3/11/2016

NEBOSH International General Certificate

Week 2 Element 5

Electrical Safety

Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this element, candidates should be able to:

5.1 Outline the principles, purpose and role of active and reactive monitoring

5.2 Explain the purpose of, and procedures, for health and safety auditing

5.3 Explain the purpose of, and procedures for, investigating incidents
(accidents, cases of work-related ill-health and other occurrences)

5.4 Describe the legal and organisational requirements for recording and
reporting incidents

5.5 Explain the purpose of, and procedures for, regular reviews of health and
safety performance.

High Power Worker

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Electricity: Introduction
Each year in the UK there are:
30 workplace deaths
30 domestic deaths
These deaths are due to:
• Electric shock
• Electric burns
• Electrical arcing
• Fires
• Explosions

Electrical Terms
Volt (Pressure difference):
The unit of measurement of electrical pressure
Ampere (Current):
The unit of measurement of electric current flow
Ohm (Resistance):
The unit of measurement of electrical resistance

Electrical Terms
Direct Current (DC):
The current flows in one direction between positive and
negative terminals

Alternating Current (AC):

The electric current is constantly reversing its direction of flow
at a given frequency

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Basic Circuitry for Current to Flow

In an electrical circuit there must be a pressure difference (or
potential difference) to cause electric current to flow. The unit of
measurement of electrical pressure is the Volt.
The electric current flow can be increased by using thicker
conductors. The unit of measurement of electric current flow is
the Ampere
In electrical circuits the current flow meets resistance in every
conductor. The unit of measurement of electrical resistance is
the Ohm.

The Relationship between Voltage,

Current and Resistance
The Current (I), Resistance (R) and Voltage (V) used in Ohms law
are as follows:

V + I x R (Volts)
Electrical power (P) is given as:
P = V x I (Watts)

These equations are used to calculate and determine the fuse ratings
for particular electrical equipment and the current flowing through a
person who may inadvertently touch a line supply.

Electrical Terms

Conductors:
A material that allows electricity to flow easily :- e.g. copper,
steel, water
Insulators:
Materials that have a high resistance to electrical current:- e.g.
plastic, rubber, wood

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Nature of Electricity
Ohms Law
The higher the electrical pressure (V) or the lower the circuit
resistance (R), the higher is the current that flows in an
electrical circuit:

I = V/R
I is measured in amps (A), which is the electron flow or
current
V is measured in volts (V), potential difference or pressure
R the resistance is measured in ohms (Ω),

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Main Hazards of Electricity

Electric Shock: Contact with live parts

• Direct Contact: Coming in to contact with a conductor that

is supposed to be live

• Indirect Contact: Coming into contact with a conductor that

is not live in normal conditions but has become live due to a
fault

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Severity of Electric Shock

• The Current – above 25 mA is lethal
• Length of contact time
• Path through the body
• Conductivity/resistance of the body
• The voltage
• Conductivity of the environment
• Nature of the contact
• Age and health status of victim

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Severity of Electric Shock

Most electrical accidents occur because people are working
on or near equipment that is:

• Thought to be dead but which is live

• Known to be live but those involved do not have
adequate training or appropriate equipment to prevent
injury, or they have not taken adequate precautions.
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Arcing

Electricity of sufficient pressure (Voltage) can jump an air

gap. Causing shock effects to persons not actually in
contact with a conductor and also can generate intense
heat.

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Fire and Explosion

The main causes of electrical fires are:

• Inadequate circuits for the current e.g. 5amp wiring carrying 13amp
• Overloaded circuits e.g. use of multiple socket adaptors
• Incorrect fuses or nails wire to replace fuse.
• Damaged wiring and insulation
• Loose connections
• Overheating of cables on coils
• Overheating due to thermal insulation
• Overheating due to lack of ventilation
• Flammable materials close to electrical equipment

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Burns
These can be a product of arcing where the intense
heat of the arc causes burns to the skin at the entry
and exit points on the body, or they can result from an
excessive flow of electricity through the tissues of the
body causing tissue damage.

