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FAQs > Workplace Safety

Electrical Safety Requirements
Workplace Electrical Safety Tips
General Workplace Safety Considerations
Hazard Identification and Analysis
Electrical Hazard Mitigation – Prevention
What Should I know About Electrical Products and Workplace Safety?
Lightning Strikes
Electrical Shock Dynamics: 3 Important Considerations
Shock Rescue Procedures

Where Can I Find Out About Electrical Safety Requirements in the Workplace?

Electrical safety measures are included in standards, regulations and guidelines. Those in the workplace should familiarize themselves with these measures and follow them, where applicable.

OHSA Regulations

General Industry

Subpart - Electrical Standard
Subpart R - Utility Industry

1910.268 Telecommunications
1910.269 Power Generation, Transmissions and Distribution Standard

Subpart J, 1910.147 - Lockout/Tagout

Subpart K - Electrical Standard
Subpart V - Power Transmission and Distribution

OSHA 29 CFR 1926, Construction Industry

National Consensus Standards for Design and Installation

Standards on electrical products and systems, such as the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and ASTM
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) "Color Book Series" - design of electrical power systems for industrial and commercial facilities
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70, National Electrical Code (NEC)® - provides electrical safety requirements for wiring methods used in the workplace
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)- address safety criteria for live electric supply and communication lines and equiptment for employees in the workplace.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 79, Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery - addresses fire safety and important electrical considerations specific to industry machinery and manufacturing systems not covered in the NEC®.
ANSI Z 244 - Lockout/Tagout, Standard address the minimum requirements for lockout/target procedures of energy control sources that could cause injury or harm to employee.
National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), National Electrical Installation Standards (NEIS™)

Safe Work Practices

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E, Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101, Life Safety Code - for protecting lives and property from fire.

Guidelines

Department of Energy (DOE) - Electrical Safety Guidelines
Department of Energy (DOE) - Model Electrical Safety Program

What Key Workplace Electrical Safety Tips Can I Give to Employees?

Adapt this list of reminders to your working environment. Be sure to consider company policies and local, state, and Federal codes before establishing a written electrical safety program.

Plan every job and think about what could go wrong.
Use the right tools for the job.
Use procedures, drawings, and other documents to do the job.
Isolate equipment from energy sources.
Identify the electric shock and arc flash, as well as other hazards that may be present.
Minimize hazards by guarding or establishing approach limitations.
Test every circuit and every conductor every time before you touch it.
Use personal protective equipment (PPE) as a last line of defense in case something goes wrong.
Be sure you are properly trained and qualified for the job.
Work on electrical equipment and conductors only when deenergized, unless procedures and safeguards have been established to ensure zero exposure for the worker and other people in the area.
Lockout/tagout and ground (where appropriate) before working on equipment.
Treat deenergized electrical equipment and conductors as energized until lockout/tagout, test, and ground procedures (where appropriate) are implemented.
Wear protective clothing and equipment and use insulated tools in areas where there are possible electrical hazards.
Deenergize and visibly guard (where possible) whenever contact with uninsulated overhead power lines is possible.
Check and double check safety regulations when a ladder or parts of any vehicle or mechanical equipment structure will be elevated near energized overhead power lines. Call your local electric utility for assistance. People standing on the ground may be particularly vulnerable to possible injury.

General Workplace Safety Considerations

Verify location of all buried or embedded electrical circuits before digging or cutting.
Determine the reason that a fuse operated or circuit breaker tripped before replacing or resetting.
Know where your overcurrent devices are (i.e. circuit breakers and fuses) so they can be easily and quickly reached in case of emergency.
When replacing lamps and bulbs, verify that the replacement matches fixture requirements.

What Factors Can Help Employees Identify Electrical Hazards?

Every electrical safety program should include a procedure for analyzing the risks and hazards associated with each job. Employees should always consider the following:

Environment

wet or dry
indoors or outdoors
open or cramped
well lit or dim
metal ladders in area where overhead wires or exposed conductors are present
electrical cords over a heat source
overloaded electrical outlets

Condition of Equipment

age of equipment
integrity of grounding system
internal safety mechanisms
operating voltage
electrical wiring and loads incurred
fault current available to produce arc flash

