ElectricalParticipant Toaster 4 Electrical Safety Participant Guide

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FOCUS 4
Electrical Safety
Participant Guide
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY & HEALTH
This material was produced under grant number SH-16586-07-06-F-36 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Depart-
ment of Labor. It does not necessarily refl ect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial
products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 1Electrical Safety
SECTION #4
Curriculum on Electrical Safety
mGOALm
To provide a basic understanding of how electricity works and how to protect ourselves from
common electrical hazards, both on and off the job.
INTRODUCTION
Electrocution is the fourth leading cause of work-related death for construction workers. On average,
one worker is electrocuted on the job every day in the United States.
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
This training curriculum is primarily designed for workers without any formal training on
electricity, although electricians may also benefi t from a review. The document focuses on some of
the fundamentals of electricity, electrical wiring, electric tools, protective methods and devices, and
related work methods and safe practices in the construction industry.
The material is presented using an interactive training method.
The curriculum focuses on common AC wiring, as found in homes and on construction sites. It also
includes information on power line safety.
This curriculum is not all-inclusive. It does not cover every electrical hazard nor does it describe every
applicable OSHA electrical standard.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We have drawn extensively from several sources in preparing this material. These include:
● Electrical Safety for Non-Electricians, by CSEA/Local 1,000 AFSCME
● Electrical Safety: Safety and Health for Electrical Trades, by NIOSH
● Thanks to the Construction Safety Council for permission to use their information on power
line safety.
● Various training materials found on OSHA and NIOSH websites.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 2Electrical Safety
mELECTRICAL SAFETYm
mACTIVITY 1 – GROUNDINGm
In your small group, read fact sheets A and B, and the following scenario.
Then answer the questions below.
SCENARIO:
You encounter a co-worker on a residential remodeling job.
She has an older drill with a steel housing and a 3-prong
plug. The wiring in the building has only two-slot receptacles
– with no “equipment ground” slot. She is just about to break
off the grounding prong on the tool’s plug with a pair of
pliers when you ask her to stop.
1. What do you say to your co-worker about this problem?
2. What can you do to correct this problem?
3. What is the best way to deal with this?
Safe Work:
GROUNDED tool with
3-prong POLARIZED
plug, GROUNDED
receptacle.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 3Electrical Safety
mACTIVITY 1 – GROUNDINGm
Factsheet A – Two Ways to Wire an Electric Tool
OSHA CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY STANDARDS SAY:
1926.302 (a)
Electric power-operated tools.
1926.302 (a) (1)
Electric power operated tools shall either be of the approved
double-insulated type or grounded in accordance with Subpart K of this part.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
There are two different ways of wiring an electrical tool: double insulation or the use of equipment
grounding. First of all, the individual wires in the tool and cord are insulated and the cord itself is
also insulated. These are the fi rst level of insulation.
With the double insulation method, the manufacturer provides a second level of insulation inside
the tool, to reduce the risk of a damaged “hot” wire within the tool (generally at 120 volts AC) from
coming in contact with any exposed metal on the tool.
Double insulation protects you by providing another insulation barrier, preventing a wiring defect
that could allow an energized conductor to touch any metal on the tool that you can touch. A double
insulated tool will be marked on its handle or on a data label with the words “Double Insulated” or
with a symbol: a square box within a box.
With the equipment grounding method, a third wire is added to the tool’s wiring and connected
to a round pin on the tool’s plug. The other end of this grounding wire is connected to the metal
frame of the tool. The 3-conductor plug on the tool must be plugged into a grounded outlet. The
equipment ground connection on the outlet must be connected to a grounding connection at the
electrical panel. The steel electrical panel is then connected to the earth. This is generally done via
clamping a system ground wire to a METAL cold water pipe or to ground rods driven into the earth.
Equipment grounding only works when there is a permanent and continuous electrical connection
between the metal shell of a tool and the earth. If a wiring defect in the tool allows an energized
wire to touch the tool’s metal shell, grounding provides a low resistance path to earth for the resulting
current. This will generally allow enough current to fl ow so that a fuse will blow or a circuit breaker
is tripped, thus turning off the electricity in that circuit. If this grounding path is broken at any
point, the tool is NOT GROUNDED and the operator is at risk of shock or electrocution.
