Electrical Safety Basic Training for Non-Electricians | Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric

19 Nov 201509:21

Summary

TLDRThis video script emphasizes the importance of electrical safety on job sites, highlighting the potential dangers of electricity and the necessary precautions to mitigate risks. It covers hazard identification, proper training, GFCI use, lockout/tagout procedures, equipment inspection, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The script also addresses the need for emergency response planning and the importance of recognizing and rectifying electrical hazards to ensure a safe working environment.

Takeaways

🔍 Always perform a hazard assessment to identify potential electrical hazards on the job-site.
⚠️ Do not disregard other hazards; they require the same focus and respect as electrical hazards.
👷‍♂️ Ensure only qualified personnel operate or repair electrical equipment to avoid risks like electric shock or arc flash.
🚫 Never attempt to perform work without proper training and experience in handling electricity.
🔌 Use Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) when working in wet or moist locations to reduce the risk of electric shock.
💡 Check GFCI units regularly by bump testing to ensure they are functioning correctly.
💡 Ensure adequate lighting in the work area to prevent accidents caused by poor visibility.
🔒 Deenergize electrical equipment when working around it using a lockout/tagout system to eliminate shock risk.
🔍 Regularly inspect electrical cords and tools for damage to prevent personal injury and ensure they are in good working order.
🧯 Know the locations of fire extinguishers suitable for electrical fires and be aware of site-specific permitting controls.
⚠️ Be vigilant about overhead and ground hazards, such as power lines and high voltage sources, and always call before digging.
👀 Recognize and report abnormal equipment conditions like open panels, exposed wiring, or sparks as they may indicate dangerous situations.
👔 Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including fire-resistant clothing and electric shock-resistant footwear.
🛡️ Understand and follow the CSA Z462 standard for electrical workers to identify hazards and use the necessary specialized PPE.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the electrical awareness video?
-The primary focus of the video is on identifying hazards around electricity on the job-site and ensuring that workers properly identify and mitigate these hazards to work safely around electricity.
Why is it important to perform a hazard assessment for tasks other than working with electricity?
-It is important to perform a hazard assessment for all tasks because every job has its own set of hazards that require attention and respect to prevent accidents and ensure safety on the job-site.
What are the potential consequences of ignoring electrical hazards?
-Ignoring electrical hazards can lead to devastating effects such as electric shock, arc flash, severe internal and external burns, and even death.
Who should be involved in the operation or repairs of electrical equipment?
-Only qualified personnel with the proper training and experience should be involved in the operation or repairs of electrical equipment.
What is an electric shock and how can it affect a worker?
-Electric shock occurs when a worker approaches or contacts exposed energized electrical equipment. The effects can range from a tingling sensation to involuntary muscle contraction, respiratory paralysis, ventricular fibrillation, and severe burns, potentially leading to death.
What is an arc flash and what dangers does it pose?
-An arc flash is a dangerous event that results from two electrical components sustaining an arcing fault, followed by a blast wave containing molten metal, shrapnel, and toxic gases. It poses a significant risk to workers in the vicinity.
Why is it necessary to seek medical attention after any exposure to electrical shock or flash?
-Medical attention is necessary because the effects of electrical shock or flash can be severe and may not be immediately apparent, requiring professional assessment and treatment.
What is a GFCI and why is it important in electrical safety?
-A GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter) is a device that monitors the balance of electricity flow and can detect minor imbalances, tripping to reduce the risk of electric shock. It is important for electrical safety, especially in wet, moist, or exterior locations.
What is the recommended practice when working directly around electrical equipment?
-The recommended practice is to deenergize the equipment, which removes the potential for electrical shock by removing power. This can be achieved through the proper use of a lockout/tagout system.
What should be done before using any electrical cords or tools?
-Before using any electrical cords or tools, they should be inspected individually to ensure they are in good working order. Faulty equipment can lead to personal injury and pose a risk to everyone on the job-site.
Why is it important to know the locations of fire extinguishers on the job-site?
-Knowing the locations of fire extinguishers is important because they are a crucial safety measure in case of electrical fires. Fire extinguishers rated safe for electrical fires, such as dry chemical type ABC, should be readily accessible.
What is the significance of recognizing equipment in an abnormal condition?
-Recognizing equipment in an abnormal condition, such as an open electrical panel, exposed wiring, sparks, smoke, or fire, is significant because it indicates a potentially dangerous situation that requires immediate attention and caution.
What are some common PPE requirements for job-sites?
-Common PPE requirements include cotton or fire-resistant pants, shirts with minimum 6-inch to full-length sleeves, electric shock-resistant or static-dissipative footwear, Type one and two class E and G protective headwear, high vis clothing, safety glasses, and work gloves.
What is the CSA standard Z462 and why is it important for electrical workers?
-The CSA standard Z462 is a set of guidelines that competent workers need to be trained on to help identify hazards associated with electrical sources, understand what controls can be best used, and be aware of the additional specialized PPE required, such as arc flash clothing and arc flash face shields.
What should you do if a co-worker is being shocked and you cannot deactivate the power source?
-If you cannot deactivate the power source, you should never come in direct contact with the worker as you may become entrapped in the shock cycle. Instead, activate your emergency response plan to handle the situation safely.

