1. Electrical Safety
This material was produced under a grant (SH22249SH1) from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organization imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Module header.

2. Why do we need to talk about Electrical Safety?
From Bureau of Labor /NIOSH
8,000 electrical contact injuries per year.
One person is electrocuted each working day.
2,000 workers are sent to burn centers each year with greater than 2nd degree burns that are electrically related.
Survey of 1200 electricians.
97% had experienced a shock
27% had witnessed an electrical injury.
Electrocution remains the fourth (4th) highest cause of industrial fatalities.
Approximately 3,000 arc flash burn incidents reported annually along with 250 deaths.
These statistics were collected from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). By showing these statistics, the participants will realize that there is a definite chance that these accidents could happen to them.

3. Now that we discovered the need, here is what we will discuss:
Basic Electricity
Terms such as volt and amp
Basic Electrical Theory (How does it work?)
Hazards associated with Electricity
Electrical Shock
Burns
Etc.
To have a better understanding of electricity, the participants will need to know what electricity is as well as basic electrical theory or how it works. Also, the hazards of electricity will be discussed.

4. Now that we discovered the need, here is what we will discuss:
Protection against Electricity
Overcurrent/Undercurrent Protection
Administrative Controls such as Lock-out/Tag-out (LOTO)
Training
Personal Protective Equipment
Etc.
After discussing electricity and the hazards associated with it, we will talk about protective measures such as overcurrent/undercurrent protection, administrative controls (LOTO , etc.), training, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

5. Electrical Safety Introduction to Electrical Safety
Hazards Associated with Electricity
Arc Flash/Arc Blast
Electrical Safety Program
Who is Responsible for Safety?
Employer/Worker Rights and Responsibilities
The topics above are the section headers for this module and are in order starting with “Introduction to Electrical Safety” and working down then left to “Employer/Worker Rights and Responsibilities.”

6. Introduction to Electrical Safety
What is electricity and how does it work?
Introduction to Electrical Safety section header.

7. How does electricity work?
Electricity is the flow of energy from one place to another
Requires a source of power: usually a generating station
A flow of electrons (current) travels through a conductor
Travels in a closed circuit
By putting this information in a form that might be more commonly used by all participants, the chance of someone not learning the information, from lack of understanding, is reduced.
This information was taken from:
Electrical Safety – Construction download.

8. How does electricity work?
Operating an electric switch is like turning on a water faucet.
Behind the faucet (or switch) there is a source of water (or electricity) with a way to transport it, and pressure to make it flow. The faucet’s water source is a reservoir or pumping station. A pump provides enough pressure for the water to travel through the pipes. For electricity the source is the power generating station. A generator provides the pressure (voltage) for the electrical current to travel through electric conductors (wires).
Volts – the electrical pressure (measure of electrical force)
Amps – the volume or intensity of the electrical flow
Watts – the power consumed
Resistance – the restriction to electrical flow
Operating an electric switch is like turning on a water faucet.
Behind the faucet (or switch) there is a source of water (or electricity) with a way to transport it, and pressure to make it flow. The faucet’s water source is a reservoir or pumping station. A pump provides enough pressure for the water to travel through the pipes. For electricity the source is the power generating station. A generator provides the pressure (voltage) for the electrical current to travel through electric conductors (wires).
Volts – the electrical pressure (measure of electrical force)
Amps – the volume or intensity of the electrical flow
Watts – the power consumed
Resistance – the restriction to electrical flow
This information was taken from:
Electrical Safety – Construction download.

9. Intro to Electrical Safety
Now that we have a basic understanding of how electricity moves, we must look at the dangers we face when working near it.
In the next few slides, we will talk about the different terms associated with electricity and what they mean to us.
Transition slide to the following definitions.

10. Match the term to the definition.
Conductors
Insulators
Grounding
a conductive connection to the earth which acts as a protective measure
substances with high resistance to electricity like glass, porcelain, plastic, and dry wood that prevent electricity from getting to unwanted areas
substances, like metals, with little resistance to electricity that allow electricity to flow
This information was taken from:
Electrical Safety – Construction download.