All electrical tools and equipment must be maintained in safe
condition and checked regularly for defects. They must be taken
out of service if a defect is found.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 4Electrical Safety
mACTIVITY 1 – GROUNDINGm
Factsheet B – Install a Grounded Outlet
Occasionally you will encounter a building with older wiring, having receptacles with only two slots
(called “hot” and “neutral”). These older receptacles don’t contain a round slot for the “equipment
ground.” If you have a tool with a 3-prong plug, this is a problem.
The best solution is to have a licensed electrician install one or more grounded outlets. Of course,
this will take some time and money. Is there anything else you can do instead? Here are three
possibilities:
In the United States (but not in Canada) you can buy a 3-prong adaptor. This is not a good idea
unless you’re sure of what you’re doing. These adaptors generally come with either a small metal tab
(to be attached to the screw securing a receptacle to its box cover) or with a short wire (often with
green insulation and a thin, bare lug at the end of the wire). In theory, you can attach the metal tab
or the grounding wire to a grounded screw in a grounded receptacle, thereby getting your equipment
ground connection. If you don’t know what you’re doing, such as, if there’s no proper ground at the
receptacle, there is no equipment ground, therefore, no protection from electrical shock.
Another possible alternative is to get your power from a grounded generator supplying a 120 volts AC
grounded outlet. (Of course, your generator must be outdoors so hazardous engine exhaust can’t enter
your work area, and you’ll need a grounded extension cord.)
Finally, you could do your work with cordless tools, operating at a relatively low DC voltage with
re-chargeable batteries. This method would eliminate the 120 volts AC electrical hazard you’d
otherwise encounter.
NEVER break off a grounding prong from a 3-conductor plug.
Your tools will still work, but you will have NO PROTECTION
from a dangerous electrical shock in the event of an electrical
defect in the tool!
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 5Electrical Safety
mELECTRICAL SAFETYm
mACTIVITY 2 – IMPROPER WIRING / REVERSED POLARITYm
In your small group, read fact sheets C and D, and the following scenario.
Then answer the questions below.
SCENARIO:
You are a supervisor in a small construction company. A
worker passing you in a hallway mentions that he thought
he just felt a “tingle” after he plugged in an old fl oor lamp.
He had touched a metal shell, the outside housing around
a socket for the light bulb. You ask him to take you to the
lamp. You unplug it and notice a two-prong plug, with both
prongs the same size. You tell the worker, “I think I know
what happened. We’ll get this fi xed. Let me explain it to you.”
1. What is your explanation to the worker?
2. What are some steps to deal with this issue?
3. What is the best way to correct the problem?
Possibly Unsafe:
2-prong NON-
POLARIZED plug
– could be plugged-in
“backwards” and result
in electric shock if lamp
is defective (see text).
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 6Electrical Safety
mACTIVITY 2 – IMPROPER WIRING / REVERSED POLARITYm
Factsheet C – Conductors, Connections and Polarity
It takes a minimum of two wires to have an electrical circuit. Electric current involves the fl ow of
electrons. Current is measured in amperes (amps for short). It travels from a source, through the
device it operates, called the load, and then back to the source.
In AC wiring, present in buildings, there is voltage present on the “hot” wire (generally at about 120
volts AC). Voltage provides the force that allows electrons to fl ow in a circuit. Switches on electrical
devices are supposed to be wired only on the hot or live side of the circuit. The return conductor,
known as the neutral, is at zero volts because it is deliberately grounded at the electrical panel.
[See Activity 1 for more about electrical grounding.] The amount of current that fl ows in a circuit
depends on its electrical resistance, or opposition to current fl ow, measured in ohms.
In an electrical shock, the amount of electrical current, in amps, that fl ows through your body goes
up when resistance in ohms goes down.
The Current in Amps = Voltage in Volts DIVIDED BY Resistance in Ohms.
HIGHER VOLTAGE = more current (if resistance remains the same).
LOWER RESISTANCE = more current (if voltage remains the same).
Newer electric plugs have blades that are polarized, so the hot wire on the device is connected to
the hot side of the electrical receptacle, and the neutral wire is connected to the neutral side. This
is done by making the neutral blade on the plug wider than the hot blade. If you look at a grounded
outlet, you’ll see that the hot slot is shorter than the neutral slot.
Older plugs may not be polarized, and both blades are the same size. It’s best to have an electrician
re-wire the device using a polarized plug. The electrician should also ensure that the receptacle is
properly wired.
