Causes of Electrical Accidents

An unsafe act is a violation of an accepted safe procedure which could lead to an accident.

Examples of unsafe acts:

  • Operating without authority, and failure to secure or warn
  • Making safety devices inoperable
  • Failure to use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as rubber gloves and helmet
  • Servicing equipment in motion

Reasons for the above unsafe acts:

  • The person does not know the proper method or procedure
  • The person does not want to perform the job in a safe and recommended way
  • The person does not care about his own safety
  • The person is in a hurry
  • The person wants to show-off to his fellow employee or to his supervisor

Avoid the following unsafe acts:

  • Failure to de-energize and use lockout and tagout hazards during maintenance and repairs
  • Use of defective and unsafe tools
  • Not verifying if power is already off when performing repairs and maintenance
  • Replacing or using wrong size of fuse
  • Failure to use protective devices such as rubber blanket, hose or hoods when working on equipment too close to energized parts/lines
  • Not draining off stored energy in capacitors

Unsafe Electrical Equipment

2. All electrical equipment should be thoroughly inspected at regular intervals (preventive maintenance program), and checked by qualified personnel on every trip through the plant, shop or workplace.

  • Any source of possible current "leaks" should be carefully investigated as the current may "escape" and become a hazard. All broken wires and frayed cords should be promptly replaced. All loose ends of wires and splices should be taped. All loose connections should be tightened.
  • All conductors near circuits should be eliminated or precautions taken to avoid accidental contact. Examples:

Brass sockets on lighting drops, bare unprotected lamps, exposed open knife switches and exposed fuses. Liquids and metals near current carrying lines, equipment or parts.

  • All equipment should be effectively and positively grounded under all conditions. All electrical equipment should be checked for lack of grounding or improper or inadequate grounds, extension lights, portable equipment, fuses, switches and motors.

3. In assessing the safety of equipment, consider the following in this order of importance

  • Damaged insulation
  • Broken, burned or wet (other than insulation)
  • Inadequate maintenance
  • Energized parts that are not properly grounded
  • Ungrounded Equipment
  • Improperly Connected Equipment

Hazardous environment

We should take extra precaution when working in a potentially hazardous environment. Employees should always consider the following environmental factors before starting to work:

  1. Is the work area wet or dry?
  2. Water and electricity are a bad combination.
  3. If the wire is frayed or damaged, a fatal electrical shock can occur.
  4. Is it well lit or dim, open or cramped area?
  5. Are you going to work indoor or outdoor?

In areas where flammable chemicals, combustible dust and a corrosive atmosphere are present, an accidental static discharge from a nearby source can cause a fire or explosion.

Condition of electrical cords: if the cord is made from substandard materials, has cracked/frayed insulation, no appropriate current rating and using cords as permanent installation.