11. Match the term to the definition.
Conductors
Insulators
Grounding
a conductive connection to the earth which acts as a protective measure
substances with high resistance to electricity like glass, porcelain, plastic, and dry wood that prevent electricity from getting to unwanted areas
substances, like metals, with little resistance to electricity that allow electricity to flow
Conductors are substances, like metals, with little resistance to electricity that allows electricity to flow.
This information was taken from:
Electrical Safety – Construction download.

12. Match the term to the definition.
Conductors
Insulators
Grounding
a conductive connection to the earth which acts as a protective measure
substances with high resistance to electricity like glass, porcelain, plastic, and dry wood that prevent electricity from getting to unwanted areas
substances, like metals, with little resistance to electricity that allow electricity to flow
Insulators are substances with high resistance to electricity like glass, porcelain, plastic, and dry wood that prevent electricity from getting to to unwanted areas.
This information was taken from:
Electrical Safety – Construction download.

13. Match the term to the definition.
Conductors
Insulators
Grounding
a conductive connection to the earth which acts as a protective measure
substances with high resistance to electricity like glass, porcelain, plastic, and dry wood that prevent electricity from getting to unwanted areas
substances, like metals, with little resistance to electricity that allow electricity to flow
Grounding is a conductive connection to the earth which acts as a protective measure.
This information was taken from:
Electrical Safety – Construction download.

14. Match the term to the definition.
Current
Circuit
Resistance
complete path of the current Includes electricity source, a conductor, and the output device or load (such as a lamp, tool, or heater)
restriction to electrical flow
electrical movement (measured in amps)
This information was taken from:
Electrical Safety – Construction download.

15. Match the term to the definition.
Current
Circuit
Resistance
complete path of the current Includes electricity source, a conductor, and the output device or load (such as a lamp, tool, or heater)
restriction to electrical flow
electrical movement (measured in amps)
Current is electrical movement.
This information was taken from:
Electrical Safety – Construction download.

16. Match the term to the definition.
Current
Circuit
Resistance
complete path of the current Includes electricity source, a conductor, and the output device or load (such as a lamp, tool, or heater)
restriction to electrical flow
electrical movement (measured in amps)
Circuits are complete paths of the current. Includes electricity source, a conductor, and the output device or load.
This information was taken from:
Electrical Safety – Construction download.

17. Match the term to the definition.
Current
Circuit
Resistance
complete path of the current Includes electricity source, a conductor, and the output device or load (such as a lamp, tool, or heater)
restriction to electrical flow
electrical movement (measured in amps)
Resistance is the restriction to electrical flow.
This information was taken from:
Electrical Safety – Construction download.

18. Hazards Associated with Electricity
Warning some slides contain pictures which are graphic Viewer discretion is advised.
Hazards Associated with Electricity section header.

19. Electrical Hazards
There are 4 potential dangers involved with contacting electricity:
Direct
Shocks
Burns
Electrocutions
Indirect
Falls
In the next set of slides, the participants will be informed of the hazards associated with electricity. Both direct and indirect dangers will be covered as well as effects of each on the human body.

20. Electrical Hazards - Shocks
Severity of the shock depends on:
Path of current through the body
Amount of current flowing through the body (amps)
Duration of the shocking current through the body,
LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT MEAN LOW HAZARD
This information was taken from:
Electrical Safety – Construction download.
This pictures best describes the path of electricity to ground. By seeing this visualization, the participants can begin to understand how electricity flows. They also understand that the path taken by the electricity is not known and that medical attention is essential.

21. Electrical Hazards - Burns
Another danger associated with electricity is electrical burns.
Severity of the electrical burns depends on:
Duration the body is exposed to the current,
Amount of current and
Path to ground
This information was taken from:
Electrical Safety – Construction download.

22. Severity of damage to the body depends on the path to ground.
Where did the electricity enter the victims body?
Where did the electricity exit the victims body?
Where did the electricity enter the victims body?
Electricity entered this victim through his thumb.
Where did the electricity exit the victims body?
The electricity exited the victims body through his wrist.
By asking the two questions above, the participants can identify where the enter and exits wounds are. Also, a short discussion of medical attention regarding burns is very important.
Also, this accident requires immediate medical attention. Burn victims, such as in this photo, must have all burnt/damaged tissue removed to avoid severe health complications.
This picture was taken from:
Electrical Safety – Construction download.