Electricians install grounded circuits. They follow OSHA’s
Lockout/Tagout standard when working on them. Circuits are
de-energized and isolated. Stored energy is released and
conductors are grounded. De-activated controls are then locked
out, and tags are placed at their “off” position.
Electricians install grounded circuits. They follow OSHA’s
Lockout/Tagout standard when working on them. Circuits are
de-energized and isolated. Stored energy is released and
conductors are grounded. De-activated controls are then locked
out, and tags are placed at their “off” position.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 7Electrical Safety
mACTIVITY 2 – IMPROPER WIRING / REVERSED POLARITYm
Factsheet D – Reversed Polarity Can Kill!
What can happen if a neutral wire of a device is connected to the hot side of a circuit? This condition
is known as reversed polarity. In a worst case scenario, the result can be death. However, your
electrical device will still work! (It just wants voltage across its load, nothing more.)
There are inexpensive devices known as circuit testers, or polarity testers. Plug in this 3-prong device
and you’ll know at a glance if there’s a wiring problem in the receptacle, just by looking at which
lights are lit on the device. The two most dangerous conditions are: hot and ground reversed, and
hot and neutral reversed.
In 1990, a Maryland worker was killed by reversed polarity on a defective toaster oven with a two-
blade, non-polarized plug. His hand touched its energized (120 volts AC) metal shell, while his leg
touched the grounded housing of an air conditioner.1 See the following diagram.
1 NIOSH FACE Report 90-37, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/In-house/full9037.html
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 8Electrical Safety
mELECTRICAL SAFETYm
mACTIVITY 3 – WET CONDITIONS / GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERSm
In your small group, read fact sheets E and F, and the following scenario.
Then answer the questions below.
SCENARIO:
You’re an experienced worker in building maintenance,
helping a new worker to learn the job. The task involves
cleaning up a fl ooded basement. The new employee has
started setting up electrical cords and tools for the job. You
tell her, “Hold on a minute, let’s check out the wiring fi rst.”
Then you say, “No, we can’t do this without GFCI protection.
I’ll tell you why.”
1. What would you tell the new employee?
2. What can you do to correct this problem for now?
3. What is the best way to deal with this in the future?
Safe Work:
GROUNDED tool, 3-
prong POLARIZED plug,
GFCI receptacle.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 9Electrical Safety
mACTIVITY 3 – WET CONDITIONS / GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERSm
Factsheet E – Using Electrical Equipment in Wet Locations
Using electrical tools or equipment in wet areas can be a hazard. If your skin is dry, it has quite a
lot of resistance (measured in ohms or Ω). However, if your skin is wet for any reason (rain, sweat,
standing in a puddle of water), the skin’s electrical resistance drops dramatically. The amount of
electrical current, in amps, that fl ows through your body goes up when resistance in ohms goes
down. Amps = Volts/Ohms.
The Current in Amps = Voltage in Volts DIVIDED BY Resistance in Ohms.
HIGHER VOLTAGE = more current (if resistance remains the same).
LOWER RESISTANCE = more current (if voltage remains the same).
HOW MUCH CURRENT DOES IT TAKE TO KILL ME?
It doesn’t take much, especially if it passes through your heart. Currents above about 75 milliamps
(mA) can cause a condition called ventricular fi brillation. (A milliamp is 1/1,000 of 1 amp.) If your
heart goes into fi brillation, it beats very rapidly – but it doesn’t pump any blood – because it’s not
beating in its normal rhythm. If your blood can’t carry oxygen to your brain, you’ll experience brain
death in 3 to 4 minutes. The way to get you back involves another electric shock, from a defi brillator.
If your skin is wet and you get your body across 120 volts of electricity, it’s very likely that you’ll have
a current of 100 mA or more fl owing through your heart. Currents ABOVE
10
MA can cause muscle
paralysis. You may not be able to let go of energized tools or equipment. Shocks that are longer in
duration are more severe.
