05-09-2012, 03:19 PM
Electrical Safety Basics
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Course Introduction
This course describes the hazards of electrical work and basic approaches to working safely. You will learn
skills to help you recognize, evaluate, and control electrical hazards. This information will prepare you for
additional safety training such as hands-on exercises and more detailed reviews of regulations for electrical
work.
Your employer, co-workers, and community will depend on your expertise. Start your career off right by
learning safe practices and developing good safety habits. Safety is a very important part of any job. Do it
right from the start.
This course will present many topics. There are four main types of electrical injuries: electrocution (death due
to electrical shock), electrical shock, burns, and falls. The dangers of electricity, electrical shock, and the
resulting injuries will be discussed. The various electrical hazards will be described. You will learn about the 3-
STEP Electrical Safety Model, an important tool for recognizing, evaluating, and controlling hazards. Important
definitions and notes are shown in the margins. Practices that will help keep you safe and free of injury are
emphasized. To give you an idea of the hazards caused by electricity, case studies about real-life deaths will be
described.
ELECTRICITY IS DANGEROUS
Introduction
Whenever you work with power tools or on electrical circuits, there is a risk of electrical hazards, especially
electrical shock. Anyone can be exposed to these hazards at home or at work. Workers are exposed to more
hazards because job sites can be cluttered with tools and materials, fast-paced, and open to the weather. Risk
is also higher at work because many jobs involve electric power tools.
Electrical workers must pay special attention to electrical hazards because they work on electrical circuits.
Coming in contact with an electrical voltage can cause current to flow through the body, resulting in electrical
shock and burns. Serious injury or even death may occur.
As a source of energy, electricity is used without much thought about the hazards it can cause. Because
electricity is a familiar part of our lives, it often is not treated with enough caution. As a result, an average of
one worker is electrocuted on the job every day of every year!
How do you receive an electrical shock?
An electrical shock is received when electrical current passes through the body. Current will pass through the
body in a variety of situations. Whenever two wires are at different voltages, current will pass between them if
they are connected. Your body can connect the wires, or what electrical workers call "complete the circuit," if
you touch both of them at the same time. Current will pass through your body.
In most household wiring in the U.S., the black wires and the red wires are at 120 volts. The white wires are at
0 volts because they are connected to ground. The connection to ground is often through a conducting ground
rod driven into the earth. The connection can also be made through a buried metal water pipe