| |
Effects of Electrical Current
on the Human Body:
|
Current |
Effects |
|
1 - 8 milliamps (ma) |
Sensation, tingling, no pain |
|
8 - 15 ma |
Pain |
|
15 - 20 ma |
Muscle control lost |
|
20 - 50 ma |
Difficult breathing, can cause damage to
brain tissue and blood vessels which may be
fatal |
|
50 - 200 ma |
Ventricular fibrillation, may be fatal
|
|
Greater that 200 ma |
Severe burns, may be fatal |
Critical Path of Current on Human Body
The
critical path of electricity through the body is
through the chest cavity.
Current flowing from
one hand to the other, from a hand to the opposite
foot, or from the head to either foot
will pass through the chest cavity paralyzing the
respiratory or heart muscles, initiating ventricular
fibrillation and/or burning vital organs.
Severity of Electrical
Shock
The severity of electrical shock that a person will
experience depends on the following factors:
 |
Source voltage. |
 |
Body resistance |
 |
Current capacity of the
source |
 |
The path that current takes
through the body |
 |
The duration of exposure |
Electrical Safety
Policies
 |
Safe Work Permit Program
- an active safe work permit program ensures the
all activities on or near electrical equipments
are covered with a written permit to facilitate
hazard identification.
|
 |
Lockout/Tagout Program -
electrical equipments
should be de-energized and all power sources
should be locked out prior to allowing personnel
to work on the equipment. Work on energized
equipment should be limited only to testing and
should be treated as a critical activity that
requires close supervision. |
 |
Certification Program
- only certified and qualified personnel will be
allowed to perform electrical repairs and
installations. |
 |
Policy on tampering
Protective Devices -
Electrical protective devices such as circuit
breaker, fuses and relays should not be
overridden, tampered or made inoperable. Any
alteration of the circuit that affects any
electrical protective device should be approved
by management and should be properly documented. |
 |
Energizing and
De-energizing of Equipments -
switching off and powering up of any motor
control centers, switchgears, transformers and
other electrical equipment must be done only by
authorized personnel. |
 |
Electrical Cords -
all electrical cords must made of double insulated
royal cords and must be inspected regularly for
defects. Electrical cords for use outdoors and in
damp and wet areas must be fitted with weatherproof
receptacles and must be plugged only to a Ground
Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protected outlet. |
 |
Use of GFCI -
use of GFCI must be mandatory for all outdoor
activities, in damp and wet working areas and when
using extension cords and electrical power tools. |
 |
Grounding -
if practicable, all previously energized equipment
must be grounded while personnel are working on the
equipment to drain residual electrical charges and
protect personnel from induction and accidental
energization. |
Safe Work Practices
 |
Use
lockout/tagout procedures before working on
electrical circuits and equipment. |
 |
Avoid working around electrical sources when you,
your surroundings, tools, or clothing are wet.
|
 |
Stop outdoor electrical work when it begins to rain. |
 |
Use waterproof cords and weather proof fixtures
outdoors. |
 |
Never use an extension cord with damaged insulation.
|
 |
Use GFCI when using power tools and extension cords,
especially for outdoor and confined space jobs. |
Using Power Tools
 |
Inspect tools for
wear or defects before starting the job. |
 |
Never modify tools
or electrical equipments. |
 |
Defective tools
must be repaired by qualified personnel only. |
 |
Inspect power cords
for cuts, frayed insulation, exposed terminals and
loose connections. |
 |
Make sure extension
cord is the right size or rating for the tool being
used. |
 |
Never remove the
grounding post from a three-prong plug to make it
fit into a two-pronged wall outlet. |
Electrical Emergencies
Follow these
procedures in case of an electrical accident:
 |
Do not touch the
victim unless you are sure that power is already
switched off. |
 |
Call for immediate,
professional medical help. |
 |
Turn off power if
it can be done safely. |
 |
Use a dry pole (or
anything the does not conduct electricity) to push
the victim away from the electrical source. |
For electrical fires:
 |
Notify the local
fire department immediately. |
 |
Do not touch the
burning object. |
 |
Do not use water to
extinguish the fire. |
 |
Use class C fire
extinguisher such as carbon dioxide or a
multipurpose class ABC extinguisher to put out small
fires. |
 |
Stay clear of the
area unless you are qualified to fight this kind of
fire. |
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