 Safety  Job safety, is everyone’s business, and does not rest in the hands of some government body, nor solely with management or supervisors of the workplace  Nearly all occupations have some potential for dangerous conditions or activities; the electronics technician especially has an ample portion of dangers to contend with on a daily basis

 Statistically, most injuries occurring in the workplace are due to events and causes that cannot be safeguarded against  Of all preventable accidents, most are a result of someone's thoughtlessness and carefree attitude towards safety  It is YOUR responsibility to not only protect yourself, but to also protect others  Regardless of where you are working, there are two safety requirements etched in-stone: common sense and sound judgment

 GENERAL SAFETY IN THE MEDICAL FACILITY  Medical facilities experience a higher injury rate than many industries  Most injuries in medical facilities are caused by falls and improper lifting techniques  To make a hospital as safe as possible, workers should:

 Immediately report any unsafe act or condition  Clean spills and remove foreign material from floors Do not use damaged or defective equipment Learn correct lifting and handling procedures Don't participate in horseplay or practical jokes Report all injuries to your supervisor and seek immediate first aid Wear protective clothing and equipment as required  In the United States, nearly all identified hazardous, or potentially hazardous, conditions that could impact personnel or equipment are marked by some sort of warning sign

 The Medical facility is no different  The most popular warning signs found in the medical facility include:  Radiation / Nuclear Med  Laser  Microwave in use

 General electrical safety  There are many different types of accidents that can occur in the work place  Electrical accidents appear to be caused by a combination of three possible factors: Unsafe equipment and / or installation Workplaces made unsafe by the environment Unsafe work practices  Electrical shock is one of the deadliest accidents that can occur to an electronics technician

 When electricity passes through the body it is called an electric shock  Electricity travels in closed circuits with its normal current flow from ground through a conductor to a voltage source  Current always follows the path of least resistance  Conductor - An object that provides a path for electricity to follow  An example of a conductor is the cord you use to get electricity from a wall outlet.

 Current flows through the metal wire in the cord » Current - the movement or flow of electrons » Ground - a part of a circuit that is electrically connected to earth » Resistance - opposition to current flow » Voltage - the "force" or "pressure" exerted on electrons, making them move from one place to another » Insulator - any material that offers high resistance to electric current, such as glass, mica, rubber, and plastic

 When the human body closes the circuit by providing a path to ground, electric shock can occur  Current will enter the body at one point and leave at another (this is called an entrance and exit wound)  Unconsciousness may occur if the voltage and resulting current are sufficiently high  Severe skin burns may appear at the place of contact and the victim's muscles may contract, preventing release from the circuit path

 The severity of the shock received when a person becomes a part of an electric circuit is affected by three primary factors:  The amount of current flowing through the body  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 general health of the person  The phase of the heart cycle when shock occurs

 The frequency of the current  Effects of electric shock varies from one person to another, but on average, the affects are the same  The effects of a 1 second contact would be:  1mA: Threshold of perception  5mA: Accepted as maximum harmless current intensity  mA: "Let-Go" current before sustained muscular contraction  50mA: Pain, possible fainting, exhaustion, mechanical injury; heart and respiratory functions continue

 mA: Ventricular fibrillation will start but respiratory center remains intact  6A: Sustained myocardial contraction followed by normal heart rhythm  Temporary respiratory paralysis  Burns if current density is high  Due to physiology and the chemical nature of the human body, five times more Direct Current than Alternating Current is needed to "freeze" the body to an electrical conductor

 There are several factors that affect the body's resistance to current flow  One major factor is the condition of the skin  Unbroken dry skin has a higher resistance than wet, cut, bruised or burned skin  Burns are the most common shock-related injuries

 Burns suffered in electrical accidents consist of three types: Electrical burns  The result of the electric current flowing through tissues or bone  Caused by the heat that is generated when current flows through the body Arc burns - the result of high temperatures near the body and are produced by an electric arc or explosion Thermal contact burns - the result of the skin coming in contact with hot surfaces of overheated electric conductors, conduits and heating elements

 Some fundamental safety guidelines to follow that can reduce the risk of shock or injury in any situation: Wear the proper attire  Whenever you work with or are in close proximity to electrical equipment, avoid loose, baggy or dangling clothing or highly flammable fabrics  Ensure that your clothing has no exposed metal zippers, buttons or other fasteners Wear the proper foot apparel  Do not stand on metallic surfaces or wear shoes with metal plates or cleats  Footwear should be approved "shop shoes" or, at the very least, shoes with rubber soles

 Remove all jewelry prior to working with any electrical equipment, remove all rings, watches (even those with rubberized straps and casings), and any dangling neckwear  Keep your clothing, hands and feet dry  Ensure tools and equipment are insulated Ensure that equipment and floor mats are made of non-conducting material All tools should be equipped with insulated handles and rubber gloves should be worn when working with high voltage circuits

 Understand how the circuit you are working on receives power  Treat all voltages with respect - electrical shock from the common 220V household power has caused the greatest number of deaths and injuries  When physical contact with a circuit is required, only use one hand Your free hand should be kept behind you or in your pocket This will prevent an electrical current path across the heart in the event of electrical shock