Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Subpart "S"
Introduction:
Electricity has become an essential of modern life, both at home and on
the job. Some employees work with electricity directly, as is the case with
engineers, electricians, or people who do wiring, such as overhead lines,
or circuit assemblies. Others such as office workers, work with it
indirectly.
As a source of power, electricity is accepted without much thought to the
hazards encountered. Perhaps because it has become such familiar part of
our surroundings.
For 1989, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 3,600 work-related
deaths occurred in private sector workplaces employing 11 workers or
more. Nine percent of the fatalities, or around 324 deaths, were the direct
result of electrocutions at work. What makes these statistics more tragic is
that, for the most part, these fatalities could have been easily avoided.
The objective of OSHA's electrical standards is to minimize the potential
hazards of electricity by specifying design characteristics of safety in use
of electrical equipment and systems.
OSHA's electrical standards were carefully developed to cover only those
parts of any electrical system that an employee would normally use or
contact.
The OSHA's electrical standards were based on the National Fire
Protection Association's standard NFPA 70 E. (National Electrical Code)
The standards extracted from the NEC were those considered to most
directly apply to employee safety.
contacting live parts and metal parts at the same time while
working on the equipment. Equipment doors and hinged panels
must have at least a 90 degree opening provided in the workplace.
4- Where the electrical equipment is installed one wall with the wall
on the other side being a conductive wall, the distance shall be
minimum of 36 inch (91 cm) for voltage ranging from 0 to 150 V,
and the distance shall be 42 inch (106 cm) for voltage ranging from
151 to 600 V.
Reversed Polarity:
Many pieces of equipment will operate properly even though the supply
wires are not connected in the order designated by design or the
manufacturer. Improper connection of these conductors is most prevalent
on the smaller branch circuit typically associated with standard 120 volt
receptacle outlets, lighting fixtures and cord - and plug - connected
equipment.
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this. The person may even attempt to troubleshoot the problem before
unplugging the power cord.
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Note that the GFCI will open the circuit if 5 mA or more of current
returns to the service entrance by any path other than the intended white
(grounded) conductor. If the equipment grounding conductor is properly
installed and maintained, this will happen as soon as the faulty tool is
plugged in.
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