Case Study 3

ELECTRICAL SAFETY ASSIGNMENT

INTRODUCTION

Electricity is essential to modern life, both at home and on the job.

Some employees engineers, electricians, electronic technicians, and power line workers, among them work with electricity directly. Others, such as office workers and sales people, work with it indirectly. Perhaps because it has become such a familiar part of our daily life, many of us don't give much thought to how much our work depends on a reliable source of electricity. More importantly, we tend to overlook the hazards electricity poses and fail to treat it with the respect it deserves.

IMPROPER GROUNDING HAZARD

- Electrical equipment must be properly grounded.
- Grounding reduces the risk of being shocked or electrocuted.

- The ground pin safely returns leakage current to ground.
- Never remove the ground pin.

- Removing the ground pin removes an important safety feature.
- You can get shocked!

- Grounding is the process used to eliminate unwanted voltage.

 - A ground is a physical electrical connection to the earth.

OVERLOADED HAZARD 

- Overloaded circuits can cause fires. 
- Use proper circuit breakers.

- Never overload an outlet.

- Do not use power strips or surge protectors on construction sites.
- Use a 3-way extension with a GFCI instead.



WET CONDITION HAZARD

- Wet conditions are hazardous. 
- Damaged insulation increases the hazard.

- Always avoid using tools in wet locations. 
- Water increases the risk of electric shock.





WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF ALL ABOVE NOT CONTROL ?

- Contact with overhead power lines

- Contact with live circuits in panels

- Poorly maintained cords and tools

- Lightning strikes

- Many falls are caused by accidental contact with electricity

- Shock

- Burns

- Falls due to contact with electricity

- Electrocution (death)

CONCLUSION

The control of electrical hazards is an important part of every safety and health program. The measures suggested in this booklet should be of help in establishing such a program of control. The responsibility for this program should be delegated to individuals who have a complete knowledge of electricity, electrical work practices, and the appropriate OSHA standards for installation and performance.Everyone has the right to work in a safe environment. Through cooperative efforts, employers and employees can learn to identify and eliminate or control electrical hazards.

REFERENCE

1) http://www.elcosh.org/document/1624/891/d000543/section5.html

2)https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3075.html

3)https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy07/sh.../train-the-trainer_manual2.pdf

4)https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy08/sh-17792-08/electrical_english_r6.pdf

5)https://www.osha.gov/Publications/electrical_safety.html

6)https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/electrical/standards.html