This document discusses electrical safety and preventing electrical accidents. It covers regulations for qualified and unqualified workers, how electricity works and the hazards it poses, injuries that can result from electric shock, and safe work practices for handling electricity. The key points are that electricity can kill, even from low currents; electric shock can cause internal injuries despite no external burns; and following proper safety procedures like using PPE and lockout/tagout is essential to prevent accidents.

1. Electrical Safety
The Shocking Facts

2. We will go over
 What the regulations are.
 How electricity works.
 What happens to the body when it meets electricity.
 How to prevent accidents.
 Overview of this month’s newsletter.

3. What are the regulations?
 Your employer must train you in safe work practices for working with electrical equipment.
 Some work near exposed energized parts, and some do not. Even if you don’t, you must know
the safety practices that apply to your job.
 2 categories of workers who face a risk of electric shock:
1) Unqualified-not trained to work near exposed live parts
2) Qualified-trained to work near exposed live parts

4. How does electricity work?
 Electricity is the flow of electrons through a conductor.
 Some materials conduct electricity better than others.
E.g. metals are better than wood and porcelain
 Hazards of electricity
Shock
Burns
Arc-blast
Explosions
Fires
 You will get a shock if part of your body completes an electrical circuit.
 A current as small as 60/1000 of an ampere can kill you. Typical household currents are 15
amperes.

5. What happens to the body
 A severe shock may not be apparent on the outside of a body.
 Internal bleeding
 Destruction of tissues, muscles, and nerves
 Broken bones or other injuries that occur from falling after receiving a shock

6. Electricity
Water is actually a poor conductor of electricity, but small impurities in the water (like sweat) can
make it a ready conductor.
Burns-when a person touches electrical wiring or equipment that is improperly maintained.
Typically on hands.
Arc-blasts=when currents jump from one conductor to another through the air.
Explosions can happen when equipment overheats.
Electricity is one of the most common causes of fire.
Accidents are causes by
 Unsafe equipment/installation
 Environmental factors
 Unsafe work practices

7. Preventing electrical accidents
Insulation-glass, rubber, or plastic
Electrical protective devices-fuses, circuit breakers
Guarding-putting barriers around electrical equipment
Grounding-Grounding wires serve as an alternate path for the current to flow back to the source,
rather than go through anyone touching a dangerous appliance or electrical box.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

8. Safe work practices for handling electricity
Tools should be in good repair.
Use appropriate PPE (insulating blankets, matting, gloves, sleeves, overshoes, face protection,
hard hats
Lockout/Tagout
General rules:
 Be sure electrical equipment is maintained properly. Inspect tools regularly.
 Make repairs only if you are authorized and qualified to do so.
 Be sure electrical covers and panels are in place.
 Keep electric cables and cords clean and free from kinks. Never carry equipment
By its chord.
 Use extension cords only when flexibility is necessary
 Never use them as substitutes for fixed wiring
 Never run them through holes in walls, ceilings, floors, doorways, windows
 Never use them where they are concealed behind walls, ceilings, or
floors

9. Safe work practices for handling electricity at home
Don’t touch water, damp surfaces, or bare wires if you’re not protected.
Don’t wear metal objects (rings, watches, etc.) when working with electricity. They might cause arcing.

10. Safe work practices for handling electricity at
home
Safe at Home
 Regularly inspect electrical appliances for damage such as exposed wiring or cracked
insulation.
 Don’t use electrical appliances if you notice any heat build-up, sparks, or smoke.
 Don’t overload outlets by plugging in too many appliances.
 Have a qualified electrician evaluate your electrical service if you regularly have blown
fuses or tripped circuit breakers.
 Hire a qualified electrician to do home wiring projects.
25,900 residential building electrical
fires per year (USA)

11. Quiz
1. Workers who may work on or near exposed live (energized) parts:
a. Are “unqualified” workers.
b. Are “qualified” workers.
c. Don’t need training.
d. Don’t need to know proper clearance distances.
2. If you aren’t trained to work on or near exposed live (energized) parts:
a. You are an “unqualified” worker.
b. You are a “qualified” worker.
c. You may not use any electrically powered equipment.
d. You don’t need to know the specific safety practices for your job.
3. The flow of electrons through a conductor:
a. Causes static
b. Is the generating source.
c. Makes up an electric current.
d. Describes how a switch operates.

12. Quiz
4. You will get an electric shock if:
a. You are wearing gloves.
b. You are an “unqualified” worker.
c. A part of your body completes an electrical circuit.
d. A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) is installed.
5. If a person has small burn marks on his skin after receiving an electric shock:
a. These surface burns are his only injury.
b. He can have internal injuries, such as nerve or muscle damage.
c. He was not really shocked.
d. The current was not large enough to cause any injury.
6. Fires can result from:
a. Using defective or damaged electrical equipment.
b. High resistance connections.
c. Improperly spliced or connected wires.
d. All of the above.