23. Electrical Hazards - Electrocutions
When the electrical shock has taken the life of the victim, electrocution is the result.
Electrocution is death due to electrical shock.
76 workers were killed while at work in 2010.
Electrocution is a word that is commonly misused. People often get the term electrocution mixed up with the phrase electrical shock.
In 2010, 76 people were electrocuted while at work. Those 76 workers equaled 10% of the total deaths that year.
Information was compiled from:

24. Electrical Hazards - Falls
The number one cause of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry is falls.
Most injuries and fatalities involved with electricity are falls directly related to working from a ladder or at a height.
If you were working with electricity while on a ladder and you get shocked, what would your reaction be?
The question above is a very important question to ask. The result will be the same nearly every time. If the situation presented itself, the human reaction will be to pull away from the electricity. If we pull away from the electricity while on a ladder, we break contact with the electricity and are now exposed to a fall.
Falls accounted for 260 out of 751 construction deaths in That is a staggering 35% and the most of any area in construction.
Information was compiled from:

25. What is Arc Flash/Blast?
An arc flash is an electrical breakdown of the resistance of air resulting in an electric arc which can occur where there is sufficient voltage in an electrical system and a path to ground or lower voltage. An arc flash with 1000 amperes or more can cause substantial damage, fire or injury. Temperatures can reach or exceed 35,000 degrees (Fahrenheit) at the arc terminals.
Paragraph #1 – Definitions.
Note: 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit is 3.5 times hotter than the surface of the sun (10,000 degrees Fahrenheit).

26. Arc Flash/Arc Blast What causes Arc Flash? Dust and impurities
Corrosion
Condensation
Spark discharge
Overvoltage across narrow gaps
Failure of insulating materials
Improper work procedures
Arc flash can be caused by any one of the areas listed above. The participant must be aware that the potential for an arc flash is increased when these are present.

27. The Electrical Safety Program
The Electrical Safety Program section header.

28. The Electrical Safety Program Shall include:
Update training
Policies generated by the management structure.
Current procedures that guide workers actions.
Review process.
PPE necessary to protect workers.
Auditing process to monitor developing knowledge.
Controls that establish expectations for workers.
Processes that define and execute enforcement of the program.
The topic areas listed in the slide above must be included in the safety policy of the employer. Training, PPE, procedures, and controls are important to inform each worker of. The instructor must go over each topic and give examples to the participants.
Update training – An example that could be used for this topic is: Before a worker is exposed to an electrical hazard, training must be completed prior to exposure. If training has already been completed and a process changes in how workers do their job, then re-training must be completed to identify potential hazards.
Policies generated by the management structure – An example that could be used for this topic is: Safety policies are created by the management who is an extension of the employer. If an unsafe situation presents itself and the workers bring it to the attention of the employer, then management makes the applicable changes to the policy.
Current procedures that guide workers actions & Controls that establish expectations for workers – An example that could be used for this topic is: Procedures are the guides that all construction workers abide by not just talking safety. Construction procedures are in place to ensure the material is being used to its full potential and not damaged. Safety procedures are in place to make sure we can safety work with the material that is to be constructed.
Review process & Auditing process to monitor developing knowledge & Processes that define and execute enforcement of the program – An example that could be used for this topic is: As stated earlier, if an unsafe situation appears then the proper review of the safety and construction procedures must take place to ensure that the safest, most feasible safety protocol is being used.
PPE necessary to protect workers – An example that could be used for this topic is: Each job presents different hazards. What forms of personal protective equipment or PPE are available to me as a worker by the employer? More importantly, if I have all the necessary PPE donned, does that mean the hazard is gone?

