Electrical Safety

Awareness Training

Contents

Basic Concept of Electricity

Electrical Accidents

Electrical Safety Standards

Electrical Hazard

Hazard Recognition

Electric Shock

Arc Flash

Electrical Hazard Protections

Basic Concepts of Electricity

Electricity is the flow of

electrons (current)
through a conductor.

Requires a source of
power: usually a
generating station.

Travels in a closed
circuit.

When you become part

of the circuit, the injury
may be fatal.

Electrical Accidents

Leading Causes of Electrical Accidents:

- Drilling and cutting through cables
- Using defective tools, cables and equipment
- Failure to maintain clearance distances
- Failure to de-energize circuits and follow Lockout/Tagout
procedures
- Failure to guard live parts from accidental worker contact
- Unqualified personnel working with electricity
- Improper installation/use of temporary electrical systems and
equipment
- By-passing electrical protective devices
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Electrical Safety Standards

Electrical Hazards

NFPA 70E A dangerous condition such that contact or

equipment failure can result in:
-

Electric Shock

Arc flash burn

Thermal burn

Arc blast

Hazard Recognition

Cords & Equipment

Visually inspect electrical equipment
before each use for damage and/or
external defects such as loose, missing or
deformed parts, pinched or crushed outer
jackets or insulation. This type of
external damage may indicate internal
damage to the equipment.
Electrical cords that are worn or damaged
must be replaced without delay.
Before cleaning electrical equipment, turn
it off and unplug it.
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Hazard Recognition

Electrical Panels
- Electric panels must be kept
clear of any obstructions at
all times.
- Storage is not allowed in
electrical vault or service
panel rooms. Find another
place for storage of
materials, products, etc.
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Hazard Recognition

Trip Hazards
- Dont cause tripping
hazards or create pinch
points for cords.
- If you must run a cord
temporarily across the
floor, protect your coworkers by covering the
cord appropriately.

Hazard Recognition

Exposed Wiring
- Assume all exposed
wiring is energized
until proven
otherwise.
- Stop, protect the area,
and contact
supervision if you
encounter this
situation.

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Hazard Recognition

Power Strips
- Never daisy chain multi-outlet strips (plugging into
each other)

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Electric Shock

Received when current passes

through the body

Severity of the shock depends

on:

Entrance

- Path of current through the

body
- Amount of current flowing
through the body
- Length of time the body is in
the circuit

LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT

MEAN LOW HAZARD

Ground

Exit
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Electric Shock

Range of currents lasting 1 second will illicit the following reactions:

1 milliamp
o

Just a faint tingle.

5 milliamps
o

Slight shock felt. Most people can let go.

6-30 milliamps
o

Painful shock. Muscular control is lost. This is the range were

freezing current starts. It may not be possible to let go.

50-150 milliamps
o

Extremely painful shock, respiratory arrest, (breathing stops) and

severe muscle contractions. Death is possible.
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Electric Shock
1,000-4,300 milliamps (1-4.3 amps)
o

Arrhythmic heart pumping action, muscles contract, and

nerve damage occurs. Death is likely.

10,000+ milliamps (10 amps)

o

Cardiac arrest and severe burns occur. Death is probable.

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Electrical Burns

Electrical burns occur when a

person touches electrical wiring
or equipment that is used or
maintained improperly.

Typically such burns occur on the

hands.

Clothing may catch on fire and a

thermal burn may result for the
heat of the fire.

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Arc Flash & Arc Blast

Arc Flash electrical short

circuit that occurs when air
flashes from an exposed
live conductor, to either
another conductor or to
ground.

Arc Blast pressure wave

caused by the arc flash.

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Arc Flash/Blast

Concentrated energy
explodes outward

High intensity flash

Temperatures can reach

35,000 F

Pressure wave can reach

200lbs/sq. inch

Vaporize conductors and

copper and explode
particles like buckshot.
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Electrical Arc

35,000 F

Molten Metal
Pressure Waves
Sound Waves

Shrapnel

Copper Vapor:
Solid to Vapor
Expands by
67,000 times

Hot Air-Rapid Expansion

Intense Light

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Arc Flash Effects

Severe burns

Broken bones

Vision damage

Hearing loss

Brain/internal injuries

Punctures and lacerations

Death

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Causes of Arc Flash

Improper training

Improper work procedures

Dropped tools

Accidental contact with electrical systems

Installation failure

Voltage testing with inappropriate equipment

Buildup of dust, corrosion on insulating surfaces

Improper maintenance

Sparks produced during racking of breakers, replacement of fuses and

closing into faulty lines.

Inattentiveness/Overconfidence
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Arc Ratings
Hazard/Risk
Category

Incident Energy
(cal/cm2)

0
1
2
3
4
Dangerous

0 - 1.2
1.2 - 4
4-8
8 - 25
25 - 40
Over 40

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NFPA 70E Approach Boundaries

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NFPA 70E Approach Boundaries(cont.)

