Module II Lesson 5
Module II Lesson 5
Module II Lesson 5
Recognizing Hazards
Introduction
The first step toward protecting yourself is recognizing the many hazards you
face on the job. To do this, you must know which situations can place you in
danger. Knowing where to look helps you to recognize hazards.
• Inadequate wiring is dangerous
• Exposed electrical parts are dangerous.
• Overhead powerlines are dangerous.
• Wires with bad insulation can shock you.
• Electrical systems and tools that are not grounded or double-insulated are
dangerous.
• Overloaded circuits are dangerous.
• Damaged power tools and equipment are electrical hazards.
• Using the wrong PPE is dangerous.
• Using the wrong tool is dangerous.
• Some on-site chemicals are harmful.
• Defective ladders and scaffolding are dangerous
• Ladders that conduct electricity are dangerous.
• Electrical hazards can be made worse if the worker, location, or
equipment is wet.
EEPC101 Module II
more current. The current capacity (ampacity) of the branch wire could be
exceeded. When a wire is too small for the current it is supposed to carry, the
wire will heat up. The heated wire could cause a fire.
When you use an extension cord, the size of the wire you are placing into
the circuit may be too small for the equipment. The circuit breaker could be the
right size for the circuit but not right for the smaller-gauge extension cord. A
tool plugged into the extension cord may use more current than the cord can
handle without tripping the circuit breaker. The wire will overheat and could
cause a fire.
The kind of metal used as a conductor can cause an electrical hazard. Special
care needs to be taken with aluminum wire. Since it is more brittle than copper,
aluminum wire can crack and break more easily. Connections with aluminum wire
can become loose and oxidize if not made properly, creating heat or arcing.
You must recognize that inadequate wiring is a hazard.
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• A balcony, gallery, or elevated platform
• A site elevated 8 feet (2.44 meters) or more above the floor
• A sturdy, permanent screen
Warning. Conspicuous signs must be posted at the entrances to electrical rooms
and similarly guarded locations to alert people to the electrical hazard
and to forbid entry to unauthorized people. Signs may contain the word
"Danger," "Warning," or "Caution," and beneath that, appropriate concise
wording that alerts people to the hazard or gives an instruction, such as
"Danger/High Voltage/Keep Out."
Approach Boundaries
The risk from exposed live parts depends on your distance from the parts. Three
"boundaries" are key to protecting yourself from electric shock and one to protect
you from arc flashes or blasts. These boundaries are set by the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA 70E) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA
Z462).
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• This boundary is the minimum distance from the energized item where
unqualified personnel may safely stand.
• No untrained personnel may approach any closer to the energized item
than this boundary.
• A qualified person must use appropriate PPE and be trained to perform
the required work to cross the limited approach boundary and enter the
limited space.
3. Flash Protection Boundary (FPB). The FPB is the farthest established
boundary from the energy source and is considered a safe approach distance
from energized equipment or parts.
• Only Persons wearing appropriate personal protective clothing and
equipment for the Arc Flash Boundary, as determined by an Arc Flash Risk
Assessment, may approach closer than the FPB.
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• Scaffolds
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• keep continuous contact with the ground and move at least 30 feet away
from the vehicle and powerline;
• stay away from water;
• do not pick up the power lines and warn others stay away; and
• when it's safe to do so, call 911. (call for help)
EEPC101 Module II
You must recognize that an improperly grounded electrical system is a hazard.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)
A ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is an inexpensive life-saver. GFCIs
detect any difference in current between the two circuit wires (the black wires
and white wires). This difference in current could happen when electrical
equipment is not working correctly, causing leakage current. If leakage current
(a ground fault) is detected in a GFCI-protected circuit, the GFCI switches off
the current in the circuit, protecting you from a dangerous shock. More
important points to remember:
• GFCIs are set at about 5 mA and are designed to protect workers from
electrocution.
• GFCIs are able to detect the loss of current resulting from leakage through
a person who is beginning to be shocked. If this situation occurs, the GFCI
switches off the current in the circuit.
• GFCIs are different from circuit breakers because they detect leakage
currents rather than overloads.
Circuits with missing, damaged, or improperly wired GFCIs may allow you to be
shocked.
You need to recognize that a circuit improperly protected by a GFCI is a
hazard.
Overload Hazards
Overloads in an electrical system are hazardous because they can produce
heat or arcing. Wires and other components in an electrical system or circuit
have a maximum amount of current they can carry safely. If too many devices
are plugged into a circuit, the electrical current will heat the wires to a very
high temperature. If any one tool uses too much current, the wires will heat up.
The temperature of the wires can be high enough to cause a fire. If their
insulation melts, arcing may occur. Arcing can cause a fire in the area where the
overload exists, even inside a wall.
In order to prevent too much current in a circuit, a circuit breaker or fuse
is placed in the circuit. If there is too much current in the circuit, the breaker
"trips" and opens like a switch. If an overloaded circuit is equipped with a fuse,
an internal part of the fuse melts, opening the circuit. Both breakers and fuses
do the same thing: open the circuit to shut off the electrical current.
If the breakers or fuses are too big for the wires they are supposed to
protect, an overload in the circuit will not be detected and the current will not
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be shut off. Overloading leads to overheating of circuit components (including
wires) and may cause a fire.
Additional Hazards
In addition to electrical hazards, other types of hazards are present at job sites.
Remember that all of these hazards can be controlled.
• There may be chemical hazards. Solvents and other substances may be
poisonous or cause disease.
• Frequent overhead work can cause tendinitis (inflammation) in your
shoulders.
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• Intensive use of hand tools that involve force or twisting can cause
tendinitis of the hands, wrists, or elbows. Use of hand tools can also cause
carpal tunnel syndrome, which results when nerves in the wrist are
damaged by swelling tendons or contracting muscles.
Learning Activity
A 25 year old laborer was removing a metal fish tape from a hole at a metal light
pole. The fish tape became energized, electrocuting him. As a result of its
inspection, the investigator issued a citation for serious violations of the agency’s
construction standards.
What instruction and safety precaution should be follow to avoid this death could
have been prevented.
EEPC101 Module II