Perhaps electricity is so common that we don’t give it the respect and attention it deserves. But when any hazard is recognized in the workplace, control measures must be established to keep workers safe. Advertisement (Learn more about controls in The Hierarchy of Hazard Controls.) The following are the five main causes of injuries from electricity and some advice on how to avoid these injuries. 1. Contact with Power Lines Overhead and buried power lines can carry extremely high voltage – sometimes exceeding 700,000 volts! Although fatal electrocution is the main hazard, severe burns and falling from elevated levels can also be concerns. Advertisement What typically happens is that a piece of equipment the worker is using, such as a crane or ladder, comes into contact with the power line, which delivers a shock to the worker. How to Avoid This Hazard When working outside, observe and keep in mind the placement of power lines. Stay at least ten feet away from overhead power lines at all times. Observe this same distance with equipment. Use non-conductive wood or fiberglass ladders when working near power lines. Ensure that no digging is undertaken without first checking for underground power lines. Look for posts and signs designating underground lines. Always confirm it is safe to dig by contacting your utility company. If work must be done near a power line, contact the utility company first. It may be possible to de-energize the line or come up with a guard to increase worker safety. 2. No Ground-Fault Protection This type of electrical hazard is often created due to excessive wear on power tools and equipment. This can cause breaks in insulation and exposed wire. Without ground-fault protection, contact can send electricity through a worker’s body. How to Avoid This Hazard Always inspect equipment and power tools prior to each use. Make this part of your standard work routine. Place a warning tag on any equipment that is unsafe and take it out of use until fixed. Only use power tools according to their manufacturers intended use and instructions. Use GFCIs (ground-fault circuit interrupters) on all 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles. 3. Pass to Ground Is Missing or Discontinuous This occurs when the power supply for electrical equipment is not properly grounded, or the path has been broken. This can even happen with good equipment, either due to extreme work conditions or rough treatment of the equipment. Electrical grounding is where a point in a circuit is at zero voltage. A broken electrical cord or damaged power tool can cause a lack of proper grounding. How to Avoid This Hazard Be sure to ground all power supply systems, electrical circuits, and electrical equipment. Frequently inspect electrical systems to ensure that the path to ground is continuous. Electrical systems can be as simple as batteries powering a flashlight to as complex as those in a jet airliner. With more complex systems, you may need to get a certified professional to inspect the system. Never remove ground prongs from power cords or extension cords. Use double-insulated tools and equipment. Ground all exposed metal parts of equipment. Ground metal parts of non-electrical equipment, as specified by the OSHA or your governing regulatory agency. 4. Equipment Not Used in Manner Prescribed Let’s face it, any time we use a tool or equipment for purposes it wasn’t meant for, we are quite possibly voiding all of its safety features. We may inadvertently damage equipment and endanger other workers or ourselves. How to Avoid This Hazard Use only equipment approved by regulatory safety agencies, including OSHA. Always use equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and never modify cords or the equipment in any way. If equipment or cords have been fabricated in your shop, ensure that they meet all regulatory safety standards. 5. Improper Use of Extension or Flexible Cords It is easy to have wear and tear on all types of electrical cords with normal use. This can expose and loosen wires, which may create a shock hazard. Cords that have been modified increase the chance of shock unless they meet all safety agency standards. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year electric extension cords account for 4,600 residential fires killing and injuring about 300 people. The most frequent causes of these fires are short circuits in the cord, overloading, damage, or misuse. (Learn more about Power and Extension Cord Safety.) How to Avoid This Hazard Only use factory-assembled cord sets. Only use three-wire type extension cords. Only use the proper extension cord for the designated use. Cords are rated in many different ways. OSHA requires three-wire cords designed for hard or extra-hard usage. Hard-service cords are marked with letters including S, SE, SO, and ST. Remove cords from receptacles by pulling on the plugs, not the cords. Regularly audit all extension and flexible cords for damage. Make this a proactive, scheduled activity. Damaged cords and those not properly rated must be taken out of service immediately.   Free Download: Arc Flash and Electrical Safety Guide   Promote Electrical Safety We use electricity daily and complacency is to be expected, but this must be countered by safe work habits that are intentionally designed to prevent electrical hazards. Ensure that your standard work instructions include electrical safety as it pertains to your work environment. (Find out How to Use Standard Work Instructions to Improve Workplace Safety.) When in doubt, consult a certified electrician. Remember, there is almost one electrical fatality every day. I urge you to take a proactive approach to electrical safety as part of your safety management system. Related Terms Electrical Shock Lockout Tagout Hazard Electric Receptacles Electric Arc Electrical Single Line Diagram Flexible Wiring Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Barricade Short-Term Exposure Limit Share This Article

