Better Safe Than Sorry

A WORLD THAT STARTS WITH ELECTRICAL HAZARDS AND SAFETY. ELECTRICITY IS A VERY SERIOUS BUSINESS AND THE EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN, ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND OTHER OBJECTS CAN BE VERY DEVASTATING. CHECK OUT THIS SLIDE TO LEARN ALL YOU CAN. REMEMBER WATCH OUT FOR ELECTRICAL HAZARDS AND THINK FIRST!!

Effects of Alternating Currents on the Body The human body CAN become a part of an electrical circuit. The damage is done by 3 factors: The amount of current flowing through the body The pathway of the electricity The duration of the event The blue arrow indicated the flow of current through the head to the heart then to ground. This is the most fatal scenario

AC Currents

Safety Equipment

Hard Hat – To prevent major head injury in event of falling objects Ear Plugs – To protect the Hearing sense Tight Sleeves and trouser Legs – Prevent Being Pulled into Dangerous Equipment No Rings on Fingers – Metal can conduct Safety Shows – For protection of those toes from falling objects Rubber Boots – To prevent body from forming a complete conducting electrical circuit

Electrical equipment is used in everyday tasks. Qualified technicians should be called to inspect any area frequently to ensure that the risk of any electrical hazard is minimized. Some protective devices are: Distribution Panel: This is a circuit breaker and contains many electrical circuits. Using this, a circuit can be turned on or off. Circuit breakers and Fuses: These protect wires from overheating and are found in the distribution panel box. When there is an overload, that is, too much current flowing, the fuses will blow or the circuit breakers will trip. Fuses and circuit breakers are rated so therefore at a particular current, they will be damaged by the circuit will be off. The average household in Trinidad and Tobago has 60A breakers. GFCI or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupts are a type of circuit breaker and looks like an electrical outlet. They have the ability to break the circuit in a very short period of time (milliseconds). Switches: Switches can energize circuits, that is, they allow a current to flow through. If carelessly used, these can cause damage to a person and to equipment. Receptacles connect the appliances to a circuit. NOTE: DO NOT PLUG A 115V RATED APPLIANCE INTO A 230V ELECTRICAL SOCKET. DO NOT MODIFY A 230V PLUG TO FIT INTO A 115V SOCKET BY REMOVING THE 3 RD METAL CONTACT

Remember look out for these hazard signs and take note of them These safety signs keep persons aware of hazards and warn them to take the necessary precautions.

Sources of Electrical Hazards Electrical Cords can Cause Trip Hazards Frayed power cords are dangerous Overloading Electrical Sockets Damaging Cords by Running over them or placing heavy objects on them Modifying Electrical Plugs Overheating Machinery by not having adequate ventilation Damaged Electrical Outlets Exposed Wires Working Close to Power Sources, Overhead Lines Water Dripping on Live Equipment CAN YOU THINK OF ANY OTHERS??

Electrical cord present under the rug Bulb intensity too high Man is tugging on the electrical equipment cord Television left on Power outlet is overloaded as too many electronic equipment attached to it Lamp cord is taped CAN YOU THINK OF ANY METHODS TO REDUCE THESE HAZARDS?

This is the skin when it succumbs to varying amounts of electricity to it. As can be seen, a third degree burn is almost irreversible and can lead to death. Symptoms include: weakness, skin burns, bone fractures, headache, sudden hearing impairment, muscle contraction and seizures.

Do NOT plug appliances rated at 230 V into an 115V electrical socket Place all lamps on level surfaces and away from things that can burn Use bulbs that match a lamps’ rated wattage Do not try overloading an electrical outlet, that is, connecting several devices into a single receptacle using any device eg ‘cube taps’ Do not tug or pull roughly any electrical cords If the outlet or switch is feeling warm, shut off the circuit and call an electrician to check the system Follow manufacturer’s instructions for plugging a device into an electrical outlet Avoid running extension cords under carpets or across doorways Do not connect the cord of an old electrical device to a newer cord using any sticking material Replace and repair frayed or loose cords on all electrical devices Keep all electrical appliances away from water Contact electricity authority if any damage done to overhead cables, outdoor panel boxes, or trees touching high voltage lines is seen. Contact before doing any work involving digging Take heed to all warning signs on electrical hazards Ensure a fire extinguisher is placed where the likelihood of a hazard occurring is great Always wear safety equipment when around electrical equipment DO YOU KNOW ANY OTHERS?

This exercise serves to allow the individual the chance to determine electrical hazards present in any place. Let’s first give some definitions: Hazard: Something that has the potential to cause harm Risk: Likelihood of the hazard occurring and resulting in illness, injury or death Now we follow some basic steps in the risk management process Identify the Hazards present Assess the Risk Decide on Control measures Implement Control measures Review Control Measures Fill out the following table based on the following ratings: # of Possible or Actual occurrences – this is the number of times during your assessment that you find the hazard occurring Likelihood of the hazard- Likelihood 4 – very likely – allot 8 points Likelihood 3 – likely – allot 6 points Likelihood 2 – not very likely – allot 4 points Likelihood 1 – rare, not likely to happen – allot 2 points Severity of the Hazard Severity 4 – very severe, can cause death, major injury/fatalities – allot 8 points Severity 3 – severe, can cause major injury – allot 6 points Severity 2- not very severe, minor injuries – allot 4 points Severity 1 – negligible, small burns – allot 2 points Pareto Analysis = # of Possible or Actual occurrences x Likelihood of the hazard x Severity of the Hazard