Electrical systems must be wired with either fuses or circuit breakers. These devices are known as
overcurrent protection and they are rated in amps. Most common household circuits are wired for 15
amps or 20 amps. Overcurrent protection devices protect wiring and equipment from overheating
and fi res. They may – or may not – protect you from electrical shock. If the current isn’t high
enough, the fuse won’t blow or the circuit breaker won’t trip. You could be shocked or killed without
ever blowing a fuse or tripping a circuit breaker.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 10 Electrical Safety
mACTIVITY 3 – WET CONDITIONS / GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERSm
Factsheet F – GFCIs to the Rescue
A great breakthrough in electrical safety came with the invention of the ground fault circuit
interrupter (GFCI). A ground fault occurs when electrical current fl ows on a path where it’s not
supposed to be. Under normal conditions, current fl ows in a circuit, traveling from the source,
through the device it operates, called the load, and then back to the source. [See Activity 2 for more
about wiring of electrical circuits.]
Current (amps) fl ows out to the load from the “hot” side (which is generally at 120 volts AC) and
returns on the “neutral” side (which is at zero volts). Under normal conditions, these two currents
(hot and neutral) are equal. If they are not equal, because of current leakage (current returning on
a different path than the neutral conductor), we get a ground fault. This can occur if current fl ows
through your body and returns to the source through a path to ground. Electricity will take ANY
available path to return to its source. We want it to return only on the neutral.
The ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) works by using the above principles. It measures total
current on the hot side and total current on the neutral side of the circuit. They are supposed to be
equal. If these two currents differ from each other by more than 5 milliamps (plus or minus 1 mA),
the GFCI acts as a fast-acting circuit breaker and shuts off the electricity within 1/40 of 1 second.
You can still feel this small amount of current, but it will quickly shut off.
GFCIs are manufactured in many forms. The most common one is the GFCI outlet. However, there
are also GFCI circuit breakers, plug-in GFCI outlets and GFCI extension cords, as well as GFCIs
hard-wired into devices such as hair dryers. All types have “Test” and “Reset” functions. The GFCI
must trip when you press the “Test” button. It must also energize the circuit when you press “Reset.”
If either test fails, you must replace the GFCI in order to be protected!
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 11 Electrical Safety
mELECTRICAL SAFETYm
mACTIVITY 4 – EXTENSION CORDS, COPPER AND CURRENTm
In your small group, read fact sheets G and H, and the following scenario.
Then answer the questions below.
SCENARIO:
You’re at work one day and a co-worker starts screaming: It
looks like his saw is smoking, it smells like it’s burning and
his extension cord is getting hot enough to burn his hand.
You walk over, take one look at the scene and start shaking
your head. “Well, I know what your problem is, and I’ll
explain if you stop shouting,” you tell him.
1. What is your explanation to the worker?
2. What are some steps to deal with this issue?
3. What is the best way to correct the problem?
Safe Work: UL
approved, 3-conductor,
GROUNDED extension
cord, #12 wires.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 12 Electrical Safety
mACTIVITY 4 – EXTENSION CORDS, COPPER AND CURRENTm
Factsheet G – Wire Size and Ampacity
In terms of conducting electrical current, size matters: the size of the electrical conductor. Take a
look at the following table regarding ampacity, the current carrying capacity of a conductor in amps.
You’ll notice two things: the amount of current a wire can safely carry increases as the diameter
(and area) of the wire increases and as the number of the wire size decreases. Welcome to the
American Wire Gauge (AWG).
AWG Copper Wire Table
Copper Wire
size (AWG)
Diameter
(mils)
Area
(Circular mils) Ampacity in free air Ampacity as part of
3-conductor cable
14 AWG 64.1 4109 20 Amps 15 Amps
12 AWG 80.8 6529 25 Amps 20 Amps
10 AWG 101.9 10,384 40 Amps 30 Amps
8 AWG 128.5 16,512 70 Amps 50 Amps
BUT I DON’T WANT TO BE AN ENGINEER...
Hey, neither do I, but this stuff is important. Notice that a #8 wire is twice the diameter, but four
times the area of a #14 wire. There are a couple of practical applications here. For one thing, the
gauge of the wire determines the rating of a fuse or circuit breaker in amps. A circuit wired with
#14 copper will get a 15 amp circuit breaker. A circuit with #12 copper can get a 20 amp breaker;
#10 copper can be 30 amps, and so on.
The second thing to consider is that it’s possible to create a fi re hazard by overloading an extension
cord. This occurs when too much current is fl owing in a conductor that’s not heavy enough for
the electrical load in amps. The circuit can be properly wired and its circuit breaker correctly
rated, but if too much current fl ows through an extension cord whose wires are too small, the
cord will heat up. Sometimes there is also a voltage drop over a longer extension cord, which could
damage your tools.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 13 Electrical Safety
mACTIVITY 4 – EXTENSION CORDS, COPPER AND CURRENTm
Factsheet H – Extension Cord Facts
With the wide use of power tools on construction sites, fl exible extension cords often are necessary.
