ELECTRICAL

HAZARDS AND
CONTROLS

INTRODUCTION
Electricity:
is a widely used, efficient and convenient,
but potentially hazardous method of
transmitting and using energy.
use in every factory, workshop, laboratory
and office in the country.
has the potential to be very hazardous
with possible fatal results.

 Electrical

INTRODUCTION

work from the largest to the

smallest installation must be carried out
by people known to be competent to
undertake such work.
New installations always require expert
advice at all appropriate levels to cover
both design aspects of the system and its
associated equipment.
Electrical systems and equipment must be
properly selected, installed, used and
maintained.

LEGISLATION

Legislation:
Has been in place for many years to
control and regulate the use of electrical
energy and the activities associated with
its use.
Provides a framework for the standards
required in the design, installation,
maintenance and use of electrical
equipment and systems.
Provides the supervision of these activities
to minimize the risk of injury.

FORMS OF ELECTRIC CURRENT

Two forms of electric current:

Direct current (dc) - involves the flow of
electrons along a conductor from one end
to the other. This type of current is mainly
restricted to batteries and similar devices.
Alternating current (ac) - is produced
by a rotating alternator and causes an
oscillation of the electrons rather than a
flow of electrons so that energy is passed
from one electron to the adjacent one and
so on through the length of the conductor.

MEASUREMENT OF ELECTRICITY

The flow of current flowing through the

conductor is measured in amperes (A).

Sometimes very small currents are used

and these are measured in milliamps
(mA).

The higher the electrical pressure

difference along the conductor, the
higher the current will be.

MEASUREMENT OF ELECTRICITY
This

electrical pressure difference or

potential difference is measured in volts.

The

poorer the conductor, the higher the

resistance is to electrical current and the
lower the current becomes.

Electrical

resistance is measured in ohms.

PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRICITY
Basic Principles of Electricity:
Electricity is the flow or movement of
electrons through a substance which
allows the transfer of electrical energy
from one position to another.
Substance through which the electricity
flows is called a conductor.
Flow or movement of electrons is known
as the electric current.

PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRICITY

Conductors:
Substances which the electricity to flows
through
Are nearly always metals, copper being a
particularly good conductor, and are
usually in wire form but can be gases or
liquids, water being a particularly good
conductor of electricity.
Superconductors is a term given to certain
metals which have a very low resistance to
electricity at low temperatures.

PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRICITY

Insulators:
Very poor conductors of electricity.
Include

materials such as rubber, timber

and plastics.

Insulating

material is used to protect

people from some of the hazards
associated with electricity.

PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRICITY

Short Circuit:
Electrical equipment components and an
electrical power supply (normally the
mains or a battery) are joined together by
a conductor to form a circuit.
A short circuit is made if the circuit is
broken in some way so that the current
flows directly to earth rather than to a
piece of equipment.
Resistance is greatly reduced but the
voltage remains the same.

PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRICITY
Earthing:
Every circuit supplied by an electricity
supply company must have one of its
conductors connected to earth.
Earthing is the process when there is a
fault, such as a break in the circuit.
The current (earth fault current) will return
directly to earth, which forms the circuit of
least resistance, thus maintaining the
supply circuit.
Good and effective earthing is absolutely
essential.

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
Principal Hazards associated with electricity
are:
Electric Shock
Electric Burns
Electrical Fires and Explosions
Arcing
Secondary Hazards.

ELECTRICAL INJURIES
Four (4) Main Types of Injuries:
Electrocution (fatal)
Electric Shock
Burns
Falls

WHAT IF SOMEONE GETS

ELECTROCUTED?
Look

first, but don't touch

Turn off the source of electricity if possible.
If not, move the source away from you and
the affected person using a nonconducting object
Get Emergency Medical Services there
Try not to touch burns
If qualified, start basic first aid and CPR as
necessary until EMS arrives

GENERAL CONTROL MEASURES

FOR ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

WHAT IF SOMEONE GETS

ELECTROCUTED?
The integrity
of referenced conductors;
The

suitability of joints and connections

used in electrical systems;
Means for protection from excess current;
Means for cutting off the supply and for
isolation;
The Working on or near live conductors;
Adequate working space, access and
lighting;
The competence requirements for persons
working on electrical equipment to
prevent danger and injury.

TYPES OF PROTECTIVE SYSTEM

Several Different Types of Protective
System:
Fuse
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
Insulation
Isolation
Reduced Low-Voltage Systems
Residual Current Devices (RCD)
Double Insulation

END OF
PRESENTATION
Thank You!