Electricity Module 13

Electrical safety About 25 people die of electrical injuries each year and on average 1000 electrical accidents are reported to the HSE The two main hazards are: Injury arising from contact with live parts Fire and explosion

Common hazards Cleaning Wet hands Incorrect fuses Overloading Unprotected cables Extension cables Cable positioning

Precautions to prevent electric shocks Double-insulated equipment Transformers Residual current devices Effective earthing Testing and examination Installation and maintenance Defect reporting

Maintenance of electrical equipment Fixed electrical installations These are the sockets and wiring in the building Competent person Fixed installations – formally inspected every 5 years

Why is there a risk with portable appliances? Frequent use Can be unplugged and moved Used by different people Transported some distance Control measures Visually checked by every user Formal checks by a competent person