29. OSHA
Before workers are exposed to electrical hazards, the following must be done prior to exposure:
Live parts must be de-energized
Circuits must be de-energized
Controls must be tagged
Equipment and/or circuits must be rendered inoperative and tagged
29 CFR (a)(1) - "De-energized parts." Live parts to which an employee may be exposed shall be de-energized before the employee works on or near them, unless the employer can demonstrate that de-energizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitations. Live parts that operate at less than 50 volts to ground need not be de-energized if there will be no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electric arcs.
Note 1: Examples of increased or additional hazards include interruption of life support equipment, deactivation of emergency alarm systems, shutdown of hazardous location ventilation equipment, or removal of illumination for an area.
Note 2: Examples of work that may be performed on or near energized circuit parts because of infeasibility due to equipment design or operational limitations include testing of electric circuits that can only be performed with the circuit energized and work on circuits that form an integral part of a continuous industrial process in a chemical plant that would otherwise need to be completely shut down in order to permit work on one circuit or piece of equipment.
Note 3: Work on or near de-energized parts is covered by paragraph (b) of this section.
29 CFR (a)(1) - No employer shall permit an employee to work in such proximity to any part of an electric power circuit that the employee could contact the electric power circuit in the course of work, unless the employee is protected against electric shock by de-energizing the circuit and grounding it or by guarding it effectively by insulation or other means.
29 CFR (a) - Controls. Controls that are to be deactivated during the course of work on energized or de-energized equipment or circuits shall be tagged.
29 CFR (b) - Equipment and circuits. Equipment or circuits that are de-energized shall be rendered inoperative and shall have tags attached at all points where such equipment or circuits can be energized.
The information above was obtained from OSHA’s website at the following link:

30. Who is responsible for Safety?
Who is responsible for Safety? section header.

31. The employer is responsible for:
Following OSHA requirements
The Electrical Safety Program
Safety Policies and Procedures
Safety Training and Re-Training
Employer responsibilities include but are not limited to:
* Following OSHA requirements
* The Electrical Safety Program
* Safety Policies and Procedures
* Safety Training and Re-Training
* Update training
* Policies generated by the management structure.
* Current procedures that guide workers actions.
* Review process.
* PPE necessary to protect workers.
* Auditing process to monitor developing knowledge.
* Controls that establish expectations for workers.
* Processes that define and execute enforcement of the program.

32. The worker is responsible for:
Implementing Procedures
Following the employers safety policies and procedures
The worker is responsible for implementing procedures and following the employers safety policies and procedures.

33. What is the best Way to Prevent the Hazards of Electricity?
Stop
Think
Options
Protection
Preventing the hazards of electricity starts with STOP:
Stop
Think
Options
Protection
By following these steps as well as their employers safety program, the participants will have less of a chance of being seriously injured or even killed by electricity.

34. Employers and Workers Employers: Workers:
If workers will be expected to maintain or install electrical equipment, additional training must be done prior to exposure.
Workers:
If your work changes or you are asked to do additional work involving electricity, additional training must be completed prior to exposure.
This module is basic electrical safety. Additional training will be required if maintenance or other work is performed on electrical circuits.

35. We have learned about: The basics of electricity
Hazards associated with electricity
The Electrical Safety Program
Employer/worker rights responsibilities with electrical safety
This slide is a summary of the topics we discussed involving electricity.

36. Employee Rights and Responsibilities
You have the right to:
A safe and healthful workplace
Know about hazardous chemicals
Information about injuries and illnesses in your workplace
Complain or request hazard correction from employer
The information above was taken from the new 2 hour Intro to OSHA PPT, slide #10.
The instructor will discuss employee rights and responsibilities with the participants.

37. Employee Rights and Responsibilities
You have the right to:
Training
Hazard exposure and medical records
File a complaint with OSHA
Participate in an OSHA inspection
Be free from retaliation for exercising safety and health rights
The instructor will discuss employee rights and responsibilities with the participants.

38. Employee Rights and Responsibilities
OSHA website: and OSHA offices: Call or Write ( OSHA)
Compliance Assistance Specialists in the area offices
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) – OSHA’s sister agency
OSHA Training Institute Education Centers
Doctors, nurses, other health care providers
Public libraries
Other local, community-based resources
The Information above was taken from the new 2 hour Intro to OSHA PPT, slide #40.
The instructor will discuss employee rights and responsibilities with the participants.

39. …and stay safe!
The final slide of the module.