This document discusses electrical safety and provides statistics on electrical accidents. It covers electrical hazards, how electricity interacts with the human body, and the importance of proper grounding and earthing systems. Specific safety practices are presented, such as using earth leakage circuit breakers, following lockout/tagout procedures when working on live equipment, and implementing preventative electrical maintenance programs. The document also discusses global developments in electrical safety standards and products. Overall, the key messages are that electricity will seek a path to ground, such as through a human, so proper grounding and insulated equipment are critical for safety.

1. Electrical Safety
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2. In this presentation……
Section I
Electrical hazards
Electrical accidents – Statistics
Humans & Electricity
Electrical Safety Programme elements
Section II
Global Developments in Electrical Safety
2

3. Electrical Accidents-Statistics
•
• 25% of all fires occur due to electricity
(NFPA)
• 411 deaths from job related electrical
accidents per year
• Electrocution - the leading cause of
death
•42 % of total fires occur due to electrical
sources
• 8% deaths that occur in Indian factories
are due to electricity
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4. ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS- 10 year Period,
Chemical Industry
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5. 5

6. Electrical Near-Misses &
Accidents- Major Causes
Working on live equipment w/o
authorization or PPE
Wiring mistakes coupled with
failure of safe-energy conditions
Leaving unsafe conditions
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7. Electricity and People
A person usually offers a lesser resistance
for the electricity
The person forms a completed circuit when
touching the ground
Electricity always tries to travel to ground
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8. ELECTRICAL FIRES ….
ELECTRICAL FAULTS (Contd.)
–STATIC DISCHARGES
–LIGHTNING
–USING ORDINARY ELECTRICAL
EQUIPMENT IN HAZARDOUS AREAS
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9. Earthing
Most electrical equipment is designed
with a earthing system
Earth all equipment with metallic bod
Carry out ER tests annually as per
NFPA 70
Take action on high ER values
Identify all earth pits, maintain a Earth
Pit lay out
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10. Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers
 ELCBs reduce the likelihood of fatal
shocks
 Detect small amount of leakage current
and automatically switch off the power
 Can be used with extension cords and
portable tools
 Fuses and circuit breakers protect
equipment, not people
 Use the right sensitivity ELCBs (30,
100, 300 mA) 10

11. Static Electricity
 Created when materials rub together
 Can cause shocks or even minor skin
burns
 Can damage sensitive electronic
equipment
 Reduced or prevented by:
– Proper grounding
– Anti-Static rubber matting
– Bonding & earthing of equipment,
pipelines
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12. Electrical Fire Protection
Use Linear Heat Sensing cables along
with smoke detectors
Consider all major electrical fires.
Install master control switches outside
all stores
Maintain PFEs for electrical rooms.
Consider local flooding systems for
critical panels/ switchgear panels.
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13. Case Study
An electrician received a shock while trying to
replace a tube light ballast in live power
condition.
He touched a live conductor. He was not
wearing rubber gloves. Current entered his
right hand through his little finger and exited
through his left hand.
Post Accident Correction:
– Working on live circuits not permitted
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14. Equipment Operators
Never tamper with electrical interlocks
Do not repair electrical components of
your machine
Properly shut off machinery before
operation
Obey warning signs and follow safe
procedures
Follow procedures strictly
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15. Electrical Preventive Maintenance
Identification of critical Electrical Equipment
Emergency lighting
Fire Alarm System
Protection Supply DC System
UPS System, Battery Banks
Electrical Maintenance Procedures to be followed
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16. Planning for EPM (Electrical Preventive Maintenance)
Personal Safety
Equipment Failure
Production Economics
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17. Electrical Preventive
Maintenance
 Carry out all tests (ER, IR, transformer oil,
DGA, LP system, transformer protective
devices- simulation, FA system for electrical
rooms, etc.)
 Adopt NFPA 70 E / B for electrical
maintenance
 Adopt Risk Based maintenance
 Use predictive maintenance tools (hotspot
detector, Ultrasonic detectors,
Thermography)
17

18. ‘All electrical accidents
are preceded by rise in
temperature & sound’
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19. ELECTRICAL SAFETY AUDIT
A systematic approach to
critically analyze the existing
Electrical Procedures and
Practices from safety point of
view
19

20. Global Developments in
Electrical Safety
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21. Present Status - ES-India
•ES Awareness is slowly growing
•Use of RCCBs in the rise, finer details are yet to
be understood by many
•More ES workshops / seminars are conducted in
India
•Statutory regulations are enforced strictly
(Karnataka, Delhi - Use of RCCBs mandatory in
residential buildings)
•Many industries are re-aligning their Electrical
practices based on international standards
(NFPA, IEEE, etc.) 21

22. Evolvement of ES Standards /
organizations-United States
•NFPA - NEC (1897)
•NESC (1913), from IEEE
•NIOSH (Research example: development of
voltage detector that will signal the person if he
gets close to live power)-1970
• OSHA (1970)
•NFPA 70 E & B (1979) -approved by OSHA
•Electrical Trauma Centre, Chicago (1990)
•NESF(1994), by UL, NFPA, NEMA, CPSC
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23. ES Products...
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24. ES Auditing Techniques
• Electrical Risk Assessment using Semi-Quantitative
Risk Ranking (SQRR) technique
•Emergency Lighting Risk Assessment
• Benchmarking against applicable standards:
•NFPA 780 Lightning Protection
•NFPA 70 M Electrical Preventive Maintenance
•NFPA 70 E Personal Safety from Electrical Safety
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25. Electrical Risk Assessment (SQRR
Technique)
Risk Ranking based on severity, probability
High Risk- Statutory Non-compliance, F&E hazards,
Shock hazards, Risks that could result in immediate
threat to life & property. Immediate correction
Medium Risk - Maintenance flaws,Operational
issues-correction at the next available opportunity.
Low Risk - Mainly improvement measures, long term
implementation
25

26. RCCB Tripping
How do we solve this problem in
India ?
Bypass it !!!
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27. ES related Information
Indian Electricity Rule, 1956 (2000 rev.):
(MoP, CEA web site,http://powermin.nic.in)
Lightning Protection Risk Assessment:www.furse.com
National Electrical Safety Foundation: www.nesf.org
Free safety Power Point presentations: http://siri.org/
Electrical Accidents: http://www.safteng.net:
 IEEE IAS ES WS –Delhi Dec. 2004
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28. Standards & Codes
NFPA 70 E & B- E-Safety & Maintenance
NFPA 780- Lightning Protection
API RP 2003- Static Electricity
API RP 500- HAC
OSHA 29 CFR- part 1910- Arc Flash
NFPA 70- NEC
IEEE 1584- Arc Flash Protection
NFPA 77- Static Electricity
OSHA CFR 1926-Personnel Electrical Safety
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29. Summary
 Electricity will try to reach ground even if it
means going through a person
 Earthing has an important role in ES
 Always inspect power tools and cords and do
not use them if damaged
 Do not attempt to repair electrical equipment
unless trained and qualified
 Understand effects of Lightning- it could save
your life!
 Major fires, explosions occurred due to ESD ,
lightning in flammable atmospheres 29

30. THANK YOU
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