Because they are exposed, fl exible, and unsecured, they are more susceptible to damage than is
fi xed wiring. Hazards are created when cords, cord connectors, receptacles, and cord- and plug-
connected equipment are improperly used and maintained. Here are some factors on extension cord
safety noted by OSHA.
STRAIN RELIEF
● To reduce hazards, fl exible cords must connect to devices and to
fi ttings in ways that prevent tension at joints and terminal screws.
Flexible cords are fi nely stranded for fl exibility, so straining a cord
can cause the strands of one conductor to loosen from under terminal
screws and touch another conductor.
CORD DAMAGE
● A fl exible cord may be damaged by door or window edges, by staples
and fastenings, by abrasion from adjacent materials, or simply by
aging. If the electrical conductors become exposed, there is a danger
of shocks, burns, or fi re. Replace frayed or damaged cords. Avoid
running cords over sharp corners and edges.
DURABILITY
● The OSHA construction standard requires fl exible cords to be rated
for hard or extra-hard usage. These ratings are derived from the
National Electrical Code, and are required to be indelibly marked
approximately every foot along the length of the cord. Examples of
these codes are: S, ST, SO, and STO for hard service, and SJ, SJO, SJT,
and SJTO for junior hard service.
GROUNDING
● Extension cords must be 3-wire type so they may be grounded, and to
permit grounding of any tools or equipment connected to them.
WET CONDITIONS
● When a cord connector is wet, electric current can leak to the
equipment grounding conductor, and to humans who pick up that
connector if they provide a path to ground. Such leakage can occur
not just on the face of the connector, but at any wetted portion. Limit
exposure of connectors and tools to excessive moisture by using
watertight or sealable connectors.
NOTE: This page is adapted from OSHA eTool:
Construction, Electrical Hazards, Flexible cords.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 14 Electrical Safety
mELECTRICAL SAFETYm
mACTIVITY 5 – “IT’S ONLY 120 VOLTS”m
In your small group, read fact sheet I, and the following scenario. Then answer the questions below.
SCENARIO:
You are on a construction site in the morning after it rained
all night, and there is some standing water on the ground.
A co-worker is setting up his job, running an extension
cord he built himself. He has used a 3-prong replacement
plug, a length of 3-conductor Type NM non-metallic cable
and a 3-conductor receptacle mounted in steel utility box.
You see this and say, “Hey, you really need to be using a UL
approved, factory made, grounded extension cord out here.”
He replies, “I’ve used this set-up for years and never had any
trouble. It’s not that dangerous, it’s only 120 volts. Anyway,
it’s the current that kills you, not the voltage.”
1. What would you say to this worker?
2. What can you do to correct this problem for now?
3. What is the best way to deal with this in the future?
Safe Work: TEST A
GFCI OUTLET – every
time you use it – to be
sure it works!
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 15 Electrical Safety
mACTIVITY 5 – “IT’S ONLY 120 VOLTS”m
Factsheet I – 120 Volts Can Kill!
Ordinary, household, 120 volts AC electricity is dangerous and it can kill. Voltage is the force
that allows electricity to fl ow in a circuit. Electrical current involves the fl ow of electrons and it’s
measured in amps. The third factor involved in current fl ow is resistance, the opposition to current
fl ow, measured in ohms. We can use a simple formula to calculate the current: Current in Amps =
Voltage in Volts DIVIDED BY Resistance in Ohms.
Using electrical tools or equipment in wet areas can be a hazard. If your skin is dry, it has quite a
lot of resistance (measured in ohms or Ω). However, if your skin is wet for any reason (rain, sweat,
standing in a puddle of water), the skin’s electrical resistance drops dramatically. The amount of
electrical current, in amps, that fl ows through your body goes up when resistance in ohms goes
down. Amps = Volts/Ohms.
If your skin is wet and you get your body across 120 volts of electricity – possibly from an electrical
defect in a homemade extension cord – it’s very likely that you’ll have a current of 100 milliamps
(mA) or more fl owing through your heart. (1 mA is 1/1,000 of 1 amp.) At 100 mA, you may not be
able to let go of an energized tool or piece of equipment. Currents above
75
milliamps (mA) can lead
to a condition called ventricular fi brillation, which can be fatal.
