SAFETY CAVESTANY, DUNE ERIC C. WHY DO WE NEED TO LEARN ELECTRICAL SAFETY? HOW ELECTRICITY CAN HURT YOU?
The effects vary and depend on:
•Voltage, amplitude, and resistance •How long the shock lasts •Pathway of current through the body TYPES OF INJURIES There are four main types of electrical injuries: • Electrocution • Electrical shock • Electrical Burns • Falls, other secondary injuries ELECTRICAL SAFETY PROTECTIVE METHODS Use of Protective Equipment •Employees working in areas where there are potential electrical hazards must be provided with and use electrical protective equipment appropriate for the parts of the body to be protected and the work performed. •Protective equipment must be maintained in a safe, reliable condition and be periodically inspected or tested as required by 29 CFR 1910.137, Electrical Protective Devices •Where the insulating capability of protective equipment is subject to damage during use, the insulating material must be protected by covering with leather or other appropriate materials. •Nonconductive head protection must be worn wherever there is danger of head injury from electrical shock or burns due to contact with exposed energized parts. Protective equipment for the eyes must be worn where there is danger of eye and/or face injury from electric arcs and flashes or flying objects resulting from electrical. General Protective Equipment and Tools •Insulated tools and handling equipment must be used by employees working near exposed energized conductors or circuit parts if the tools and/or equipment may make contact with the conductors or parts. •The insulating material of tools and equipment must be protected where it is subject to damage. Fuse handling equipment, insulated for the circuit voltage, must be used to remove or install fuses when the fuse terminals are energized •All ropes and hand lines used near exposed energized parts must be nonconductive. Protective shields, protective barriers, or insulating material must be used to protect employees from shock, burns, or other electrical related injuries while employees are working near exposed energized parts which might be contacted or where dangerous electric heating or arcing might occur. Alerting Techniques •Alerting techniques must be used to warn and protect employees from electrical shock hazards, burns, or failure of electric equipment parts. •Safety signs, safety symbols, or accident prevention tags must be used where necessary to warn employees about electrical hazards which may endanger them. •Barricades should be used in conjunction with safety signs where necessary to prevent or limit employee access to work areas exposing employees to un-insulated energized conductors or circuit parts. •Conductive barricades must not be used where they might cause an electrical contact hazard. An attendant should be stationed to warn and protect employees where signs and barricades do not provide sufficient warning and protection. QUALIFIED PERSONNEL VS. UNQUALIFIED PERSONNEL For the purposes of electrical safety related work practices, there are two types of employees in the work place that may come in contact with electrical equipment on a jobsite: qualified and unqualified. A Qualified employee is defined as a worker who: •Has been trained to avoid electrical hazards when working on or near exposed energized parts. •Is familiar with the safety related work practices as required by OSHA ( Occupational Safety Health Organization) standards. •Is able to distinguish exposed live parts of electrical equipment. •Is knowledgeable of the skills and techniques used to determine the nominal voltages of exposed parts and components. An Unqualified employee is defined as a worker who has little or no training regarding electrical hazards. Even though unqualified persons should not be exposed to energized parts, they should be provided with information and training necessary to perform their job in a safe manner and understand the following: •Be familiar with any electrical hazards in the workplace. •Understand procedures to follow and to protect themselves when they work around electricity. •Know when and how to report electrical problems. •Understand which tasks that can only be performed by qualified workers (e.g. maintenance and repairs). •Know what to do in the event of emergency involving electricity. •Know how to inspect electrical tools and equipment before use to make sure insulation and wiring are in good condition.