This document discusses electrical safety and provides information on: 1) How electrical current can enter the body and travel through it, how current affects the body at different levels of amperage. 2) The primary injuries of electrical burns and respiratory failures and secondary injuries from accidents caused by shocks. 3) Factors like current amount, path, frequency and duration that determine injury severity. 4) Electrical hazards including physical ones like wet floors or bare wires and behavioral ones like taking shortcuts. 5) The proper response steps for an electrical accident of turning off power, freeing the victim safely, and calling for help.

1. Electrical Safety
1. How does current enter and travel through the human body?
2. How does current affect the body?
3. How can you protect yourself from electrical current?
4. What are the primary and the secondary injuries resulting from electrical accidents?
5. What factors determine the severity of an injury from electrical current?
6. What is an electrical hazard?
7. What are the proper steps for responding to an electrical accident?
8. What is LockOut/TagOut (LOTO)?

2. How does current enter the body?
 Typical points of entry are the hands and feet as they come in c
ontact with electrical current.
 Moisture beneath a ring or watch will decrease the skins resista
nce and allow current flow.
How does current travel through body?
 The body composed mostly of water, is a conductor of electricity
, so current travel easily.
 Current travels the path of least resistance to complete its circuit
.
 This path could be through upper limbs or between upper and lo
wer limbs.
 If this includes the heart and respiratory system, it can result in s
erious injury

3. How does alternating current affect the body?
 At 0.4mA : No sensation
 At 1.1mA : A slight tingling
 At 1.8mA : Shock
 At 16mA : Painful shock. Loss of muscle control can cause v
ictim to lock on to the source.
 Above 23mA : Severe injuries and possible death.
How does direct current affect the body?
 Direct current has the same bodily affects as alternating current
but to much higher levels.

4.  How current flows through a circuit (the greater the current t
he greater the danger.
 Which materials are conductors and which are insulators.
 How small measurements of electrical current can still be v
ery dangerous, especially if there is no resistance.
How can you protect yourself from electr
ical current?
1. Understand the basics:

5. How can you protect yourself from electr
ical current?
2. When working around electrical equipment;
NEVER:
 Make repairs unless the power is off and unplugged from the circuit.
 Use equipment or appliances with frayed cords.
 Operate, repair, submerge or work with equipment in or around water.
ALWAYS:
 Remove all conductors such as metal, jewelry and watches.
 Remove cellphones.
 Use required PPE such as insulated tools, gloves, and floor mats.
 Keep your skin dry!

6. Primary injuries
What injuries are caused by electrical ac
cidents?
 physical damage directly to the body from the electrical
current (burns).
Secondary injuries
 physical damage to the body resulting from accidents cause
d by the shock (head injuries from a fall).

7. PRIMARY INJURIES
Electrical Burns
 May occur as current passes through the body and generat
es heat.
 Often appear at the points of entry and exit.
 If internal, may damage or burn tissue and vital organs.
 Electrical current can disturb the normal function of nerves a
nd muscles including the heart and lungs.
 If chest muscles remain contracted, breathing can stop.
 CPR is required immediately to restore breathing.
Respiratory Failures

8.  Electrical current can cause a rapid irregular contraction of the he
art muscle and lack of synchronism between heartbeat and pulse.
 Can lead to immediate heart andor respiratory failure requiring C
PR.
 Sometimes symptoms may not appear until later; all shock victims
must have EKR immediately.
PRIMARY INJURIES
Ventricular fibrillation

9.  The amount of current or amperage passing through the body.
 The current path.
 The frequency of the current (AC or DC).
 The duration of the current.
SECONDARY INJURIES
Injuries to the body resulting from accidents caused by electrical current:
 Falls from high places can cause concussions, broken bones, or lac
erations.
 An electrical current can ignite a fire or trigger an explosion, causing
serious burns and injuries.
What determines the severity of injuries from electrical shock?

10. Physical hazards.
Behavioral hazards.
What is an electrical hazard?
 An electrical source of danger.
 A potential risk for an electrical accident.
What are the types of electrical hazards?

11. Wet floors.
Bare or frayed wires.
Overloaded circuits.
An electrical cord under a rag or tarp.
Energized equipment with exposed circuits.
What are physical hazards?
Before you try to fix an electrical problem.
Before you operate any piece of electrical equipment.
STOP and THINK about the hazards!

12.  Indifference.
 Lack of knowledge.
 Working while stressed.
 Taking shortcuts or risks.
 Not following specs or safety precautions.
 Observing other employees not following specs and failing to report
it to your supervisors.
Which behaviors are hazardous?
Before you try to fix an electrical problem.
Before you operate any piece of electrical equipment.
STOP and THINK about the hazards!

13. Pick up the phone and call for help.
Be sure you know (ahead of time) the emergency number at your site.
What are the proper steps for responding to a
n electrical accident?
Step #1: Turn off the power.
 Find the Emergency Machine Off (EMO) button and turn off the power.
 Know in advance where these buttons are located.
Step #2: Safely free the victim.
 If you cannot find the EMO switch, attempt to safely free the victim.
 Never to attempt to pull the victim away by hand; you could also loc
k on to the source.
 Use the proper equipment such as a body hook or a non-conductive
object to pry or knock the victim free.
Step #3: Call for help.

14.  Lockout is a technique used to prevent the electrical system to b
e energized.
 A padlock is placed on the appropriate energy insolating device t
hat is in the off position.
LOCKOUT/ TAGOUT
LockOut
TagOut
 Tagout is a means of informing bystanders not to energized the
electrical system.
 A Tag indicating “Do not energize” is placed adjacent to the padl
ock.

15. Thank you!