SITE SAFETYSITE SAFETY

HAZARDS AND PROCEDURESHAZARDS AND PROCEDURES

ELECTRICAL HAZARDSELECTRICAL HAZARDS

Electricity is a serious workplace Electricity is a serious workplace hazard.hazard.

Employees can be exposed to dangers Employees can be exposed to dangers such as :such as :

Electric ShockElectric Shock ElectrocutionElectrocution BurnsBurns FiresFires ExplosionExplosion

ElectricityElectricity

Some materials resist electricity better Some materials resist electricity better than others.than others.

For example : Dry wood has a high For example : Dry wood has a high resistance to electric current, but when resistance to electric current, but when wet it will readily conduct electricity.wet it will readily conduct electricity.

The same applies to human skin.The same applies to human skin. When When dry it has a fairly high resistance to dry it has a fairly high resistance to electric current, but when moist, there electric current, but when moist, there is a radical drop in its resistance.is a radical drop in its resistance.

ELECTRIC SHOCKELECTRIC SHOCK

Electric shock Electric shock occurs when the occurs when the body becomes part body becomes part of the electric of the electric circuit.circuit.

The current must The current must enter the body at enter the body at one point and leave one point and leave at another.at another.

Electrical shock can occur in one Electrical shock can occur in one of three ways:of three ways:

1.1. A person while in contact with the A person while in contact with the ground must come into contact with ground must come into contact with both wires of the electrical circuit.both wires of the electrical circuit.

2.2. A person can come into contact with A person can come into contact with one wire of an energised circuit and one wire of an energised circuit and the ground.the ground.

3.3. A person can come into contact with a A person can come into contact with a metallic part that has become ‘hot’ by metallic part that has become ‘hot’ by contacting with an energised contacting with an energised conductor.conductor.

BURNSBURNS

A common shock related injury is a A common shock related injury is a Burn.Burn.

Electrical burns are a result of an Electrical burns are a result of an electrical current flowing through bone electrical current flowing through bone and tissue.and tissue.

Electrical burns are one of the most Electrical burns are one of the most serious injuries you can receive and serious injuries you can receive and should be given immediate attention.should be given immediate attention.

PREVENTIONPREVENTION

The metal parts of The metal parts of electric tools and electric tools and machines may machines may become energised if become energised if there is a break in there is a break in the insulation of the the insulation of the tool or its wiring.tool or its wiring.

People are made People are made less vulnerable to less vulnerable to electric shock with electric shock with the use of earths.the use of earths.

Earth wiresEarth wires People are made less People are made less

vulnerable to electric vulnerable to electric shock with the use of shock with the use of earth wires.earth wires.

Earths use a low Earths use a low resistance wire that resistance wire that cause any unwanted cause any unwanted current to pass directly current to pass directly to ground.to ground.

This greatly reduces the This greatly reduces the amount of current amount of current passing through the passing through the persons body in contact persons body in contact with the tool or with the tool or machine.machine.

PROTECTIONPROTECTION

Insulation will protect a Insulation will protect a person from electrically person from electrically energised wires and energised wires and parts.parts.

Insulators can be made Insulators can be made from glass, rubber or from glass, rubber or plastic.plastic.

Before using any tools Before using any tools check any cables for check any cables for damage such as cuts.damage such as cuts.

110 v110 v

All electrical All electrical equipment on equipment on British building sites British building sites is 110 volts.is 110 volts.

110 volts is not 110 volts is not enough to kill you.enough to kill you.

This therefore This therefore reduces the chance reduces the chance of fatalities.of fatalities.

WORKING SAFELYWORKING SAFELY

All electrical equipment should be All electrical equipment should be tested at regular intervals.tested at regular intervals.

PAT (Portable Appliance Testing)PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) is is carried out on all portable appliances carried out on all portable appliances used by employees, any public used by employees, any public appliance in public places eg schools, appliance in public places eg schools, hotels, any Hire Equipment and any hotels, any Hire Equipment and any repair or service outlets.repair or service outlets.

PAT testing is required under HASWA.PAT testing is required under HASWA.

WORKING SAFELYWORKING SAFELY

Inspect before use that any leads or Inspect before use that any leads or cords are intact and not damaged in cords are intact and not damaged in any way.any way.

Check that the case or body of any tool Check that the case or body of any tool is not cracked, damaged or loose in any is not cracked, damaged or loose in any way.way.

Check triggers, switches or buttons Check triggers, switches or buttons work properly and do not stick or are work properly and do not stick or are loose.loose.

What to doWhat to do

Any Electrical Any Electrical Hazard should be Hazard should be reported to your reported to your Supervisor and Supervisor and isolated.isolated.

Only use a Only use a DRY DRY POWDER or POWDER or CARBON DIOXIDE CARBON DIOXIDE (C02)(C02) extinguisher extinguisher on an electrical fire.on an electrical fire.