Electrical Safety Work Practices

ensure that operating procedures are up to date and appropriate for conditions
evaluate circuit information drawings
determine degree and extent of hazards

comply with minimum clearances when working around electrical power lines or other exposed conductors
determine approach boundaries:
flash protection boundary - linear distance to prevent injury from a potential arc-flash
limited approach boundary - restricted distance for "unqualified" persons
restricted approach boundary - restricted distance for "qualified" persons
prohibited approach boundary - PPE for direct contact with live parts - flashover distance

determine "flash protection boundary" requirements from approach boundaries table (NFPA 70E)
determine appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) based on potential hazards present

always wear safety glasses and a hard hat when working on live circuits
use electrically insulated tools
use electrically insulated gloves
test dates for integrity of equipment and protective clothing - independent safety lab
wear required personal protective clothing (i.e., long sleeve shirt and long pants)- flame resistant materials for clothing (different weights for protection dependent on fault levels and clearing times)

your hands are your most valuable tools. Protect them by wearing appropriate safety gloves. Before using, inspect the gloves for signs of wear and tear and other damage.
evaluate personnel qualifications
use ladders with nonconductive siderails if there is any possibility the ladder could contact exposed energized parts
follow lock-out/tag-out procedures
use power tools that are double-insulated or that have ground-fault circuit interrupters protecting the circuit
inspect all extension cords for wear and tear and make sure they are listed by a third-party testing laboratory
never drape electrical cords over heat sources
never store flammable liquids near electrical equipment, even temporarily
be aware of special training requirements
motors with thermal protection can restart without warning, always lockout the motor before working on it.
only qualified personnel should perform maintenance, inspection and repairs on any electrical equipment.
do not use tin stranded wire with solder - this promotes corrosion and limits contact area.
if measuring voltage with respect to ground, make the ground connection first and remove it last.
plugs and connectors should be wired with additional slack. In the event of undue strain on the cord, the grounding will be the last broken.
grounding continuity should be checked on new tools and equipment before being put into service.
remove paint from mating surfaces or use a locknut or set screw to penetrate the paint and make a metal-to-metal contact.
don't overbend cables when pulling them through a bend in a raceway, often a pressure or squeezing develops causing insulation damage.

What Can I Do to Prevent Electrical Hazards?

Reducing and eliminating exposure to electrical hazards requires constant attention. Safety is everyone's responsibility - employers and employees. A safe electrical environment makes good personal as well as business sense.

Physical barriers (around energy source) such as fences and insulators on conductors

Keep work areas clean and dry. Cluttered work areas and benches invite accidents and injuries.

Management barriers - policy documents

Who is responsible for electrical safety at the site?
How is electrical safety dealt with at the site?
How are people trained?
What are the qualifications for people working on and around electrical equipment?

Administrative barriers -implementation of policy documents

site and task specific
recognizing the hazards
guidelines on how to deal with electrical hazards.

Preventive Electrical Maintenance

An important way to reduce electrical shock accidents is to institute and follow established procedures for preventive maintenance. This is the responsibility of the employer, employee and owner - establishing a close working relationship to reduce and eliminate electrical accidents.

Inspect work area for electrical hazards daily, such as:

flickering lights
warm switches or receptacles
burning odors
loose connections
frayed, cracked or broken wires

Never ignore electrical problems.
Choose proper cords and connectors for the job.
Make sure any portable cord used to power any type of light and/or heavy-duty industrial equipment is suitable for the equipment - not only gauge size but also flexibility, strength and ability to withstand any chemicals that may be present.
All testing equipment should be properly calibrated.
Make sure the extension cord thickness is at least as big as the electrical cord for the tool.
Read and follow all equipment operating instructions for proper use.
Leave equipment repairs and adjustment to authorized personnel.
Sticking switches on electrical saws should be replaced at once. After the switch is released, always maintain control of the saw until the blade has stopped.
Never operate an electric saw while wearing loose clothing such as an unbuttoned jacket or long, floppy sleeves.
Follow required lock-out/tag-out procedures.
Turn off equipment when finished with job.
Disconnect energy sources.
Tag out the disconnected power.
Release stored energy to make sure no power is getting to the equipment.
Always clean up spills on the floors.
When portable cords are made up, take special care to make certain that the circuit and grounding conductors are not interchanged.
Keep work areas clean and dry. Cluttered work areas and benches invite accidents and injuries.

Good housekeeping and a well-planned layout of temporary wiring will reduce the dangers of fire and shock hazard.

What Should I know About Electrical Products and Workplace Safety?

Cords, Equipment, and Tool Grounding

Make sure all equipment and extension cords bear the mark of an independent testing laboratory such as UL, CSA, ETL or MET Labs.
Protect flexible cords and cables from physical damage. Check cords for cut, broken, or cracked insulation.
Keep slack in flexible cords to prevent tension on electrical terminals.
Make sure the insulating qualities of a splice are equal to or greater than the original cord.
Extension cords are for temporary use. Install permanent wiring when use is no longer temporary.
Verify that all three-wire tools and equipment are grounded.
Water, electrical equipment, and power cords do not mix! Use GFCI protection in wet or damp environments.
Ground exposed parts of fixed equipment that could be energized.
Use non-conductive tools whenever possible.
Always double check the operation of your voltage testers by testing a live circuit.

Halide Lamps

Broken metal halide lamps pose can pose hazards from ultraviolet (UV) light overexposures. These lights, often used in gymnasiums, athletic facilities, large retail stores and warehouses, have protective covers that when broken, can cause significant eye and skin damage.

