Electrical Safety

Craig Shurson CSP, ARM

Regional Loss Control Coordinator

Hortica - The Florists Mutual Company

Service Panel (breaker or fuse box)

• Breakers and fused must be labeled• All lids and covers must be securely fastened• All unused openings must be plugged• Minimum of 30” wide by 3’ deep clearance

in front of panel• All ungrounded circuits must be identified in

the panel

Service Panel continued:

• Warning labels must be on panel doors over 250 volts

• Incoming power is always hooked at the top

Electrical System Equipment

• Must be securely fastened

• All openings must be in use or plugged

• All connections must be secure

• Outdoor signs must have a disconnect

• All splices must be made in a junction box

Wire

• Braided cloth wire

• THHN enclosed in conduit or PVC

• Romex– 14 gauge - white– 12 gauge - yellow– 10 gauge - orange– 8 & 6 gauge - black

Wire continued

• Standard Romex is only acceptable for interior, dry location wiring. Can not be run on surface.

• Outdoor, underground, wet location, and direct sunlight exposure all require specialized wire.

• Wire coating will be stamped with rating

Wire continued

• Two wire production lights are only acceptable in construction with a minimum of bulbs

• 100 Watt light bulb is roughly equal to 1 amp of power

• Wire resistance increases over distance.

• 15 Amp circuit should not have more than 13 bulbs.

GFCI Circuits and Outlets

• All outlets in wet locations must be GFCI protected.

• All outlets or extension cords powering water fountains with pumps over 15 volts must be GFCI protected

• GFCI protection is mandatory in bathrooms, kitchens, and on roof connections in the workplace

GFCI Circuits and Outlets continued

• GFCI are rated for +or- 5 mA

• Protection can occur at outlet or in panel

Extension Cords

• May not be used as permanent wiring– Temporary use is less than 90 days

• May not be attached to the building surface

• May not be used to raise or lower equipment

• May not be under under carpet or in flooring

Extension Cordscontinued

• Must be placed in raceway if run across traffic area

• May not be buried

• May not have 3rd grounding prong removed

• May not be used outdoors unless rated

• Must not be coiled around metal.

• May not have multiple cords plugged together

Pendant Wiring and Flex Cords are NOT

Extension Cords!

Portable Electric Tools and Equipment

• Tools must be double insulated to use in the workplace

• All portable electric tools must have data plate

• No tools or equipment shall be used with exposed energized parts

• Look for 3rd prong on plugs

Knob and Tube Wiring

Training for Qualified Personnel

• Must have the skills and techniques necessary to determine the nominal voltage of exposed live parts

• Know the clearance distances to avoid exposure

• Knowledge to distinguish live parts from other parts of the system

Additional Requirements

• Employees and equipment must keep 10’ of clearance from power lines

• Portable ladders must be nonconductive

• Ungrounded receptacles must be marked as such

• Service panels may not be installed in bathrooms