04 Jul Avoiding Electrical Shock

Avoiding Electrical Shock

Electrical hazards exist in nearly every workplace. Contact with electricity can cause shock, severe burns, muscle contractions, falls, heart disturbances, and electrocution. Because electrical hazards are not always visible, employees should treat electrical equipment and circuits with caution and never assume they are safe.

Electrical current can travel through the body when a person contacts an energized conductor while also providing a path to ground. Even relatively small amounts of current passing through the chest can interfere with normal heart and respiratory functions.

Protect Yourself from Electrical Shock

Follow these basic precautions when working with or around electrical equipment:

• Inspect before use. Check power tools, cords, plugs, receptacles, and electrical equipment for damage before each use. Remove defective equipment from service.
• Use properly grounded or double-insulated tools. Never remove or defeat a grounding pin. Double-insulated tools should be clearly identified and have an undamaged housing and cord.
• Use appropriate extension cords. Extension cords should be rated for the environment and electrical load. Do not use household-type cords for construction or industrial applications.
• Use GFCI protection where required. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters quickly interrupt power when they detect current leaking from its intended path.
• Keep electricity away from water. Wet conditions significantly increase electrical hazards. Keep electrical equipment, cords, hands, and work areas dry whenever possible.
• Protect cords from damage. Keep cords away from sharp edges, heat, oil, traffic, and other conditions that could damage the insulation.
• Never use damaged equipment. Exposed conductors, damaged insulation, missing grounding pins, or loose connections require the equipment to be removed from service.
• Maintain safe distances from energized parts. Never assume an electrical conductor is de-energized simply because it is not visibly active.
• De-energize before working. Electrical equipment should be placed in an electrically safe condition whenever possible before servicing or repair.
• Follow lockout/tagout procedures. Control hazardous electrical energy and verify de-energization before beginning work where required.

Only qualified employees should perform electrical work on or near exposed energized electrical parts.

Remember

Electricity gives little warning before an injury occurs. Inspect equipment, use proper grounding and GFCI protection, avoid wet conditions, and de-energize equipment before work whenever possible. Never take shortcuts around electrical hazards.