AUST Elec Lecture 06

HUME :2207
Lecture-6
Electrical Hazards
Engr. M.Hafizur RahmanP.Eng. MBA
Mobile No: 01755512210
email: [email protected]
• Electricity is one of the finest forms of
energy. We can not be dreamed of our life
with out electricity now. It has versatile
utilities.
• On the other hands, electrical accidents,
unlike other industrial accident quite often
happen in industries causing personal injuries
or deaths, fire, explosions etc. There are huge
records of domestic accident,
Effect of Electricity on human bodies.
A number of adverse consequences may result from contact with energized conductors
these include:
1. Burns caused by heat generated as electricity flows through the tissues in the
body.
2. Involuntary muscle contractions, which can prevent a victim from releasing the
energized conductor until the flow of current, are stopped. That is the victim
would not be able to operate his muscle to release, which he unfortunately
gripped.
3. Ventricular fibrillation (irregular heart beat) when nerves controlling the heart
muscles are disported by an electrical current; heart muscles quiver but fail to
pump blood though the body.
4. Cardiac arrest (inability of the heart to operate) resulting from paralysis of the
nerve centers that regulate heart rhythm.
5. Pulmonary arrest (respiratory failure, i.e. stoppage of the lung) caused paralysis of
the nerve centers in the brain, which control breathing.
6. When oxygen ceases to be supplied to the brain, because the heart stops pumping
blood or the lungs stop moving air, - death is almost certain to occur with in 4 to 6
minutes.
Nature of Electrical Injuries:
The effect of electricity on an individual depends
on four factors.
a) Voltage of the circuit
b) Resistance of the person’s body (Current flow
through the body)
c) Circuit path through the body.
d) Duration of current flow through the body
•
a) Voltage of the circuit
b) Resistance of the person’s body (Current flow through the body)
I = V/R
Current flow depends on resistance and also on voltages. If the voltage is
high, extents of current flow also increase on the same proportions.
High body resistance lowers the dangers; this may be attained by
using rubber gloves, rubber shoes, rubber mats, hooks etc.
High voltage obviously indicates to discharge more energy. Death from

contact with low-voltage circuits usually results from ventricular
fibrillation of the heart. High-voltage fatalities, on the other hand, result
from Electro-thermal burns.
Average body resistance measured hand-to-hand with dry skin is about

100,000 ohms. However, the resistance decreases as skin surfaces
become moist through sweating or contact with water.
A current of about 10-20 milliamps (ma) is frequently referred to as the

“let-go current”
c) Circuit path Through the Body
The path that current takes through the body
depends on the body parts that complete the
circuit.
d) Duration of current flow through the body:
A shock of 40 to 100 mA for 10 seconds or longer
duration might stop the breathing and ultimately
death.
Secondary effects of Electricity:
i) Shocking jolts causing personal injuries:
Current while passing through the certain limbs of the body may cause sudden jolt so
violently (because of involuntary muscular reaction) that may cause fracture of the
limb, if it hits the nearby wall.
ii) Fall while performing overhead works:
There are many records of falling from height while performing works with
electricity. An entrant working on a ladder or scaffold could be seriously injured by a
fall caused by a mild shock.
iii) Electrical spark or heating may cause fire:
Other than the personnel hazard, electricity is one of the main source of the ignition
in industrial fire. Most of the domestic & industrial fires occur due to spark or heat
There are various ways of protecting people from the hazards caused
by electricity. These include: insulation, guarding, grounding, electrical
protective devices, and safe work practices .
(1) Insulation:
One way to safeguard individuals from electrically energized wires and parts is through
insulation. An insulator is any material with high resistance to electric current.
(2) Guarding :
Live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more must be guarded against
accidental contact.
(3) Grounding:
Grounding is another method of protecting employees from electric shock; however, it is
normally a secondary protective measure. The term "ground" refers to a conductive
body, usually the earth.
(4) Circuit Protection Devices:

Circuit protection devices are designed to automatically limit or shut off the flow of
electricity in the event of a ground-fault, overload, or short circuit in the wiring system.
Fuses, circuit breakers, and ground-fault circuit interrupters are three well-known
examples of such devices.
(5) Safe Work Practices :
Employees and others working with electric equipment need to use safe work practices.
These include: de-energizing of electric equipment before inspecting or making repairs,
using electric tools that are in good condition, using good judgment when working near
energized lines, and using appropriate protective equipment.
(a)Isolating the Electrical Equipment.
The accidental or unexpected sudden starting of electrical equipment can cause severe
injury or death.
(b)Protective Equipment :
Employees whose occupations require them to work directly with electricity must use
the personal protective equipment required for the jobs they perform.
(c) Tools :
To maximize his or her own safety, an employee should always use tools that work
properly.
(d)Good Judgment :
Perhaps the single most successful defense against electrical accidents is the continuous
exercising of good judgment or common sense.
(d)Training
To ensure that they use safe work practices, employees must be aware of the electrical
hazards to which they will be exposed. Employees must be trained in safety-related work
practices as well as any other procedures necessary for safety from electrical hazards.
Personal Safety and Protection against
Electrical hazard:
Besides other general safety attires for performing electrical
works, following things should strictly followed:
1) Always try to perform the job in a team, at least of two members. Other
members of the team should be well conversant with the job. One person should
be left out of active participation with work to call for emergency.
2) Never try to work with an energized line. Check and be sure with the system or
line that does not possess any energy. If the work is discontinued, check the line
before starting the work again.
3) Restrict the presence of irrelevant person.
4) Isolation device should be locked while working.
5) Take clearance from all working people while restoring power.
6) Use electrical safety gears (Rubber mats, Rubber boots, Rubber hand gloves,
Insulated hooks/pole while working with energized line in unavoidable situation.
7) Work place should be dry clean
8) Avoid any attempt for doing adventurous work.

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HUME :2207

High voltage obviously indicates to discharge more energy. Death from

Average body resistance measured hand-to-hand with dry skin is about

A current of about 10-20 milliamps (ma) is frequently referred to as the

(4) Circuit Protection Devices:

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