Electrical Safety Risks and Risk Reduction

Electrical Safety Risks and Hazards

• Arcing can occur when conductors are not properly insulated, leading to additional secondary hazards.
• Electromagnetic fields can induce surface charges on people, causing spark discharges to earth, resulting in pain or bruising.
• Prolonged exposure to strong electromagnetic fields may have unknown health effects.
• Close proximity to powerful electromagnetic fields can disturb the action of implanted cardiac pacemakers.

Static Electricity

• Static electricity is generated by material separation through friction or transfer between charged materials.
• Hazards include static electric shocks exceeding 10,000V, which can ignite flammable substances like flour dust.
• Effective static control systems are necessary to mitigate these risks.

Portable Electrical Equipment

• Portable electrical equipment can connect to a fixed installation via a flexible cable and plug or spur box.
• Nearly 25% of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable equipment, with over 2,000 fires yearly due to faulty cables.
• Accidents often result from misuse, defective equipment, or unsuitable conditions.
• Best practices for portable electrical equipment safety include:
  • Maintaining inspection, maintenance, and repair records
  • Providing adequate sockets and avoiding adaptors
  • Avoiding use in flammable atmospheres
  • Using air-operated tools in hazardous environments
  • Ensuring equipment with higher voltages has separate earth conductors and monitoring

Secondary Hazards

• Secondary hazards are additional risks or dangers that emerge as a consequence of an initial electrical hazard.
• Examples of secondary hazards include:
  • Fires, explosions, or injuries caused by the reaction to the electrical event
  • Falls from height or collisions with vehicles due to electric shock
  • Infections resulting from electrical burns

Control Measures

• Safe systems of work and competence are crucial for ensuring electrical safety.
• The Electricity at Work Regulations form a comprehensive shield against electrical hazards in workplaces.
• Safe work practices include:
  • Understanding and complying with statutory precautionary requirements, industry standards, and wiring standards
  • Ensuring a competent workforce through qualified personnel working on electrical equipment
  • Providing adequate resources and safe work practices for all electrical equipment

Permits to Work

• Electrical permits to work should include:
  • Permit issue number
  • Details of the work and its location
  • Significant hazards and risks involved
  • Precautions to be taken, including personal protective equipment
  • Details of electrical items to be isolated and points of isolation
  • Test procedures to confirm circuits are dead
  • Details of special work tools required
  • Details of safety warning signs required
  • Emergency procedures required
  • Date and time of issue, duration, and cross-referencing with other permits
  • Acceptance of the permit by the person carrying out the work
  • Signature of the person who authorized the work to ensure cancellation of the permit on completion

Selection of Suitable Equipment

• Factors to consider when selecting electrical equipment include:
  • Environment (combustible, explosive, or moist environments)
  • Demand (ensuring equipment has sufficient capacity for the workload)
  • Temperature (ensuring equipment can function within a specific temperature range)