Electrical Safety Work Explained

Electrical Safety Work
Working safely with electricity can be a matter of life or death – mistakes are not easily forgiven in such an environment, especially when working with medium and high-voltage systems.
As such, workers employed in the electrical field are expected to be very knowledgeable in how to work safely./P> In Canada, the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is one such body that offers tips and guidelines for novice electricians and ordinary laypersons while also being the monitoring body for licensed contractors and electricians.
To work safely, everyone should:
- Know the relevant electrical safety code for their province and municipality;
- Try to work in a de-energized environment, ensuring the power is off and double-checking with a tester;
- Use only approved products identifiable by the mark of a recognized certification agency (like the Underwriters Laboratories, UL); and
- Always have your work inspected as required by the electrical safety code.
In the United States, it is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a government agency of the Department of Labor responsible for maintaining a safe work environment. Electrical safety is just one aspect of OSHA’s many requirements for worker safety. Anyone who may come into contact with live electricity or electrical hazard must be trained in electrical safety. OSHA has set forth regulations on the minimum training that a worker must have, be it in a classroom or through on-the-job training.
Electrical workers must be trained to work safely around de-energized and energized equipment. They must know lockout/tagout procedures for detaching a piece of equipment from its power source and securing it so that it does not become re-energized.
A general rule of thumb for working on energized parts is to allow contact up to less than 50 volts.
Another part of training includes properly using and caring for portable electrical equipment — such as extension cords. Workers must be trained in how to inspect the equipment for damage visually, and how to connect the equipment to a power source properly.
Employees working around electricity must be trained in the type and proper use of protective equipment (PPE – Personal Protective Equipment). They must know how to use insulated headgear and eye protection in appropriate settings where there is a danger to the head or eyes. Employees must be able to determine when insulated tools should be used (such as working around or on an exposed electrical circuit). Employees who must be trained in electrical safety — but are not qualified personnel (unqualified personnel) — must also be trained in other electrical safety practices to keep them safe. Unqualified persons are deemed not permitted to work on or near exposed live electricity.
Qualified personnel must be trained to locate and identify exposed live electrical circuits and equipment. Training must include determining the voltage of these live parts and accurately knowing the distance that voltage can travel through the air.
For more Arc Flash information, see:
- Read More Here: Arc Flash and Electrical Safety
- Read More Here: Arc Flash Training
- Read More Here: Arc Flash Clothing
- Read More Here: Electrical Training
- Read More Here: Electricity
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