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Effects of Electricity on the Body

• Damage to the nervous system
• Fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
• Tissue burns at entry and exit
• Damage to internal organs
• Muscular contractions
• Physical trauma
• Stopping breathing (respiratory paralysis)
• Stopping the heart (cardiac arrest)
• Secondary effects - thrown backwards and possibly falling

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Video 
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First Aid Treatment

If a person has received an electric shock:
• Do not touch injured person until the current is switched off.
• If current cannot be switched off - stand on some dry
insulating material and use a wooden or plastic implement to
remove the injured person from the electrical source.
• Administer first aid if qualified
• Call professional help

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Electricity at Work

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Portable Electrical Equipment

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Unsafe Working Practice

Portable Electrical Equipment:
• Unsuitable apparatus
• Inadequate maintenance or misuse
• Defective apparatus
• Modifications by unauthorised personnel
• Modifications whilst the appliance is live
• Using equipment in unsuitable environments
• No system to inspect or remove damaged equipment

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Hazards of Portable Electrical Equipment

Areas to look at for Hazards Aided by a Checklist
Plug Cable Joints Appliance
No fuse Run over Makeshift Casing
Damage to plug Dragged Leads pulled out of Worn
casing cord grip Connections
Incorrect wiring Trapped Incorrect wiring Damaged casing

Earth wire Heat/corrosive Poor earth

detached chemicals connections
Flexing Wrong connections

Insulation

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Precautions using Portable Equipment

• Reduced voltage operation
• Residual current circuit breakers
• Protect against overload
• Cables insulated
• Correct sheathing
• Sufficient socket outlets
• Cable drums
• Correct maintenance and repair
• Reduced voltage operation
• Regular inspections
• Competent staff

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Secondary Effects of Electrical Shock

• Throw down - through sudden involuntary movement
• Falls from height
• Injuries : fractures, temporary blindness, deafness,
chest infections,etc.

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Use of Poorly Maintained Electrical

Equipment – USER CHECKS
The user should check for the following:
• Damage to the cable sheath.
• Damage to the plug
• Inadequate joints
• The outer sheath of the cable is not effectively secured where it enters the
plug or the equipment.
• The equipment has been subjected to conditions for which it is not suitable,
e.g. it is wet or excessively contaminated.
• Damage to the external casing of the equipment or there are some loose
parts or screws
• Evidence of overheating (burn marks or discoloration).

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Work Near Overhead Power Lines

• Maintain maximum practicable distance between person
and live electrical equipment
• Plan the work
• Risk assessment
• Application of general hierarchy of control

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Contact With Underground Power

Cables During Excavation Work
During excavation work, damage can be caused when a
cable is:

• Cut through by a sharp object such as the point of a tool

• Crushed by a heavy object or powerful machine.

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Work on Mains Electricity Supplies

(High Voltage Systems)
The isolation of electrical systems prior to maintenance activities
is important. Permits to work are important for work on high
voltage systems.
Compliance with the safe system of work, including any permit
to work where issued, should be monitored.
Isolation should be by means of a device that has a safe
isolating gap between live parts and those that have been made
dead.

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Work on Mains Electricity Supplies

(High Voltage Systems)
Sometimes work on electrical equipment will require more than
one point of isolation e.g. the primary and secondary sides of
transformers.
Earthing of conductors at the point of disconnection of the
supply is essential and additional earths may be necessary at
the place of work.
Access to high voltage areas should be restricted to authorised
persons. Physical barriers should be more substantial than
those used for low voltage systems

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Use of Electrical Equipment in Wet

Environment
In wet surroundings – unsuitable equipment can easily
become live and can make its surroundings live.

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Inspection and Maintenance of Electrical

Equipment
Electrical systems should be constructed and maintained so as to
prevent danger and should also be inspected at regular intervals.

In some countries there are specified periods and it is suggested that

fixed wiring installations should have tests every 5 years for low risk
environments (offices) and every 3 years for high risk environments
(Factory).