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Bryan McWhorter is a safety professional with eight years of experience in driving and teaching safety. Bryan gained his knowledge and experience as the safety officer and Senior Trainer for Philips Lighting. Philips is a strong health and well-being company that promotes a safety first culture.

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Electrical grounding is where a point in a circuit is at zero voltage. A broken electrical cord or damaged power tool can cause a lack of proper grounding.

What typically happens is that a piece of equipment the worker is using, such as a crane or ladder, comes into contact with the power line, which delivers a shock to the worker.

Let’s face it, any time we use a tool or equipment for purposes it wasn’t meant for, we are quite possibly voiding all of its safety features. We may inadvertently damage equipment and endanger other workers or ourselves.

Here you will find annual reports on electronic control weapon sales and law enforcement training in the appropriate use of these weapons.

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Electrocution is one of the leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry. 134 electrocution fatalities were reported in the United States in 2015. If electricity is widely recognized as dangerous, why are the electrocution rates so high? More importantly, what can we do to reduce this rate?

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This occurs when the power supply for electrical equipment is not properly grounded, or the path has been broken. This can even happen with good equipment, either due to extreme work conditions or rough treatment of the equipment.

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This type of electrical hazard is often created due to excessive wear on power tools and equipment. This can cause breaks in insulation and exposed wire.

Many collisions and near crashes occur as a result of drivers who ignore or fail to respond appropriately to traffic signs. It's essential that the meaning of traffic signs be interpreted correctly. Signs are classified according to their function such as regulatory, warning and information.

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Be sure to use approved and certified electrical equipment and take any of these devices out of service if they are damaged.

It is easy to have wear and tear on all types of electrical cords with normal use. This can expose and loosen wires, which may create a shock hazard. Cords that have been modified increase the chance of shock unless they meet all safety agency standards.

Baltimore City · Baltimore police made an arrest in connection with an October shooting that injured a man in · A two-alarm fire at a four-story unit resulted ...

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According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year electric extension cords account for 4,600 residential fires killing and injuring about 300 people. The most frequent causes of these fires are short circuits in the cord, overloading, damage, or misuse.

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Triage is the sorting and prioritization of patients based on the severity of their condition, as well as taking into account their probability of benefiting from the medical treatment provided. This process is utilized for the treatment of patients particularly when resources are limited to treat… View Full Term

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When in doubt, consult a certified electrician. Remember, there is almost one electrical fatality every day. I urge you to take a proactive approach to electrical safety as part of your safety management system.

The easiest way to identify traffic signs is to learn to recognize their shapes and colours. For safe driving, you must recognize and obey traffic signs without hesitation.

If you see a warning light on your dashboard (or touch screen, or the car's smartphone app...) that means something went wrong. But some warning lights are ...

In my years as a safety professional, I have performed many accident investigations involving electricity. Luckily, all of them have been minor, usually involving an exposed wire zapping someone. I always used these types of incidents as opportunities to stress electrical safety.

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Be sure to use approved and certified electrical equipment and take any of these devices out of service if they are damaged.

We use electricity daily and complacency is to be expected, but this must be countered by safe work habits that are intentionally designed to prevent electrical hazards. Ensure that your standard work instructions include electrical safety as it pertains to your work environment.

