Electrical Hazards Training Presented By John S Hillard

Electrical Hazards Training Presented By: John S. Hillard, CSP Risk Control Consultant jhillard@murrayins. com 717 -606 -5904

Agenda 1. ) Purpose 2. ) Review of Data and OSHA Citations 3. ) Basic Electrical Concepts 4. ) Hazards Common in the Industry 5. ) Best Practices in the Industry 6. ) Areas for Future Improvement

Purpose 1. ) Get employees home safely 2. ) Improve your electrical safety program 3. ) Fulfill the OSHA AMI Alliance Agreement - Develop and provide training & education programs for the mushroom industry - Prevent or Reduce: 1. ) Fall; 2. ) Amputation; 3. ) Chemical; 4. ) Electrical; 5. ) Physical Hazards

Review of Data and OSHA Citations Survey Results from safety program surveys: Rank Program 1 Electrical Safety 2 Hazard Communication 3 Lockout Tagout 4 Slips, Trips and Falls 5 Machine Guarding 6 Personal Protective Equipment 7 Emergency Action Plan 8 Powered Industrial Truck 9 Fall Protection 10 Ergonomics 11 Housekeeping 12 Confined Space

Review of Data and OSHA Citations Electrical Related Citations Hazard Standard Citations 5 (a) (1) 2 Examination, installation and use 303 (b) 1 Overcurrent protection 304 (f) 4 Cabinets, boxes and fittings 305 (b) 2 Use of flexible cords 305 (g) 4 Equipment for general use 305 (j) 1 Portable electrical equipment 334 (a) 2 General Duty Clause - Missing Covers - Damaged exterior panels

Have you had any injuries involving electricity at your location?

Basic Electrical Concepts Water Hose Analogy Voltage (volts) – pressure or force Current (amps) – flow rate at a point Resistance (ohms) – Diameter of hose Power (watts) – amount of work

Basic Electrical Concepts Types of Injuries 1. ) Electrocution (Always Fatal) 2. ) Electrical Shock or Shock 3. ) Burns 4. ) Falls (Secondary Injury)

Basic Electrical Concepts Three ways to get shocked: 1. ) Contact both conductors 2. ) Contact with one conductor and ground 3. ) Contact with energized equipment and ground

Basic Electrical Concepts Factors in Severity 1. ) Amount of current 2. ) Path of current through the body 3. ) Duration of contact 4. ) General health of the person

Basic Electrical Concepts Exposure effects Exposure 1 – 4 m. A Result Slight tingle > 5 m. A Noticeable pain increasing as m. A increase > 10 m. A Involuntary muscle contraction > 20 m. A Severe shock > 30 m. A Lung paralysis – usually fatal > 50 m. A Potential ventricular fibrillation (almost always fatal) 100 m. A – 4 A >4 A Certain ventricular fibrillation (fatal) Heart paralysis; Severe burns

Basic Electrical Concepts Arc Flash A short circuit caused by working on energize equipment - Commonly caused by dropping a tool; or - Unexpectedly hitting an energized part

Basic Electrical Concepts Arc Flash Injuries 1. ) Arc Flash - Most burns due to ignition of clothing - Reaches 35, 000° F - Molten metal - Temporary and permanent blindness 2. ) Arc Blast - Extremely forceful pressure wave - Molten metal shrapnel - Loud explosion

Basic Electrical Concepts

Hazards Common in the Industry Common Issues 1. ) Flexible cord issues 2. ) Damaged electrical components 3. ) Electrically unsafe equipment 4. ) Failure to use LOTO 5. ) Failure to work on de-energized equipment 6. ) Under-trained employees

Hazards Common in the Industry Flexible Cord Issues Cords passing through window and doorways

Hazards Common in the Industry Flexible Cord Issues Cut insulation

Hazards Common in the Industry Flexible Cord Issues Improper repair that is damaged

Hazards Common in the Industry Flexible Cord Issues Cords used as permanent wiring

Hazards Common in the Industry Damaged Electrical Components Broken strain relief with exposed conductors