[See Activity 4 for more information on extension cord hazards.]
A major safety precaution when working under wet conditions is using an electrical device called a
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). A properly wired and tested GFCI can save your life. It will
trip and turn off the electricity when it detects current leakage as low as 5 mA. You should consider
bringing and using your own plug-in GFCI receptacle or GFCI extension cord, especially if there
is any question about the condition of electrical wiring at your site. It’s important to test your GFCI
every time you use it, so you know it will protect you.
[See Activity 3, more about wet conditions, electrical hazards and GFCIs.]
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 16 Electrical Safety
mELECTRICAL SAFETYm
mACTIVITY 6 – POWER LINE HAZARDSm
In your small group, read fact sheet J (pages 17-20), and read the following scenario.
Then answer the questions below.
SCENARIO:
You are the “competent person”2 at a company that
constructs and dismantles scaffolds, and you are reviewing
an upcoming job with your crew. You mention that this
job will require extra care because the scaffold will need to
be close to a nearby power line and you will need to take
necessary precautions. One of your crew says, “We shouldn’t
even take on a job like that. There are lots of cases where
people on scaffolds have been electrocuted. Why should
we take chances with our lives?” You reply, “Yes, it can
be dangerous, but there are ways to remove or control the
hazard. I’ll explain it to you guys.”
1. What would you say to your crew?
2. What can you do to protect yourselves from power line hazards?
3. In your opinion, what is the best way to deal with power line hazards, the second best, and
so on?
2 A “competent person” (required by certain OSHA standards) must be able to recognize existing and predictable hazards, and must be
authorized by the employer to take action to correct unsafe conditions.
Safe Work: Scaffold
must be AT LEAST 10
FEET from the power
line.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 17 Electrical Safety
mACTIVITY 6 – POWER LINE HAZARDSm
Factsheet J – Power Lines Kill Workers
Most people know that power lines can kill, yet a surprising number of power line deaths occur on
a regular basis. Electricity is generated and transmitted at high voltages for a good reason: it limits
power loss as the electricity travels long distances from power plant to point of use. Power lines can
be at tens of thousands of volts, even at hundreds of thousands of volts: the higher the voltage, the
greater the potential danger.
Problems occur when people or equipment get too close to energized lines. Some of the most
common situations that occur are:
● Contacting lines with cranes and other construction equipment
● Hitting a line when erecting or moving a scaffold
● Getting too close with a ladder or a tool, especially a conductive one, such as aluminum
or wood.
There are three major ways to control power line hazards:
1. Maintaining a safe distance from lines.
2. Having the power company de-energize and ground the power line(s). Have a power company
rep at the site!
3. Having the power company install insulated sleeves (also known as “eels”) over power lines.
(See the above item.)
NOTE: Only the electric power utility can determine the clearance
distance for this method of insulating lines.
NOTE: Only the electric power utility can determine the clearance
distance for this method of insulating lines.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 18 Electrical Safety
Factsheet J continued...
NOTE: The information on pages 18 and 19 was adapted from material developed by the
Construction Safety Council.
Staying away from power lines is the best option. The following illustration shows the safe power
line clearance distance, as well as the working clearance distance. The table shows clearance
distances from power lines for various line voltages.
NOTE: The term kV = 1,000 volts. For example, 50 kV = 50,000 volts.
The best and easiest way, is to follow this rule:
• Up to 50 kV – Stay at least 10 feet away
• Over 50 kV – Stay at least 35 feet away
The best and easiest way, is to follow this rule:
• Up to 50 kV – Stay at least 10 feet away
• Over 50 kV – Stay at least 35 feet away
Power Line Clearance Distances
Voltages Distances from Power Lines
< 50kV 10 feet
200 kV 15 feet
350 kV 20 feet
500 kV 25 feet
650 kV 30 feet
800 kV 35 feet
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 19 Electrical Safety
Factsheet J continued...
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
GENERAL
● Move equipment/activity to the safe working distance from power lines.
● Have utility de-energize and visibly ground power lines.
● Have utility move power lines to the safe working distance.
● Have utility install insulated sleeves on power lines.*
● Install fl agged warning lines to mark horizontal and vertical power line clearance distances.
● Use nonconductive tools and materials.