FIRE SAFETY AND PROCEDURESFIRE SAFETY AND PROCEDURES

THE FIRE TRIANGLETHE FIRE TRIANGLE Fire requires three Fire requires three

elements :elements :

HEATHEAT

FUELFUEL

OXYGENOXYGEN

THE FIRE TRIANGLETHE FIRE TRIANGLE

A Fire can be prevented or A Fire can be prevented or extinguished by removing one of these extinguished by removing one of these elements.elements.

Without Without HEAT, HEAT, a fire cannot begin.a fire cannot begin. Without Without FUEL, FUEL, a fire will stop.a fire will stop. Without Without OXYGEN,OXYGEN, a fire cannot begin, a fire cannot begin,

and it cannot continue.and it cannot continue.

EXTINGUISHERSEXTINGUISHERS

Different fire extinguishers are used to Different fire extinguishers are used to fight fires by acting on one of the fight fires by acting on one of the three elements in the fire triangle.three elements in the fire triangle.

It is important to use the right fire It is important to use the right fire extinguisher on the right type of fire.extinguisher on the right type of fire.

Fire extinguishers are colour coded Fire extinguishers are colour coded according to their contents.according to their contents.

Another type of fire extinguisher is a Another type of fire extinguisher is a Fire Blanket.Fire Blanket.

Extinguisher colours and use.Extinguisher colours and use.

WATERWATER A water A water

extinguisher is a extinguisher is a red canister.red canister.

Water works by Water works by taking the heat taking the heat out of the out of the burning material.burning material.

WATER WATER

USE ONUSE ON PAPERPAPER TEXTILESTEXTILES WOODWOOD DO NOT USE ONDO NOT USE ON ANY FLAMMABLE ANY FLAMMABLE

LIQUID.LIQUID. LIVE ELECTRICAL LIVE ELECTRICAL

EQUIPMENT.EQUIPMENT.

DRY POWDERDRY POWDER

Dry powder is in a Dry powder is in a canister with a canister with a BLUE BLUE label.label.

Works by making the Works by making the flames too cool for the flames too cool for the chemical reactions to chemical reactions to continue.continue.

However, However, it does not it does not cool the fire very well cool the fire very well and care should be and care should be taken to make sure the taken to make sure the fire does not flare up fire does not flare up again.again.

DRY POWDERDRY POWDER

USE ONUSE ON PAPER,WOOD.PAPER,WOOD. FLAMMABLE FLAMMABLE

LIQUIDS.LIQUIDS. LIVE ELECTRICALLIVE ELECTRICAL GASEOUS FIRESGASEOUS FIRES

FOAMFOAM

Foam Foam extinguishers extinguishers are in a canister are in a canister with a with a CREAM CREAM label.label.

A foam extinguisher A foam extinguisher works by forming a works by forming a blanket over the blanket over the fuel of the fire.fuel of the fire.

This prevents This prevents oxygen reaching the oxygen reaching the fuel.fuel.

FOAMFOAM

USE ONUSE ON PAPERPAPER WOODWOOD TEXTILESTEXTILES FLAMMABLE FLAMMABLE

LIQUIDSLIQUIDS DO NOT USE ONDO NOT USE ON LIVE ELECTRICAL LIVE ELECTRICAL

EQUIPMENTEQUIPMENT

CO2 ( CARBON DIOXIDE)CO2 ( CARBON DIOXIDE)

CO2 extinguishers CO2 extinguishers are in a canister are in a canister with a with a BLACKBLACK label. label.

Works by removing Works by removing the oxygen around the oxygen around the fire.the fire.

Also removes the Also removes the heat from the heat from the combustion zonecombustion zone

CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)

USE ONUSE ON FLAMMABLE LIQUIDSFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS LIVE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTLIVE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT DO NOT USEDO NOT USE IN A CONFINED SPACEIN A CONFINED SPACE CO2 does not work well on wood, CO2 does not work well on wood,

paper fires. It may not displace enough paper fires. It may not displace enough oxygen to put the fire out, causing it to oxygen to put the fire out, causing it to re ignite.re ignite.

KNOW YOUR EXTINGUISHERSKNOW YOUR EXTINGUISHERS

USING THE WRONG TYPE OF USING THE WRONG TYPE OF

FIRE EXTINGUISHER FIRE EXTINGUISHER

CAN BE LIFE THREATENINGCAN BE LIFE THREATENING

PROCEDURESPROCEDURES

Know where the fire assembly point is.Know where the fire assembly point is.

Know where the fire extinguishers are.Know where the fire extinguishers are.

Make sure you don’t block any fire Make sure you don’t block any fire escape routes with tools or equipment.escape routes with tools or equipment.

If you discover a large fire, raise the If you discover a large fire, raise the alarm and leave the building alarm and leave the building immediately.immediately.