Hazards Common in the Industry Damaged Electrical Components Missing knockouts

Hazards Common in the Industry Damaged Electrical Components Damaged plug ends and housing

Hazards Common in the Industry Damaged Electrical Components Broken connection at box

Hazards Common in the Industry Electrically Unsafe Equipment 1. ) Ungrounded equipment 2. ) Poorly maintained and damaged equipment 3. ) Equipment not suited for the area 4. ) Equipment not suited for the use

Hazards Common in the Industry Failure to use LOTO

Hazards Common in the Industry Failure to do work de-energized 1. ) “It takes to much time…” 2. ) “It is easier this way” 3. ) “It is the ONLY way to do it” Y Z L-A

Hazards Common in the Industry Under – trained employees They think things like this… 1. ) Grounding of equipment isn’t necessary 2. ) Makeshift repairs 3. ) Glaring safety hazards ignored

What electrical hazards are the most common at your company?

Best Practices in Industry Common Best Practices 1. ) Trained and qualified electricians 2. ) Trained employees who handle electrical equipment 3. ) All employees trained on electrical hazard identification 4. ) Listed pick lights or pick light inspection 5. ) Use of GFCI’s

Best Practices in Industry Trained and qualified 1. ) As defined by OSHA: “One who has received training in and has demonstrated skills and knowledge in the construction and operation of electric equipment and installations and the hazards involved. ” 2. ) As defined by the NEC: “One who has skills and knowledge related to the construction and operation of the electrical equipment and installations and has received safety training to recognize and avoid the hazards involved. ” 3. ) If they don’t meet these requirements they are not qualified electricians

Best Practices in Industry Trained and qualified 1. ) Hire qualified electricians 2. ) Train your electricians on electrical hazards 3. ) Train your electricians on safe work procedures

Best Practices in Industry Employees handling electrical equipment 1. ) Review common unsafe conditions 2. ) Instruct them to inspect equipment prior to use 3. ) Outline procedures for repair of damaged equipment

Best Practices in Industry All employees trained on… 1. ) Identifying missing ground plugs 2. ) Removing cords with visible damage 3. ) Reporting shocks - “I got zapped” - “I felt a tingle” - Etc.

Best Practices in Industry Listed Pick Lights 1. ) The only ‘OSHA accepted’ Solution 2. ) Designed and rated for wet environments 3. ) ‘Expensive’ 4. ) Listed by national testing labs (ETL, UL, etc. )

Best Practices in Industry Inspecting Non-Listed Pick Lights 1. ) NOT an ‘OSHA accepted’ Solution 2. ) Simple visual inspection by employees moving lights 3. ) Detailed inspection by a qualified person at least annually 4. ) Removal of lights with metal ballast housing. 5. ) Recordkeeping system

Best Practices in Industry GFCI use (Maintenance) 1. ) ‘Pig Tails’ on cord and plug equipment used in maintenance

Best Practices in Industry GFCI use (All Areas) 1. ) GFCI’s are required to be used in wet environments 2. ) Have been successfully implemented on several farms 3. ) Provide superior protection to employees 4. ) Other implications with insurance carriers

What electrical safety practices have you implemented at your location?

Areas for future improvement Areas of Improvement 1. ) Training Efforts: - Qualified electricians - Employees moving or working with equipment - All employees 2. ) Proper electrical safety procedures: - De-energizing - LOTO - PPE 3. ) Implementation of GFCI protection 4. ) Program for identification & repair of damaged equipment

Where are you looking to improve this year?

Conclusion 1. ) Our employees face electrical hazards everyday. 2. ) Employees working on electrical systems must be qualified 3. ) There have been several fatalities and severe injuries related to electrical hazards 4. ) Identifying and eliminating hazards can be as simple as telling employees what to look for. 5. ) Taking steps to make our areas safer electrically is absolutely imperative

Thank You! John S. Hillard, CSP Risk Control Consultant jhillard@murrayins. com 717 -606 -5904