Services Electrical Safety & LOTO Awareness Training

Services 2 Text Overview We all use equipment and deal with electricity, and must be intimately involved in this process All parts of the electrical puzzle must fit together

Services 3 Statistics Over 6,000 work-related deaths occur each year in workplaces employing 11 workers or more Six percent of the fatalities, or around 347 deaths, were the direct result of electrocutions at work These fatalities could have been easily avoided.

Services 4 How Electricity Works Operating an electric switch is like turning on a water faucet. Water = the source pumped through pipes; the force to make it flow is pressure, provided by a pump For electricity = the source current, travels through electric conductors by pressure, measured in volts, provided by a generator

Services 5 Resistance Resistance to the flow of electricity is measured in ohms and varies widely. It is determined by 3 factors: The nature of the substance itself The length and cross-sectional area (size) of the substance The temperature of the substance

Services 6 Insulators/Conductors Metals offer very little resistance – called conductors Other substances - bakelite, porcelain, pottery, and dry wood, offer high resistance – prevent the flow of current - called insulators

Services 7 Insulators/Conductors Pure water is a poor conductor, but small amounts of impurities, such as salt and acid (both of which are contained in perspiration), make it a ready conductor When water is present either in the environment or on the skin, anyone working with electricity should exercise even more caution than they normally would

Services 8 How Shock Occurs The severity of the shock received is affected by three primary factors: The amount of current flowing through the body (measured in amperes) The path of the current through the body The length of time the body is in the circuit Other factors that may affect the severity of shock are the: Frequency of the current; Phase of the heart cycle when shock occurs General health of the person

Services 9 Shock & the Human Body The effects of electric shock depend upon the type of circuit, its voltage, resistance, current, pathway through the body, and duration of the contact Effects can range from a barely perceptible tingle to immediate cardiac arrest There are no absolute limits or even known values that show the exact injury from any given current

Services 10 Shock & the Human Body The so-called low voltages can be extremely dangerous Degree of injury is proportional to the length of time the body is in the circuit LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT IMPLY LOW HAZARD!

Services 11 Shock & the Human Body A severe shock can cause: 1.internal hemorrhages 2.destruction of tissues, nerves, and muscles Shock is often only the beginning in a chain of events The final injury may well be from a fall, cuts, burns, or broken bones

Services 12 Shock & the Human Body Current/Reaction: 1 Milliampere / Perception level. Just a faint tingle 5 Milliamperes / Slight shock felt; not painful but disturbing - average individual can let go. However, strong involuntary reactions to shocks in this range can lead to injuries 6-25 Milliamperes (women) / Painful shock, muscular control is lost 9-30 Milliamperes (men) / This is called the freezing current or “let-go" range

Services 13 Shock & the Human Body Current/Reaction: Milliamperes / Extreme pain, respiratory arrest, severe muscular contractions* Individual cannot let go. Death is possible 1,000-4,300 Milliamperes Ventricular fibrillation. (The rhythmic pumping action of the heart ceases.) Muscular contraction and nerve damage occur. Death is most likely 10,000-Milliamperes Cardiac arrest, severe burns and probable death

Services 14 Burns & Other Injuries The most common shock-related injury is a burn. Burns suffered in electrical accidents may be of three types: Electrical Arc Thermal contact

Services 15 Burns & Other Injuries Electrical burns are the result of the electric current flowing through tissues or bone Tissue damage is caused by the heat generated by the current flow through the body Electrical burns are one of the most serious injuries you can receive and should be given immediate attention

Services 16 Burns & Other Injuries Arc or flash burns, on the other hand, are the result of high temperatures near the body and are produced by an electric arc or explosion They should also be attended to promptly

Services 17 Burns & Other Injuries Thermal contact burns are those normally experienced when the skin comes in contact with hot surfaces of overheated electric conductors, conduits, or other energized equipment Additionally, clothing may be ignited in an electrical accident and a thermal burn will result All three types of burns may be produced simultaneously

Services 18 Preventing Electrical Hazards Electrical accidents - three possible factors: 1.unsafe equipment and/or installation 2.workplaces unsafe by environment 3.unsafe work practices There are various ways of protecting people from the hazards caused by electricity These include: insulation; guarding; grounding; electrical protective devices; and safe work practices

Services 19 Prevention of Electrical Hazards These include: Insulation Guarding Grounding Electrical protective devices Safe work practices

Services 20 Insulation One way to safeguard individuals from electrically energized wires and parts is through insulation An insulator is any material with high resistance to electric current

Services 21 Live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more must be guarded against accidental contact. This is accomplished by: Location Permanent partitions Elevation of 8 feet (2.44 meters) or more above the floor Guarding

Services 22 Guarding Mark entrances to rooms and other guarded locations containing exposed live parts with warning signs Indoor electric wiring of more than 600 volts, must be controlled by a lock In addition, equipment must be marked with appropriate caution signs

