Electrical safety

electrical safety
precautions
instructions

1. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Electrical Safety

2. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Electricity is an important part of
our modern world and sometimes it
is easy to forget just how
dangerous it can be.
Given the correct circumstances,
electricity can cause serious injuries
or even death.
Electrical Safety

3. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
•Electrocution is the cause of
12% of all workplace deaths
among young workers.
•Electrocution is the third
leading cause of work-
related deaths among 16
and 17-year-olds.
Electrical Safety

4. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
The most common types of electrical injuries are:
•Electrical shock
•Electrocution (death due to
electrical shock)
•Burns
•Falls
Electrical Injuries

5. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Touching a live wire and an
electrical ground will cause a
shock.

Electrical Shock

6. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Touching two live wires of
different voltages will cause
electrical shock.

Electrical Shock

7. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
The severity of the shock depends on:
•Path of the current through your
body
•Amount of current flowing
through your body
•Length of time your body is in
contact with the circuit
Electrical Shock
LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT
MEAN LOW HAZARD

8. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Burns are the most common injury caused by
electricity. The three types of burns are:
Burns
•Electrical burns
•Arc burns
•Thermal contact burns
Electrical burns can occur
when you come into direct
contact with electricity.

9. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
An arc occurs when there is a
gap between conductors and
current travels through the air.
Burns
•Electrical burns
•Arc burns
•Thermal contact burns

10. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Thermal contact burns can occur
when electricity ignites combustible
material.

• Electrical burns
• Arc burns
• Thermal contact burns
Burns

11. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Another common type of
electrical injury is falling.
Workers who experience a shock
on elevated work surfaces such
as platforms, ladders or scaffolds
can fall resulting in serious injury
or death.
Falls

12. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
To avoid injuries, you should be aware of electrical hazards.
Some of the most common electrical hazards are:
•Exposed electrical parts
•Overloaded circuits
•Defective insulation
•Improper grounding
•Damaged power tools
•Overhead power lines
•Wet conditions
Electrical Hazards
Let’s take a closer look at each of
these hazards.

13. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Exposed electrical parts can include:
•Breaker boxes without a cover
•Electrical terminals in motors,
appliances, and electronic
equipment
Exposed Electrical Parts

14. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Overloading a circuit increases the potential for
fires to occur. Overload hazards exist if:
•Too many devices are plugged into a circuit
•The wire insulation melts
•An improper overcurrent protection
device is used
•No overcurrent protection
device is used
Overloaded Circuits

15. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Overcurrent protection devices include:
•Circuit breakers
Overloaded Circuits
•Fuses
•Ground fault circuit
interrupters (GFCI)
A circuit breaker automatically
“trips” and shuts off the current in
a circuit if it becomes overloaded.

16. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
A fuse contains an internal part that melts and shuts off
the current if there is an overload.
• Circuit breakers
• Fuses
Overloaded Circuits
•Ground fault circuit interrupters

17. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)
detects current leaking from a circuit to
ground and shuts the current off.
• Circuit breakers
• Fuses
• Ground fault circuit interrupters
Overloaded Circuits
Receptacle type

18. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Defective Insulation
To protect you, electrical wires are
insulated by a plastic or rubber
covering. Insulation prevents
conductors from coming in contact
with each other and with people.
Make sure the insulation of tools
and cords you are using is not
damaged.

19. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Grounding
When an electrical system is
properly grounded, there is a
path that allows the current to
travel to the earth (the ground).
When any electrical system is
not properly grounded, a hazard
exists.

20. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Power tools that are damaged or
not properly maintained can
cause you to be seriously injured.

If you touch a metallic part of a
power tool that is energized
because of damaged insulation
or improper grounding, you could
be shocked.

Power Tools

21. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Power Tools
To protect you from shock,
burns and electrocution, tools
must:
•Have a three-wire cord with
ground and be plugged into
a grounded receptacle.
•Be double insulated.
•Be powered by a low-voltage

isolation transformer.

22. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Overhead Power Lines
Overhead power lines are not usually
insulated, and cause more than half of
all electrocutions.

23. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Wet Conditions
Wet conditions are hazardous because you can
become an easy path for electrical current.
There are many circumstances that create wet
conditions:
• Standing in water
• Wet clothing
• High humidity
• Perspiration

24. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Safe Work Practices
•Inspect cords before each use
•Never overload a circuit
•Stay away from all
unguarded conductors
•To unplug, pull on the plug, not
the cord
•Don’t wear jewelry or use other
metal objects around electrical
equipment
You can StartSafe and StaySafe by using
the following safe work practices:

25. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Training concerning electricity is very important.
Training for employees working with electrical
equipment must include how to:
•De-energize the equipment
•Use lockout and tag procedures
•Use insulating protective
equipment
•Maintain a safe distance from
energized parts
•Use appropriate PPE
Safe Work Practices: Training

26. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Safe Work Practices: Lockout/Tagout
•Turn off the power supply
•Put a lock on all power sources
to the circuit
•Apply a tag
•Test the circuit
When performing lockout/tagout on circuits,
trained employees will do the following:

27. www.CareerSafeOnline.com
Summary
It is very important to StartSafe and StaySafe around
electricity. In order to do so:
•Know the hazards
•Plan your work and plan for safety
•Avoid wet working conditions and
other dangers
•Avoid overhead power lines
•Use proper wiring and connectors
•Use and maintain tools properly
•Wear the correct PPE for the job