Although fatal electrocution is the main hazard, severe burns and falling from elevated levels can also be concerns. Advertisement What typically happens is that a piece of equipment the worker is using, such as a crane or ladder, comes into contact with the power line, which delivers a shock to the worker. How to Avoid This Hazard When working outside, observe and keep in mind the placement of power lines. Stay at least ten feet away from overhead power lines at all times. Observe this same distance with equipment. Use non-conductive wood or fiberglass ladders when working near power lines. Ensure that no digging is undertaken without first checking for underground power lines. Look for posts and signs designating underground lines. Always confirm it is safe to dig by contacting your utility company. If work must be done near a power line, contact the utility company first. It may be possible to de-energize the line or come up with a guard to increase worker safety. 2. No Ground-Fault Protection This type of electrical hazard is often created due to excessive wear on power tools and equipment. This can cause breaks in insulation and exposed wire. Without ground-fault protection, contact can send electricity through a worker’s body. How to Avoid This Hazard Always inspect equipment and power tools prior to each use. Make this part of your standard work routine. Place a warning tag on any equipment that is unsafe and take it out of use until fixed. Only use power tools according to their manufacturers intended use and instructions. Use GFCIs (ground-fault circuit interrupters) on all 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles. 3. Pass to Ground Is Missing or Discontinuous This occurs when the power supply for electrical equipment is not properly grounded, or the path has been broken. This can even happen with good equipment, either due to extreme work conditions or rough treatment of the equipment. Electrical grounding is where a point in a circuit is at zero voltage. A broken electrical cord or damaged power tool can cause a lack of proper grounding. How to Avoid This Hazard Be sure to ground all power supply systems, electrical circuits, and electrical equipment. Frequently inspect electrical systems to ensure that the path to ground is continuous. Electrical systems can be as simple as batteries powering a flashlight to as complex as those in a jet airliner. With more complex systems, you may need to get a certified professional to inspect the system. Never remove ground prongs from power cords or extension cords. Use double-insulated tools and equipment. Ground all exposed metal parts of equipment. Ground metal parts of non-electrical equipment, as specified by the OSHA or your governing regulatory agency. 4. Equipment Not Used in Manner Prescribed Let’s face it, any time we use a tool or equipment for purposes it wasn’t meant for, we are quite possibly voiding all of its safety features. We may inadvertently damage equipment and endanger other workers or ourselves. How to Avoid This Hazard Use only equipment approved by regulatory safety agencies, including OSHA. Always use equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and never modify cords or the equipment in any way. If equipment or cords have been fabricated in your shop, ensure that they meet all regulatory safety standards. 5. Improper Use of Extension or Flexible Cords It is easy to have wear and tear on all types of electrical cords with normal use. This can expose and loosen wires, which may create a shock hazard. Cords that have been modified increase the chance of shock unless they meet all safety agency standards. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year electric extension cords account for 4,600 residential fires killing and injuring about 300 people. The most frequent causes of these fires are short circuits in the cord, overloading, damage, or misuse. (Learn more about Power and Extension Cord Safety.) How to Avoid This Hazard Only use factory-assembled cord sets. Only use three-wire type extension cords. Only use the proper extension cord for the designated use. Cords are rated in many different ways. OSHA requires three-wire cords designed for hard or extra-hard usage. Hard-service cords are marked with letters including S, SE, SO, and ST. Remove cords from receptacles by pulling on the plugs, not the cords. Regularly audit all extension and flexible cords for damage. Make this a proactive, scheduled activity. Damaged cords and those not properly rated must be taken out of service immediately.   Free Download: Arc Flash and Electrical Safety Guide   Promote Electrical Safety We use electricity daily and complacency is to be expected, but this must be countered by safe work habits that are intentionally designed to prevent electrical hazards. Ensure that your standard work instructions include electrical safety as it pertains to your work environment. (Find out How to Use Standard Work Instructions to Improve Workplace Safety.) When in doubt, consult a certified electrician. Remember, there is almost one electrical fatality every day. I urge you to take a proactive approach to electrical safety as part of your safety management system. Related Terms Electrical Shock Lockout Tagout Hazard Electric Receptacles Electric Arc Electrical Single Line Diagram Flexible Wiring Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Barricade Short-Term Exposure Limit Share This Article

duramax fuel line diagram The most effective TASER weapon ever is now available for civilians. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --New factory-backed, Wi-Fi-capable, Level ...

US trafficsigns

A sign-conscious driver is a safe driver. Keep a constant look-out for signs as you move your eyes in the field of view ahead of you.

The civilian TASER 7 CQ comes with 12 feet cartridges while the law enforcement version utilizes 25 feet cartridges.