Services 23 Grounding Two kinds of required grounds One of these is called the "service or system ground“ One wire-called "the neutral conductor" or "grounded conductor" is grounded at the generator or transformer and again at the service entrance of the building This type of ground is primarily designed to protect machines, tools, and insulation against damage

Services 24 Circuit Protection Devices EXTREMELY IMPORTANT Never remove a grounding device from any electrical source, tool, or equipment Never remove the ground prong from an electrical cord or device of any kind Never by-pass grounding or circuit breaker protection as any time If you find any of the above have occurred, repair and/or report immediately

Services 25 Circuit Protection Devices Circuit protection devices are designed to automatically limit or shut off the flow of electricity in the event of a ground-fault, overload, or short circuit in the wiring system Fuses, circuit breakers, and ground-fault circuit interrupters are three well-known examples

Services 26 Circuit Protection Devices Fuses and circuit breakers are intended primarily for the protection of conductors and equipment They prevent over-heating of wires and components that might otherwise create hazards for operators They also open the circuit under certain hazardous ground-fault conditions

Services 27 Safe Work Practices Employees and others working with electric equipment need to use safe work practices. These include: Deenergizing electric equipment before inspecting or making repairs Using electric tools that are in good repair; using good judgment when working near energized lines Using appropriate protective equipment

Services 28 Lock-out/Tag-out Electrical Policy: Electrical panels must be manned at all times while open and or being worked on With the exception of when work is being performed on or in electrical panels, and the electrical panels are manned, all electrical panels must be closed at all times Prior to any work being performed on an electrical panel, the power to the panel must be turned off, and checked to make sure the power is off

Services 29 Lock-out/Tag-out When a problem with a breaker occurs in an electrical panel, make sure the breaker is in the off position Place electrical tape (no other tape is allowed), over the breaker - do not allow the breaker to be turned on without removal of the tape Close the panel box Lock the panel cover if that feature is available Place a sign on the panel door noting the problem, the breaker number, and clearly indicate that the panel box is not to be opened by anyone but authorized and qualified repair personnel

Services 30 Lock-out/Tag-out Be sure the sign is attached to the cover so it cannot fall off It must be physically removed. Attach the electrical lock-out tag to the panel cover in addition to the sign Unless you are the qualified district electrician, this lock-out must not be removed or tampered with Lock any additional doors to the equipment, i.e. vault room, and place sign on the door indicating “No Admittance – Electrical Work in progress – Danger”

Services 31 Lock-out/Tag-out In any electrical panel or breaker problem, report the problem to the site administrator, the custodial staff on all shifts, and the maintenance department In the case of a non-emergency, a standard on-line work order can be used to notify the maintenance department In the case of an emergency or urgent problem, call the maintenance department director for assistance and notification In all cases, follow-up with an on-line work order and document the problem with dates, times, and names

Services 32 Lock-out/Tag-out For faulty electrical with powered equipment, disconnect the power to the unit completely by turning off the breaker, and disconnecting the power cord if possible Place a sign in the same manner as the panel box above Also state the problem with the unit if know and any hazards such as potential electrical shock. Install the lock-out tag on the power ‘on’ switch and tape the switch in the off position with electrical tape Inform essential personnel and staff that use the equipment

Services 33 Lock-out/Tag-out The lock-out tag must include certain information. This includes the name of the person installing the tag This tag can only be removed by the person originally installing it or a qualified electrician

Services 34 Lock-out/Tag-out The removed tag must be returned to the office and saved in a file that contains an explanation of: The electrical problem How the problem was handled Who found the problem Who installed the lock-out tag Who reported the problem Who repaired the problem Who removed the lock-out tag This is best served in an on-going report on the problem. Documentation is everything

Services 35 Lock-out/Tag-out What Documentation Does: Gives you a great resource to follow-up Provides compliance with regulations Instills a sense of completion to a problem Provides exacting steps that need to be done as long as the file is open Provides information for future reference

Services 36 Lock-out/Tag-out What Timely Reporting Does: Puts the people who need to fix the problem on notice. Provides you with the right information when asked Follows the proper regulations and guidelines Offers the repair people the opportunity to get to the problem quicker Allows the problem to be taken care of faster

Services 37 Lock-out/Tag-out The same procedure for electrical panels must be followed for all mechanical equipment, and machinery Lock-out/Tag-out procedures include: – Air handlers –Floor cleaning machines –Vehicles, fork lifts, and all other equipment that is either motorized, pinches, grabs, lifts, –Or equipment that moves or operates by a power source or under it’s own power

Services 38 Care of Cords & Equipment Electric panels must be kept clear of any obstructions at all times Storage is not allowed in electrical vault or service panel rooms. Find another place for storage of materials, products, etc

Services 39 Summary Electricity can be helpful and also dangerous, if not respected Safety procedures must be followed in order to protect everyone when dealing with electrical Lock-out/Tag-out procedures for electrical must be followed to help ensure safety and regulatory compliance Lock-out/Tag-out includes other equipment besides electrical and must have the same reporting and documentation

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