Portable equipment should also have a system of checks, inspections

and tests depending on the type and place where equipment is being
used.

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Types of Inspection
• User checks- Routine
• Formal visual inspection
• Combined inspection and
test (Portable Appliance
Testing - PAT)

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Frequency of Inspection and Test

• Manufacturer’s recommendations
• Age of equipment
• Robustness of equipment
• Double insulated or earthed
• Type of cable (e.g. armoured)
• Extent of use
• Users of equipment
• Environment
• Abuse or misuse
• History of equipment

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Reason to Keep Records of Inspection

and Testing of Electrical Equipment

• Inspection by authorised person

• In case test label removed
• Test frequencies maintained
• Record actions of faults rectified

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Electrical Safety in Office Environments

• Equipment of approved standard
• Maintenance of fixed electrical installations
• Means of isolation and system protected by RCDs
• No extension cables which can cause tripping hazards
• No overloading of sockets
• Control private electrical equipment brought from home
• Pre use checks
• Position close to sockets
• System for reporting of defects
• Appliances switched off when not in use
• Test at regular interval

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Portable

Appliance Testing (PAT)
The advantages of portable appliance testing include:
• Early Identification of faults in electrical equipment such as damaged
cables, cracked plugs, incorrect fuse used, etc.
• Increase productivity through safe and reliable equipment
• Reduce legal risks for managers
• Increase awareness of electricity hazards associated with the use of
equipment
• Could result in an introduction of effective maintenance program
• Monitoring the correct use of equipment. Any misuse can be
identified early and action taken accordingly.
• Reduction in electrical accidents

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Portable

Appliance Testing (PAT)
The limitations of portable appliance testing include:
• Accuracy of testing is reliant on the competence of tester
• Unnecessary frequent testing resulting in additional cost to the
organisation
• Misused equipment may occur in between test and therefore may not
show in results
• Test results include all faults including trivial one which may cause the
more significant faults to be overlooked.
• Results of test may not be accurate due to faulty testing equipment, or
testing equipment not properly calibrated
• Pre-use checks on equipment may not be carried out (over reliance on
PAT results)

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5.2 Control Measures When Working

with Electrical Systems or Using
Electrical Equipment in All
Workplace Conditions

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Protective Systems - Electrical

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Control Measures when Working

with Electrical Systems
Conductors
- Be covered with insulated
- Be located in suitable and safe place

Strength and Capability of Equipment

Use should not exceed capacity of equipment
Ability to withstand thermal, electromagnetic effects

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Electricity Protection Devices

• Fuses
• Circuit breaker
• Earthing
• Isolation
• Reduced voltage
• Battery operated tools
• Residual Current Devices (RCD)
• Double insulation

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Fuse
A specially designed weak link which is designed to melt at a
predetermined value of current
Advantages
• cheap and readily available
• protects equipment
Disadvantages
• will not protect individuals
• slow to operate
• inaccurate
• unsuitable or wrong fuse may
be used
• needs tool to replace

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Circuit Breakers
Electromagnetic devices which perform the same function as
fuses but operate faster

Advantages Disadvantages
• automatically trip under fault • may be mistaken for an RCD
conditions • do not protect the individual
• no tools required to reset
• not easy to defeat
• Protects equipment from overload

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Earthing
Electricity will always try to reach earth and earthing is a
means of providing a low resistance path to earth

Advantages Disadvantages
• Prevent indirect electric shock • specialist installation, testing
and maintenance
• Readily identified • No protection if removed

Earth lead and spike

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Isolation
Shutting off the electricity supply to an item of equipment and
preventing the system from being mistakenly reconnected

Advantages
• safest option as it eliminates
electricity
• may be physically locked off
Disadvantages
• may isolate other equipment
• may be reconnected without
lock off
• prevents live fault finding

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Reduced Voltage Systems

Reducing the mains voltage by means of a transformer to a
lower safer voltage e.g. 110volts or 55 volts

Advantages Disadvantages
• at 55V - injury is highly unlikely • specialist equipment e.g.
• colour coded cabling system for Transformer required
easy recognition • lead from supply to transformer
need protection with RCD

