avoid overloading a receptacle or
an electrical circuit. Fires can occur
when overloaded wires become hot
most receptacles are designed for
two plugs only

6) In the workshop
o ungrounded faulty tools are always
hazardous. Make sure power tools are
grounded, or are double insulated.
oWear the rubber-soled shoes , stand on
a rubber mat and keep the floor dry.
oReceptacles in basements and garages
must have a ground fault circuit
interrupter.

7) In the laundry room

an ungrounded faulty appliance
anywhere can be hazards because
you could become a connection to
ground for escaped electricity.
for example, handling an
ungrounded clothes iron while
touching an operating washing
machine could be dangerous.

8) In the kitchen
Avoid working with water and electrical appliances
at the same time.
Unplug appliances by the plug not the cord.
Replace frayed cords.
Do not use damaged appliances.
Do not overload outlets.

Sign warning of possible

electric shock hazard

Electrical Safety:
Danger electric shock

DANGER
Electric
Shock risk

Shock effects Psychological

The perception of electric shock can be
differential based on the voltage, duration,
current, path taken, frequency, etc
current entering the hand has a threshold
of perception of about 5 to 10mA for DC and
about 1 to 10 mA for AC at 60Hz.
Shock perception declines with increasing
frequency, ultimately disappearing at
frequencies above 15-20kHz.

Shock effects Burns

Heating due to resistance can cause
extensive and deep burns. Voltage levels of
(>500 to 1000V) shocks tend to cause
internal burns due to the large energy
(which is proportional to the duration
multiplied by the square of the voltage)
available from the source.
Damage due to current is through tissue
heating. In some cases 16 volts might be
fatal to a human being when the electricity
passes through organs such as the heart.

Thank You