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Why 

Wo

rry?

Accident 

Ca

uses

Protect 

Yours

elf 

Emergencies

Codes &  Re

gs

Quiz

Back to 

Modul

es

Why Worry About Electricity? 

Deaths. Electrocutions rank FOURTH (9%) in

causes of industrial FATALITIES (behind traffic,violence and construction). The National Safety

council estimates 600 people die every year of 

electrical causes. Most of these accidents involvelow voltage (600 volts or less).

Roughly 3,600 disabling electrical contact injuriesoccur every year in the United States, along with

another 4,000 non-disabling injuries.

Effects on your body:

A small night-light with a 6-watt bulb draws .05ampere, and even that small amount of current can

be fatal. Here are some effects of current (in milliamps) passing through a 150 pound body (note that

perception is only .5 to 1.5 milli amps):

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Electricity is an integral

part of today's modernworld, and sometimes it

is easy to forget just how

dangerous it can be.Given the correct

circumstances, it cankill. But it can also

shock you painfully,

damage sensitiveequipment, and ignite

combustible materials.

This training module will cover some basic safetyrules you should follow in regards to electrical

safety.

This training is basically for those who areunqualified to be electricians, but whose work may

be performed close to electrical systems.

Check out OSU EHS's online Information Library for

additional information.

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 Why Worry About Electricity?

 Common Causes of Accidents

 How You Can Protect Yourself 

What Are The Leading Causes of Electrical Accidents?

Unsafe Acts

There are 2 reasons for unsafe acts:

1. We know better butintentionally do something

unsafe.

2. We don't know better.

Avoid the following unsafe acts:

• Failure to de-energize, lockout & tagout hazards during

maintenance, repair or inspections.

• Use of defective and unsafe tools.

• Use of tools or equipment too close to energized parts.

• Not draining off stored energy in capacitors.

• Using 3-wire cord with a 2-wire plug.

• Removing the third prong (ground pin) to make a 3-prong plug

fit a 2-prong outlet.• Overloading outlets with too many appliances.

• Using the attached electrical cord to raise or lower equipment.

• Not verifying power is off when making repair (drilling into a 110

Volt a.c. line can kill).

• Working in an elevated position near overhead lines.

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Unsafe Equipment

Some common causes of unsafe equipment:

• Loose connections

• Faulty insulation

• Improper grounding (removal of 3rd prong)

• Use of "homemade" extension cords

• Defective parts

• Unguarded live parts--for example:

• Bare conductors or exposed terminals

• Metal parts of equipment maybecome energeized when connected

by cord or plug. Capacitance maycause up to 55% of line voltage to be

stored on the casing of metal tools.Hazardous Environments

Use special precautions when working in

potentially hazardous environments and

situations. Even an accidental static dischargecan cause a fire or explosion in areas where the

following are present:

• Flammable vapors, liquids and gasses

• Combustible dusts

• Corrosive atmospheres• Explosive environments

• Poor housekeeping: blocked electrical

boxes, flammable materials stored inequipment rooms, lack of proper hazard

signs, excess clutter.

Special care is also need in wet or damp locations - water andelectricity are a bad combination. If the wire is frayed or damaged, a

fatal electrical shock can result.

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This example of an outlet

in a puddle with its cord ina traffic area is an example

of a potentially dangeroussituation.

Check out OSU EHS's online Information Library for additionalinformation.

 Why Worry About Electricity?

  Common Causes of Accidents

 How You Can Protect Yourself 

 Electrical Emergencies

 Codes and Regulations

 

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Electrical

Emergencies:

How to Respond 

Electrical Shock

A small night-light with a 6-watt bulb draws .05

ampere, and even that small amount of current can befatal. Here are some effects of current (in milli amps)

passing through a 150 pound body (note that

perception is only .5 to 1.5 milli amps):

Protect yourself 

• Don't touch the person. That person might be

energized, sotake time to protect yourself.

• Don't try to use a conductive tool to free theperson.

• Don't touch anyone who has become grounded.

Call 911 for help, IF the person:

• is obviously injured (loss of consciousness,significant

trauma, etc.)

• has an altered mental status (confusion,

slow/slurred speech,etc.)

• has other obvious injury (laceration, burn, etc.)

• or: at your discretion or that of the shock

victim or supervisor.Keep others from being harmed

Shut off the power (fuse or circuit-breaker or pullthe plug; this might

be difficult because there might be secondarysources; if you are

not sure, get help)

Move the victim to safety only when power is OFFand no neck or

spine injuries are possibleGive necessary first aid (keep CPR training up-to-

date).

Report accident to supervisor (even minor shocks

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Codes and Regulations

Qualified and Authorized

According to OSHA 1910.331, Electrical safety-related work practices:

"Electrical equipment or electrical system design, installation,

modification, testing, repair, and maintenance shall be doneby QUALIFIED AND AUTHORIZED electrical personnel."

According to OSU Policies & Procedures Letter 1-0109, paragraph

2.04:

"Alterations to facilities by departments other than the UniversityArchitect or Physical Plant is not authorized."

Physical Plant Safety Manual, Electrical Safety chapter

Lockout-Tagout Manual (Working Around Energized Equipment andSystems) must be adhered to for all electrical work. NOTE: The

Lockout-Tagout procedure requires the release of stored energy.

OSHA The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration'spurpose and policy is to assure that every working person has safe and

healthful working conditions.

Here are the OSHA requirements that must be followed:

1. Live parts of 50 volts or more shall be guarded.

2. Systems, Circuits and Equipment shall be grounded to:

• Protect people from shock

• Safeguard from fire

• Protect equipment from damage3. Exposed non-current carrying metal parts of equipment

connected by cord and plug which may become energized shallbe grounded to prevent shocks.

• If housing not connected to ground and if there is anyleakage, a shock could result.

4. Most common wiring violations are:

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• #1 - Flexible cords shall have strain relief to prevent pullfrom being directly transmitted to joints or terminal

screws.60% of fires are caused by poor connections

and faulty outlets, plugs and cords.

xx• #2 - Conductors entering cabinets, etc. shall be protected

from abrasion.

Check out OSU EHS's online Information Library for additionalinformation.