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Battery Operated Tools

Advantages Disadvantages
• little risk during normal use • limited use
• Not restricted by cable • low power output
• No trailing cable • Constant charging required

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Overloaded Wire

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Residual Current Devices (RCD)

Compares the electricity flow to the equipment with the return flow and if a
difference is detected the equipment is isolated

Advantages
• rapid and sensitive
• difficult to defeat
• easy to use, test and reset
• can not be reset with a fault on the
circuit
Disadvantages
• may isolate crucial equipment if
one RCD covers a number of
distribution points e.g. freezers and
computers
• mechanical device which could fail
• no overload protection

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Double Insulation
Two separate layers of insulation are provided which
allows for fault detection where one layer has failed the
other still provides protection

Advantages Disadvantages
• two layers of insulation prevent user • physical damage may defeat double
contact with any live parts insulation
• no earth required • No earth therefore no protection if
used with equipment that requires
earth

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Use Of Competent Persons

Adequate technical knowledge includes:

• Knowledge of electricity
• Experience of electrical work
• Understanding of the system and practical experience of
that system

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Precautions for on Working Live Equipment

• Trained and Competent Staff
• Accompanied by another person
• Adequate Information about the risks
• Suitable insulated tools
• Insulated barriers or screens
• Suitable instruments and test probes
• Personal protective equipment/rubber mats and flame resistant
clothing
• Permit to work
• Restricted access

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Use of Safe Systems of Work

Working on live equipment

Isolation: Engineering Controls, Administrative Controls, PPE

Locating Buried Services: careful digging, service plans to be made
available
Protection Against Overhead Cables: Plan the work

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Emergency Procedures Following an

Electrical Incident
In the event of someone receiving an electric shock the following
points should be observed.
• Do not touch injured person until the current is switched off.
• If the current cannot be switched off stand on some dry insulating
material and use a wooden or plastic implement to remove the
injured person from the electrical source.
• If breathing has stopped give mouth to mouth resuscitation if
qualified
• Ensure professional help has been called for.

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QUESTIONS ?

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Outline how earthing can reduce the risk of receiving

an electric shock. (4)

Electricity will always try to reach earth and earthing is a

means of providing a low resistance path to earth

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Identify four factors that could affect the severity of

injury resulting from contact with electricity. (4)

 Length of contact time

 Path through the body
 Conductivity/resistance of the body
 The voltage
 Conductivity of the environment
 Nature of the contact
 Age and health status of victim

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Identify the effects on the human body from a severe electric

shock (4)

 Damage to the nervous system

 Fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
 Tissue burns at entry and exit
 Damage to internal organs
 Muscular contractions
 Physical trauma
 Stopping breathing (respiratory paralysis)
 Stopping the heart (cardiac arrest)

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Identify control measures to reduce the risk of electric

shock when using a portable electric drills. (8)

 Reduced voltage operation

 Use of residual current circuit breakers
 Protected against overload
 Cables insulated
 Correct maintenance and repair
 Regular inspections and checks (Portable Appliance Testing)
 Not to use in wet environment
 Wearing of appropriate PPE such as rubber gloves, rubber
sole shoes
 Properly trained staff
 Replace with battery operated drill

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Identify the electrical hazards that could be discovered

by a visual inspection. (8)
 Overloaded circuits
 Incorrect fuses (e.g. nails)
 Damaged wiring and insulation
 Loose connections
 Coiled and entangled cables potential for overheating
 Overheating due to lack of ventilation
 Flammable materials too close to electrical equipment
 Cables trapped under desk, cupboards
 Damaged casing of sockets
 Burnt stains on sockets, melted sockets

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Outline the emergency action to take if a person suffers a

severe electric shock.

 Do not touch injured person until the current is switched

off.
 If the current cannot be switched off, stand on some dry
insulating material and use a wooden or plastic implement
to remove the injured person from the electrical source.
 Administer first aid if qualified
 Call professional help

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