CRANES AND OTHER HIGH REACHING EQUIPMENT
● Use an observer.*
● Use an insulated link, if applicable.*
● Use a boom cage guard, if applicable.*
● Use a proximity device, if applicable.*
MOBILE HEAVY EQUIPMENT
● Install rider posts or goal posts under power lines.
● Install warning signs at driver's eye level.
* These options DO NOT allow the operator to work closer than the line clearance distance.
LADDERS
● Use nonconductive ladders.
● Don't carry or move extension ladders fully extended. Retract before moving.
● Get help moving ladders to maintain control.
MATERIAL STORAGE
● Don't store any materials under power lines.
● Use caution tape and signs to cordon off area under power lines.
EXCAVATIONS
● Call 811 to contact your local one-call service several days before you dig to locate all
underground cables.
● Hand dig within three feet of cable location.
● Be aware that more than one underground cable may be buried in area of locator markings.
Remember: The Only safe power lines are the ones that don’t exist.
CALL 811 BEFORE YOU DIG!
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 20 Electrical Safety
Factsheet J continued...
POWER LINE PHOTOS: UNPROTECTED AND PROTECTED
This power company worker is placing insulated sleeves
(“eels”) over the power line in this photo.
There is a hazard of shock or
electrocution: scaffold and
platform are less than 10 feet
away from these power lines.
This scaffold has been protected from electrical hazards: three power lines
at the top have been de-energized, jumpered together and then electrically
grounded by the power company.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 21 Electrical Safety
mELECTRICAL SAFETY SUMMARYm
1. CORD AND PLUG OPERATED electric tools with exposed metal parts must have a three-prong
grounding plug – AND be grounded – or else be double-insulated.
2. EQUIPMENT GROUNDING only works when there is a permanent and continuous electrical
connection between the metal shell of a tool and the earth.
3. PROPER POLARITY IN ELECTRICAL WIRING IS IMPORTANT: hot to hot, neutral to neutral,
equipment ground to equipment ground. Polarized plugs have a wider neutral blade to maintain
correct polarity. Reversed polarity can kill.
4. CIRCUITS MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH FUSES OR CIRCUIT BREAKERS to protect against
dangerous overloads. Fuses melt, while circuit breakers trip to turn off current like a switch.
Overcurrent protection devices protect wiring and equipment from overheating and fi res. They
may, or may not, protect you.
5. MOST 120 VOLT CIRCUITS are wired to deliver up to 15 or 20 amps of current. Currents of
50-
100
milliamperes can kill you. (1 mA = 1/1,000 of 1 Amp.)
6. WET CONDITIONS LOWER SKIN RESISTANCE, allowing more current to fl ow through your
body. Currents above
75
milliamps can cause ventricular fi brillation, which may be fatal. Severity of a
shock depends on: path of current, amount of current, duration of current, voltage level, moisture and
your general health.
7. A GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER (GFCI) protects from a ground-fault, the most
common electrical hazard. GFCIs detect differences in current fl ow between hot and neutral. They
trip when there is current leakage – such as through a person – of about
5
milliamperes and they act
within
1/40
of a second. Test a GFCI every time you use it. It must “Trip” and it must “Reset.”
8. EXTENSION CORD WIRES MUST BE HEAVY ENOUGH for the amount of current they will
carry. For construction, they must be UL approved, have strain relief and a 3-prong grounding plug,
be durable, and be rated for hard or extra-hard usage.
9. OVERHEAD POWER LINES CAN KILL. The three major methods of protection are: maintaining
a safe distance, de-energizing AND grounding lines, having the power company install insulating sleeves.
Have a power company rep on the site.
10. UNDERGROUND POWER LINES CAN KILL. Call before you dig to locate all underground
cables. Hand dig within three feet of cable location!
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 22 Electrical Safety
APPENDIX A
Condensed Electrical Glossary
AMPERE OR AMP: The unit of electrical current (fl ow of electrons).
● One milliamp (mA) = 1/1,000 of 1 Amp.
CONDUCTORS: Materials, such as metals, in which electrical current can fl ow.
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS can result in various effects on the body, including:
● SHOCK – The physical effects caused by electric current fl owing in the body.
● ELECTROCUTION – Electrical shock or related electrical effects resulting in death.
● BURNS – Often occurring on the hands, thermal damage to tissue can be caused by the fl o w
of current in the body, by overheating of improper or damaged electrical components, or by an
arc fl ash.
