Electrical Safety

Dr. Mahmoud Gilany

Why its important
1,213 electrical related
workplace fatalities from 2003
to 2007*
13,150 severe injuries*

*Electrical Safety Foundation International 2008 Survey

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
SHOCK. Electric shock occurs when the human body becomes
part of the path through which current flows.

BURNS. Burns can result when a person touches electrical

wiring or equipment that is energized.

ARC-BLAST. Arc-blasts occur from high- amperage currents

arcing through the air. This can be caused by accidental contact
with energized components or equipment failure.

EXPLOSIONS. Explosions occur when electricity provides a

source of ignition for an explosive mixture in the atmosphere.
FIRES. Electricity is one of the most common causes of fires
both in the home and in the workplace.
Electric Shock
Entrance
Received when current passes
through the body
Severity of the shock depends
on:
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 Ground
LOW HAZARD Exit
EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN BODY

Depends on:
Current and Voltage
Resistance
Path through body
Duration of shock
The severity of the shock

The severity of the shock a person

receives depends on several factors:
How much electric current flows through the
body.
What path the electric current takes through
the body.
How much time elapses while the body is part
of the electric current.
Effect
CPR
Preventing Electrical Accidents:

Insulation.
Electrical protective devices.
Guarding.
Grounding.
PPE.
Circuit Breakers
Earthing (Grounding)
 Equipment Grounding
All metal frames & enclosures of equipment are
grounded by a permanent connection or bond

The equipment grounding conductor provides a

path for dangerous fault current to return to the
system ground at the supply source should a
fault occur
Step and Touch Voltage
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