The document outlines the importance of electrical hazard awareness, emphasizing potential threats to safety and well-being due to electric shocks and equipment malfunctions. It provides guidelines on identifying, controlling, and responding to electrical hazards, as well as the necessity of electrical safety training for all employees. Additionally, it details the types of injuries associated with electrical incidents and outlines measures for prevention and effective responses during emergencies.

1. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
Electrical hazard awareness

2. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
What does hazard mean?
Hazard means:
• any potential or actual threat to the wellbeing of people,
machinery or environment
Electrical hazard safety means:
• taking precautions to identify and control electrical hazards

3. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
The Importance of Electrical Safety
Approximately 1100 people die from electric
shock each year in the United States. During
your daily routine, you are probably exposed
to many potentially dangerous situations
involving electricity. Modern life depends on
electricity to run machinery, to provide heat
and light, and to do many of the jobs people
take for granted. Handled with care and
respect, electricity is safe and useful, but
when handled carelessly, it can be a killer.

4. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
Why know about it?
Because failing to take the necessary precautions can lead to:
• injury or death
• fire or property damage

5. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
What are the safety priorities?
Electrical hazards exist in almost every workplace. Common
causes of electrocution are:
•making contact with overhead wires
•undertaking maintenance on live equipment
•working with damaged electrical equipment, such as extension
leads, plugs and sockets
•using equipment affected by rain or water ingress

6. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
How do you respond to electrical incidents?
If you come across a person receiving an electric shock:
• if possible, disconnect the electrical supply (switch?)
• assess the situation – never put yourself at risk
• take precautions to protect yourself and anyone else in the
vicinity
• apply the first aid principles (e.g. DRSABCD)
• assess the injuries and move the casualty to a safe area if
required
• administer first aid if trained
• seek urgent medical attention

7. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
Do you want to be a victim?
You could be the victim if you:
•don’t follow proper procedures around electricity
•use electrical equipment improperly
•use faulty electrical equipment

8. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
What are the types of injuries?
• Burns
• Shocks
• Falls
KEEP SAFE
KNOW HOW TO CONTROL ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

9. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
What are the levels of effect of current?
AC current (mA) Effect on human body
1 Slight tingling sensation
2-9 Small shock
10-24 Muscles contract causing you to freeze
25-74 Respiratory muscles can become paralysed;
pain; exit burns often visible
75-300 Usually fatal; ventricular fibrillation; entry &
exit wounds visible
>300 Death almost certain; if survive will have
badly burnt organs and probably require
amputations

10. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
What should you do in an electrical emergency?
For low voltage electricity >50 V AC and 110 V DC
• remove the source of electricity supply
• commence CPR if trained
• call the emergency number on site
For high voltage electricity >1000 V
• call the emergency number for your site
• don’t go near the casualty
• don’t touch the casualty or try to free them with anything

11. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
Should you report electrical incidents?
• Electricity is invisible – this in itself makes it dangerous
• It has great potential to seriously injure or kill
• The company has a duty of care to its employees and
contractors
• Everyone is exposed to electrical hazards, not just electricians
• Report all electrical shocks and near misses
ALL EMPLOYEES CAN BE EXPOSED TO ELECTRICAL
HAZARDS. THEY SHOULD RECEIVE ELECTRICAL HAZARD
TRAINING AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THEIR
EMPLOYMENT AND REGULAR REFRESHER TRAINING.

12. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
Can you protect yourself from electricity?
• Don’t wear metal objects
• Turn power off
• Wear appropriate clothing
• Don’t touch live parts
• Don’t install or repair electrical equipment
• Use qualified personnel
• Clean and dry leads and plugs before use
• Use PPE

13. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
What are other safety measures?
• Heed warning signs
• Use the right equipment
• Study the operation manual
• Take care of extension leads
• Use only approved extension lamps
• Don’t pull on leads
• Use residual current devices – RCDs
• Use the proper fuses and circuit breakers

14. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
Regular safety inspections
are a part of YOUR job...
• Electrical equipment should be checked each time
before use for defects
• If not tagged or the tag is out of date then report it and
place it out of service

15. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
Should you be aware of powerlines?
• Do you know if there are overhead powerlines on your site?
• Do you know where they are located?
• Do you know what the safe work clearance is?
• Strict regulations are laid down to cover any work that may have
to be performed close to overhead powerlines

16. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
What are electric shock hazards?
• Arc welding can and has killed people in high risk environments
• Everyone involved needs to better understand the hazards,
adopt sound practice and use appropriate safety devices
• Study and adhere to the Code of Practice: WTIA Tech Note 7-04
• Use safety devices such as manual trigger switches and voltage
reducing devices (VRDs)
• Under adverse conditions, strive to improve control measures
(e.g. presence of moisture as sweat or rain)

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A welding incident…
• Assistant hands welder a metal object.
Resultant current is 35 mA
I = V/R = 67/1900 = 35 mA
Result = Assistant survived but welder died

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What risk assessment?!

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Is this a problem?

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Controlling Workplace Hazards
Once a hazard has been identified and the risk assessed, control
measures should be put into place. A simple list of control measures can
be utilized - the hierarchy of control.
1. Identify the Hazard
Identify the source of the problem

21. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
Controlling Workplace Hazards
2. Assess the Risk
• Risk assessment is the process where you:
• Identify hazards,
• Analyze or evaluate the risk associated with
that hazard.
• Determine appropriate ways to eliminate or
control the hazard

22. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
Controlling Workplace Hazards
3. Eliminate the Hazard Or Risk
Elimination of a specific hazard or hazardous
work process, or preventing it from entering
the workplace, is the most effective method
of control. Eliminating a hazard means
removing it completely.

23. www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
Controlling Workplace Hazards
4. Engineering Control
It may mean changing a piece of machinery
(for example, using proper machine guards) or
a work process to reduce exposure to a
hazard.

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Controlling Workplace Hazards
5. Administrative Controls
Working a limited number of hours in a
hazardous area is an example of an
administrative control for example, job rotation.

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Controlling Workplace Hazards
6. Substitution
It is one measure of replacing one
hazardous agent or work process with a less
dangerous one. It is important to consider
worker health and safety when work
processes are still in the planning stages.