● FALLS – A common effect, sometimes caused by the body’s reaction to an electrical current.
A non-fatal shock may sometimes result in a fatal fall when a person is working on an
elevated surface.
EXPOSED LIVE PARTS: Energized electrical components not properly enclosed in a box or
otherwise isolated, such that workers can touch them and be shocked or killed. Some of the
common hazards include: missing knockouts, unused openings in cabinets and missing covers.
Covers must not be removed from wiring or breaker boxes. Any missing covers must be replaced
with approved covers.
INSULATORS: Materials with high electrical resistance, so electrical current can’t fl ow.
LOCKOUT/TAGOUT: The common name for an OSHA standard, “The control of hazardous energy
(lockout /tagout).” Lockout is a means of controlling energy during repairs and maintenance of
equipment, whereby energy sources are de-energized, isolated, and then locked out to prevent unsafe
start-up of equipment which would endanger workers. Lockout includes – but is not limited to – the
control of electrical energy. Tagout means the placing of warning tags to alert other workers to
the presence of equipment that has been locked out. Tags alone DO NOT LOCK OUT equipment.
Tagout is most effective when done in addition to lockout.
OHM or Ω: The unit of electrical resistance (opposition to current fl ow).
OHM’S LAW: A mathematical expression of the relationship among voltage (volts), current (amps)
and resistance (ohms). This is often expressed as: E =
I
x R. In this case, E = volts, I = amps and R =
ohms. (The equation, Amps = Volts/Ohms, as used in this curriculum, is one form of Ohm’s Law.)
VOLT: The unit of electromotive force (emf) caused by a difference in electrical charge or electrical
potential between one point and another point. The presence of voltage is necessary before current
can fl ow in a circuit (in which current fl ows from a source to a load – the equipment using the
electricity – and then back to its source).
WET CONDITIONS: Rain, sweat, standing in a puddle – all will decrease the skin’s electrical
resistance and increase current fl ow through the body in the event of a shock. Have a qualifi ed
electrician inspect any electrical equipment that has gotten wet before energizing it.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 23 Electrical Safety
APPENDIX B
General Rules for Construction Electrical Safety
MAJOR PROTECTIVE METHODS FROM ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
Protection from electrical hazards generally includes the following methods:
1. DISTANCE: Commonly used with regard to power lines.
2. ISOLATION AND GUARDING: Restricting access, commonly used with high voltage power
distribution equipment.
3. ENCLOSURE OF ELECTRICAL PARTS: A major concept of electrical wiring in general, e.g., all
connections are made in a box.
4. GROUNDING: Required for all non-current carrying exposed metal parts, unless isolated or
guarded as above. (However, corded tools may be either grounded OR be double-insulated.)
[See Activity 1 for more about electrical grounding.]
5. INSULATION: Intact insulation allows safe handling of everyday electrical equipment,
including corded tools. Category also includes insulated mats and sleeves.
6. DE-ENERGIZING AND GROUNDING: Protective method used by electrical utilities and also in
conjunction with electrical lockout/tagout.
7. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE): Using insulated gloves and other apparel to
work on energized equipment, limited to qualifi ed and trained personnel working under very
limited circumstances.
GENERAL RULES FOR ELECTRICAL WORK
● Non-conductive PPE is essential for electricians. NO METAL PPE!
Class B hard hats provide the highest level of protection against electrical hazards, with high-voltage
shock and burn protection (up to 20,000 volts). Electrical hazard, safety-toe shoes are nonconductive
and will prevent the wearers’ feet from completing an electrical circuit to the ground.
● Be alert to electrical hazards, especially when working with ladders, scaffolds and other platforms.
● Never bypass electrical protective systems or devices.
● Disconnect cord tools when not in use and when changing blades, bits or other accessories.
● Inspect all tools before use.
● Use only grounded extension cords.
● Remove damaged tools and damaged extension cords from use.
● Keep working spaces and walkways clear of electrical cords.
RULES FOR TEMPORARY WIRING AND LIGHTING
● Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) on all 15-Amp and 20-Amp temporary wiring
circuits.
● Protect temporary lights from contact and damage.
● Don’t suspend temporary lights by cords, unless the temporary light is so designed.
SECTION #4 | Participant Guide 24 Electrical Safety
NOTES

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