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Revised 17 February 2007. Revision 1

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General

Historically, electrocution accounts for about

20% of all fatalities in construction.

Non fatal shocks can cause severe and permanent

injury. Example, falls from ladders, scaffolds or
work platforms.

All these can be avoided through careful planning

and straightforward precaution.
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What affects the flow of electricity?

• The amount of current flowing through

the body.
• The current’s path through the body.
• The length of time the body remains in
the circuit.
• The current’s frequency.
• Whether the skin is wet or dry.
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 Effects of Electric Current in the Human Body
Current Reaction
Below 1 milliamperes Generally not perceptible

1 milliamperes Faint tingle

5 milliamperes Slight shock felt; not painful but disturbing. Average

individual can let go. Strong involuntary reactions can
lead to other injuries.
6–25 milliamperes (women) Painful shock, loss of muscular control

9–30 milliamperes (men) The freezing current or “let-go” range.* Individual

cannot let go but can be thrown away from the circuit if extensor muscles are stimulated.

50–150 milliamperes Extreme pain, respiratory arrest, severe muscular

contractions. Death is possible.
1,000–4,300 milliamperes
Rhythmic pumping action of the heart ceases.
Muscular contraction and nerve damage occur; death
likely.
10,000 milliamperes Cardiac arrest, severe burns; death probable. 5
• Electrical shock
• Electrical burn
• Electrocution
• Electrical fire
• Explosion
• Loss of power supply

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Electrical shock
Electrical shock occurs when the body becomes part of the
electrical circuit, i.e. when an individual comes in contact
with:

• both wires of an electrical circuit

• one wire of an energized circuit and the
ground
• a metallic part that has become energized
by contact with an electrical conductor
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Electrical Burn
Electrical burns are among the most serious burns and require immediate
medical attention. They occur when electric current flows through tissues
or bone, generating heat that causes tissue damage.

High voltage electrical burns, immediately

after (left) and 8 days (right). 8
Electrical Burn

Hand and arm injury Foot injury

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Electrical Hazards and
How to Control Them

Electrical accidents are

caused by a
combination of three
factors:
– Unsafe equipment and/or
installation,
– Workplaces made
unsafe by the
environment, and
– Unsafe work practices 10
Hazard – Exposed
Electrical Parts

Cover removed from wiring on breaker box

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Control – Isolate
Electrical Parts
• Use guards or
barriers

• Replace covers

Guard live parts of electric

equipment operating at 50 volts or
more against accidental contact
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 Control – Isolate Electrical Parts -
Cabinets, Boxes & Fittings

Conductors going into them must be protected, and unused openings

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must be closed
 Electrocution

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Man climbing to high voltage power pole 16,600 volts shot through his body The ball of fire has started to subside
Electrical Fires
Causes of electrical fire:
• Oversized fuse / by • Electrical arc
pass fuse • Faulty protective device
• Overloading
• Short circuit or leakage
• Under sized cable
• Poor electrical contact
• Old wiring/damaged
wiring
• Poor equipment
ventilation 15
Electrical Fire

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 Electrical Explosion

Small electrical explosion

Electrical explosion
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• Use of under size/damaged cable
• Failure to use electrical safety device Fail
to ground equipment properly
• Exposed wires/electrical parts
• Overloading
• Oversized fuse
• Operating electrical tools with wet
hands / wet weather in open field
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Failure to use electrical safety device e.g. MCB /ELCB

Miniature circuit breaker

Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker

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 By pass fuse / use over size fuse

Fail to ground/earth equipments properly 20

Unsafe practices

Improper termination Damaged electrical plug

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Unsafe practices

Over loaded electrical plugs

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Unsafe practices

Activities carried out too near to Safe Work Procedure must be

power line strictly followed
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• Identify the hazard (electrical hazard)
• Decide significance of the risk e.g. who
and how many might be harmed
• Evaluate the probability of the risk arising

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• Decide if existing precautions are
adequate
• Record any significant finding
• Develop counter measures
• Review assessment from time to time
and revise if necessary

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Evaluation of risk is linked to:

• Wet / dry surrounding

• Equipment/tool design
• Space constraint
• Past record of similar work
• Adequacy of existing measures etc…
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Most electrical accidents result from one
of the following main three factors:

• unsafe equipment or installation

• unsafe environment
• unsafe work practices

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• Electrical equipment / installation to a suitable
standard
• Proper maintenance of equipment and installation
• Use double insulated devices/equipment
• Replace electrical tools with pneumatic /
hydraulic tools if necessary

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• Keep work area completely dry
• Spacious working environment
• Socket outlet close by working area
• Provide enough socket outlet with
adequate safety devices
(MCBs/ELCB etc…)
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Preventing Electrical
Hazards - Tools
• Inspect tools before
use
• Use the right tool
correctly
• Protect your tools
• Use double insulated
tools Double Insulated marking
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Double insulated power tools

• Non-conductive, shatter proof

• outer casing

Double Insulated
symbol

Double insulation protects the user from electrical shock if interior wiring
contacts the outer casing, but it does not provide total protection from
electric shock because:

• immersion of the tool in water can allow an earth leakage; and

• double insulation does not protect against any defects in the cord, plug or
power outlet. 32
Apply for Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO)

What is Lock Out Tag Out?

Lock Out:
Refers to the installation of a lock that prevents another
employee from turning on the machine/isolator.

Tag Out:
Refers to the attaching of a sign or label to the machine/ 33
isolated, which warns others not to operate it.
Electrical isolator LOTO device
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 Lockout device

Multiple
lockout
devices

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Lockout Station
• Never modify electrical plugs
• Check equipment for damage before using
• All equipment must be properly earthed
• Report faulty equipment immediately
• Ensure capacitor is fully discharged before handling
equipment

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• Do not repair equipment if you are not
trained/qualified
• Ensure extension cord is of the right size
• Keep all electrical cords away from area
where they might be pinched
• Never carry out activities too near to
power lines
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The purpose for the approach distance requirements is to prevent
contact with, and/or arcing, from energized overhead power lines.

Line Voltage Absolute limit of

approach
Up to 250,000 6.1 meters / 20 feet

Over 250,000 7.6 meter / 25 feet

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• Never hang extension cord onto
electrically conductive material
• Never unplug appliances by pulling on
the cord, always remove by plug
• Never place flammable material near
electrical panel
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• Use Personal Protective Equipment
• Never work alone on a live circuit
• Avoid becoming grounded by staying
at least 6 inches away from conductors
• Obey all safety signs displayed
• Always ask if in doubt
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A tower crane was lowering a
concrete bucket to be filled by
a truck.

The wind blew the hoist line and

bucket into overhead power lines.

A worker trying to pull the bucket

back was electrocuted.

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A worker was changing the bulb in a light
fixture that had been incorrectly wired
(polarity was reversed).

He inadvertently touched the metal base of

the bulb while it was in contact with the
socket.

He received a severe shock and later died

in hospital.

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A worker was painting a building
from a boom-type powered
elevating work platform. He
backed up without checking how
close he was to a power line.
The machine touched the line.

Trying to escape from the

bucket he climbed onto the roof
and was electrocuted.

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A driver raised the box on his dump
truck to spread gravel under a power
line.

When the box contacted the line,

he got out of the cab to see what
had happened.

His foot touched the ground while

his hand was still holding the door.

He was electrocuted instantly.

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Two aluminum siding installers
were lifting trim for the exterior of
a house.

Although aware of nearby power

lines, they failed to allow for the
length or bulkiness of their
material.

A piece of trim shifted as it was

lifted, struck a line, and one worker
was electrocuted.

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