(Prepare for this meeting by inspecting your work area, looking for potential electrical hazards and the measures your facility uses to guard against them)

More than five of every 20 workers who die on the job are killed as a result of electrical accidents. As with any type of accident, many of these might have been prevented with a little knowledge.

How Electricity Works

Electricity travels through cables or wires. These wires are generally made of metal, which conducts electricity, so they are called conductors. The wires are wrapped in plastic or rubber to keep the electricity contained. These materials are insulators.

Electrical equipment must be grounded. This simply means that it is connected to the ground through some type of conductor (such as a circuit box).

Electrical current refers to the flow of electricity through a conductor. It is measured in amps and can be thought of as measuring water in gallons per minute. Voltage is a measure of the pressure driving electrical current through a conductor.

Electrical Hazards

If a wire is not properly insulated or if you make contact with live electricity, the current will go through you. Depending on where the current enters your body and how long it is there, it could kill you. The chances of shock or electrocution are multiplied when water is involved. Water can make your body act as a conductor. So working with electricity with wet hands - or even sweaty hands - can cause a major accident.

Prevention Guidelines

Knowing these basics doesn't make you qualified to correct electrical problems, but it should help you recognize the hazards.

Some things you should be on the look out for are:

Wires running across traffic areas

Frayed, worn, or damaged insulation

Equipment running near flammables or explosives

Plugs that don't match their outlets

Tools that smell hot, smoke or spark

Equipment that causes a shock when plugged in

Always follow lockout/tagout procedures (Discuss your facility's procedures)

Use PPE when appropriate (Discuss your facility's requirements)

Always follow manufacturer's instructions

Make sure any electrical tools you use are clean. Check for dust or grease build-up.

Make sure the plugs you use match the outlets

Do not operate electrical equipment with wet hands

Take extra care when working near flammables

Respect locks and tags of co-workers

Never use any equipment that is defective.

It's pretty clear that we'd be in trouble if we had to avoid electricity. However, we can avoid electrical hazards. Please respect the power of electricity and follow the guidelines we've discussed to keep yourself and your co-workers safe

Have a safe day!

Training is available from EHS. Call 515-6871 for information