The qualified
worker is
responsible for
ensuring
physical
barriers are in
place and all
approach
boundaries are
enforced
during work.

Warning label
provides
boundary
information
!

WARNING

Arc Fla sh a nd S ho c k Ha za r d
App ro p r ia te P PE Re quir e d
34 i nch

Flash Hazard Bounda ry

3.46

cal/cm^2 Fl ash Hazard at 18 inches

VR Gloves- Tool s, Proper C l othes, Safety Glass es,

Class 1
480 VAC
42 i nch

Hardhat
Shock Haz ard when cove r i s removed
Lim ited A ppr oach

12 i nch

Restri cted Approach

1 i nch

Prohibit ed Approach

Bus Nam e: PP-MCC-G81, Prot D evi ce: PP-PD P-G7 1-6

Flash Boundary 4 ft. or calculated

Limited

Restricted Prohibited

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Approach Boundaries(cont.)

Limited Approach Boundary

- Distance from an exposed live part within which a shock hazard
exists

Restricted Approach Boundary

- Distance from an exposed live part within which there is an
increased risk of shock due to electrical arc over, combined with
inadvertent movement, for personnel working in close proximity to
the live part

Prohibited Approach Boundary

- Distance from an exposed live part within which work is considered
the same as making contact with the live part
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Approach Boundaries(cont.)

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Approach Boundaries(cont.)

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Electrical Hazard Protections

Insulation

Grounding

Guarding

Electrical protective devices

Personal Protective Equipment

Safe work practices

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Electrical Hazard Protections

Insulation
-

Plastic or rubber coverings that does not conduct electricity.

Insulation prevents live wires from coming in contact with people thus
protecting them form electrical shock.

Grounding

The "ground" refers to a conductive body, usually the earth, and

means a conductive connection, whether intentional or accidental, by
which an electric circuit or equipment is connected to earth or the
ground plane.

By "grounding" a tool or electrical system, a low-resistance path to the

earth is intentionally created.

However, it is normally a secondary protective measure.

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Electrical Hazard Protections

Guarding
A type of isolation that uses
various structures to close off
live electrical parts.
These structures include:

Boxes

Screens

Covers

Partitions
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Arc Flash Hazard Training

Labeling system

Glove selection and testing

- Shock protection

Arc flash rated clothing

- Arc flash protection

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Electrical Protective Devices

We can be safer by automatically shutting off the flow

electricity in the event of leakage, overload, or short
circuit.

Fuses, circuit breakers, & Ground Fault Circuit

Interrupters (GFCI) are circuit protection (or
overcurrent) devices.

Remember, circuit breakers & fuses protect

equipment, not you, because they take too much
current & too much time to trip.

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Voltage-rated Gloves

First line of defense

Choose the right size

Leather protectors must be worn over the

rubber gloves

Gloves must be tested

- Before first issue and every 6 months
- If tested, but not issued for service,
glove may not be put into service
unless tested within previous 12
months.

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Arc-Rated FR Clothing & PPE

Layering
- Outer layers must be flame resistant
- Under layers must be non-melting

Fit Clothing shall fit properly (loose), w/ least

interference

Coverage Clothing must cover potentially

exposed areas (wrist, neck)

Care & Maintenance

- Inspect before use
- Launder according to mfgs instructions
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Qualified Person NFPA 70

One who has the skill and knowledge related to the

construction and operation of the electrical equipment
and installations and has received safety training to
recognize and avoid the hazards involved.

May be considered qualified with respect to certain

equipment & method but still unqualified for others.

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Qualified Persons Training Requirements

Understand specific electrical hazards

Knowledgeable of the construction and operation

of the equipment

Identify & understand the relationship between

electrical hazards and possibly injury

Distinguish exposed live parts

Able to determine voltage of live parts

Understands and complies with arc flash and shock

hazard boundaries.
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Qualified Persons Training (cont.)

Proper use of precautionary

techniques

PPE, including arc-flash &

shock protection

Insulated tools

Demonstrate how to select

and use a voltage meter

Decision-making process
used to determine the degree
and extent of the hazard

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Justification for Work NFPA 70E 130.1

Energized electrical conductors and circuit parts to which an employee might

be exposed shall be put into an electrically safe work condition before an
employee works within the Limited Approach Boundary of those conductors
or parts.

Unless the employer can demonstrate that de-energizing introduces

additional hazards or is infeasible.

Interruption of life support systems

Deactivation of emergency alarm systems

Shutdown of hazardous location ventilation systems

Circuits and conductors that operate at less than 50 volts

Other work that may be performed within the limited approach boundary of
exposed energized electrical conductors or circuits:
--Testing --Troubleshooting --Voltage measuring
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Safe Work Practices

De-energize-Lockout Policy

Dont wear conductive apparel

Work area must be illuminated

Never reach into blind spots

Dont allow conductive liquids near electrical work or

equipment

Buddy system (over 1,000 volts, work in pairs)

Do not defeat electrical interlocks

Use nonconductive ladders

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Thank You

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