Facilities that utilize metal halide lamps follow several recommendations to protect workers or visitors, and prevent possible UV overexposures:

Educate workers about the potential hazard of UV light overexposure.
Regularly inspect overhead lights for cracks or breakage.
Use self-extinguishing metal halide lamps. When breakage occurs, the lamp will shut down automatically as a precaution. Metal halide lamps utilizing this feature are commercially available.
For existing lamps, consider an additional glass or plastic lens to screen UV rays. The additional protective lens fits under the light and envelope assembly of the light.

What Should Employees Know About Lightning Strikes?

In the U.S., it is estimated that as many as 100 people die each year as a result of being struck by lightning. This represents more deaths than most other natural disasters, such as hurricanes or tornadoes. Did you know that:

one lightning strike can injure or kill one or more people
outdoor workers face a high risk of suffering a fatal lightning strike
30% of those struck by lightning will die; 74% who survive will have permanent disabilities
death from a lightning strike usually occurs within one hour of injury
most lightning strikes occur outdoors between May and September.

Recommendations from the Center for Disease Control

monitor weather forecasts during the thunderstorm season
remind employees that lightning is present in all thunderstorms
lightning often precedes rain and can strike as far as 10 miles away from the rain of a thunderstorm
seek shelter immediately when thunder is heard - avoid trees or tall objects, high ground, water, open spaces and metal objects such as tools, fences and umbrellas
remaining inside a vehicle is safe because rubber tires are nonconductive
when indoors, shut off appliances and electronic devices and avoid using the telephone.
inspect the grounding electrode system for loose or corroded connections, which can increase the impedance of a lightning dissipation path.
provide surge protection at the main service panel board to prevent line surges from traveling to equipment.

How Can I Explain Electrical Shock Dynamics?

There are 3 Important Considerations Regarding Electrical Shock

Path - entering the body and exiting the body
Amount of current or energy flowing in the body
Duration of exposure - degree of injury also depends on the duration and frequency of the current. Note: "Shock" injuries can resemble an "Iceberg" where most of the injuries are internal, with only an entry and exit wound visible. Prompt attention is required by individuals specifically trained to treat electrical injuries.

60 Hz AC Current	Response
0.5 - 3 mA	start to feel the energy, tingling sensation
3 - 10 mA	experience pain, muscle contraction
10 - 40 mA	grip paralysis threshold (brain says let go; but physically cannot do so)
30 - 75 mA	respiratory systems shuts down
100 - 200 mA	experience heart fibrillation
200 - 500mA	heart clamps tight
Over 1,500 mA	tissue and organs burn

Accident victims can also incur the following injuries from electrical shock:

Low-voltage contact wounds
High-voltage contact wounds frrom entry and exit of electrical current
Burns
Respiratory difficulties (the tongue may swell and obstruct the airway; or vaporized metal or heated air may have been inhaled)
Infectious complications
Injury to bone through falls, heat necrosis (death of tissue) and muscle contraction (shoulder joint injuries and fracture of bones in the neck are common injuries caused by muscle contraction).
Injury to the heart such as ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest or stoppage
Internal and organ injuries
Neurological (nerve) injury
Injury to the eyes (cataracts from electrical injury have occurred up to three years after the accident)

What is Important to Know About Shock Rescue Procedures?

In response to an electrical accident, follow these procedures immediately:

Call for help (can't be handled by one person) and follow the emergency response system as set forth in the safety procedures of each organization.
Get the approved first-aid supplies (these should be easily accessible when required).
Deenergize the circuit.
Separate the person from the energy source.

Make sure you and the victim are in a safe zone - not in contact with any electrical source, away from downed or broken wires.
Never grab the person or pull the person off the current with your hands; you might become part of the circuit and become injured as well.
Use a dry wood broom, leather belt, plastic rope or something similar that is non-conductive such as wood or plastic cane with hook on the end to free the person from the energy source
Administer first aid2apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and/or CPR; know what to do
Keep the victim lying down, warm and comfortable to maintain body heat until help arrives. Do not move the person in case of injury to neck or back.
If the victim is unconscious, put him/her on side to let fluids drain.
Make sure the victim receives professional medical attention (person shocked could have heart failure hours later)

Burn victim first-aid steps:

If the person's clothing is on fire, roll the person on the ground to smother the flames.
Cool the burn with water or saline for a few minutes or until the skin returns to normal temperature. Do not attempt to remove clothing that is stuck to a burn.
Remove constricting items from the victim, such as shoes, belts, jewelry and tight collars. They could continue to burn or cut off circulation if the victim experiences swelling.
Check the victim's breathing and heartbeat. Apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and/or CPR if necessary.
Keep victim warm and comfortable by covering him/her with clean, dry sheets or blankets.
Cover wounds with clean sheets and dry blankets.
Elevate burned areas to reduce swelling.