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Electrical Safety

Electrical Safety

Personal Safety Equipment for the Electrician and Electrical Workers

Keeping your employees safe not only helps you to comply with OSHA standards but also keep them working whickh equates to greater productivity. OSHA requires that a safety program be in place for all workers around electrical equipment. NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) sets the standard that most if not all work place supervisors should follow. What is NFPA to the electrician? Glad you asked!

NFPA 70E, titled Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, is a standard of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The document covers electrical safety requirements for employees. The NFPA is best known for its sponsorship of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70).

Available NPFA 70E References

Electric Shock

Electric shock injuries are caused by lightning or electric current passing through the body. Injuries range from barely noticeable tingling to instant death, and can affect every part of the body. The severity depends on the current's pressure (voltage),the amount (amperage) and type of current (direct vs. alternating), the body's resistance to the current, the current's path through the body, and how long the body remains in contact with the current.

Injuries from household appliances and other low-voltage sources are less likely to produce extreme damage. How electricshocks affect the skin is determined by how wet, thick, and clean the skin is. Thin or wet skin is much less resistant than thick or dry skin. When skinresistance is low, the current may cause little or no skin damage but severely burn internal organs and tissues. High skin resistance can produce severe skin burns but prevent the current from entering the body.

Electrical Safety

Safety Tips

Assume that all overhead wires are energized at lethal voltages.

Never assume that a wire is safe to touch even if it is down or appears to be insulated.

Never touch a fallen overhead power line.

Call the electric utility company to report fallen electrical lines.

Stay at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from overhead wires during cleanup and other activities.

If working at heights or handling long objects, survey the area before starting work for the presence of overhead wires. I

f an overhead wire falls across your vehicle while you are driving, stay inside the vehicle and continue to drive away from the line.

If the engine stalls, do not leave your vehicle.

Warn people not to touch the vehicle or the wire.

Call or ask someone to call the local electric utility company and emergency services.

Never operate electrical equipment while you are standing in water.

Never repair electrical cords or equipment unless qualified and authorized. Have a qualified electrician inspect electrical equipment that has gotten wet before energizing it. If working in damp locations, inspect electric cords and equipment to ensure that they are in good condition and free of defects, and use a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). Always use caution when working near electricity.