Outlines

00:00

🔌 Electrical Safety and Hazard Awareness

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of electrical safety on job sites, highlighting the need to identify and mitigate hazards associated with electricity. It underscores that electricity is omnipresent in daily life and can be safely managed with proper training and awareness. The paragraph warns about the severe consequences of ignoring electrical hazards, such as electric shock and arc flash, and stresses the necessity of qualified personnel for electrical operations. It also introduces the concept of field level hazard assessments and the use of Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) to prevent electric shock. Additionally, it advises on the importance of adequate lighting, deenergizing equipment, and understanding lockout/tagout procedures to ensure safety.

05:01

🚨 Advanced Electrical Precautions and Emergency Response

The second paragraph delves into more specific electrical safety measures, including the marking of power lines and the legal requirement for line locates before ground disturbance. It discusses the regulations on minimum work distances from high voltage sources and the importance of recognizing abnormal equipment conditions as potential hazards. The paragraph also addresses the increased risk of electric shock in the presence of water and the need for proper personal protective equipment (PPE). It outlines the standards for electrical workers as per the CSA Z462 and the specialized PPE required for tasks around energized equipment. The summary concludes with guidance on emergency response in case of electrical shock incidents, emphasizing the importance of not using PPE as a substitute for hazard control and the steps to take to ensure safety while working with electricity.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Electrical Awareness

Electrical awareness refers to the knowledge and understanding of the potential hazards associated with electricity and the precautions necessary to prevent accidents. In the video, it is the central theme, emphasizing the importance of identifying and mitigating electrical hazards on the job-site to ensure worker safety.

💡Hazard Assessment

A hazard assessment is a systematic process of identifying potential hazards in a workplace and evaluating the risks associated with them. The video script stresses the importance of performing hazard assessments as the first step in protecting workers from electrical and other job-site hazards.

💡Electric Shock

Electric shock is the result of a person coming into contact with an energized electrical conductor or component. The video explains that it can range from a mild tingling sensation to severe injuries, including respiratory paralysis and death, highlighting the need for proper training and safety measures to prevent such incidents.

💡Arc Flash

An arc flash is a dangerous electrical phenomenon that occurs when an electrical arc is created between two conductive components. The video describes the potential for an arc flash to produce intense heat, molten metal, and toxic gases, underscoring the importance of recognizing and mitigating this hazard.

💡GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter)

A GFCI is a type of circuit breaker designed to protect people from electric shock by quickly detecting imbalances in the electrical flow and tripping to cut off power. The script mentions the necessity of GFCI for wet or exterior locations and the importance of testing them to ensure proper function.

💡Deenergizing

Deenergizing refers to the process of removing power from electrical equipment to prevent the risk of electric shock. The video recommends deenergizing as a best practice when working around electrical equipment, illustrating the concept by discussing the use of lockout/tagout systems.

💡Lockout/Tagout

Lockout/tagout is a safety procedure used to ensure that machinery or equipment is properly shut down and isolated from its energy source before maintenance work is performed. The script emphasizes understanding the specific lockout/tagout procedures at one's job-site and the prohibition of removing another's lock.

💡Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE refers to protective clothing and equipment worn by workers to minimize exposure to hazards or convey safety precautions. The video outlines various types of PPE required for electrical work, such as fire-resistant clothing, safety glasses, and gloves, and stresses that PPE is the last line of defense, not a substitute for hazard control.

💡CSA Standards Z462

The CSA Z462 is a Canadian Standards Association standard that provides guidelines for electrical safety in the workplace. The script mentions that competent workers should be trained according to this standard to identify electrical hazards and understand the necessary controls and specialized PPE.

💡Emergency Response Plan

An emergency response plan outlines the procedures to be followed in case of an accident or emergency. The video suggests activating the emergency response plan in the event of an electrical shock incident, illustrating the importance of having a plan in place to handle such situations.

💡Field Level Hazard Assessment

A field level hazard assessment is a practical, on-site evaluation of potential hazards, which may include visual inspections and sensory checks like looking, listening, and smelling. The script describes this process as crucial for identifying electrical and other hazards on the job-site.

Highlights

The video emphasizes the importance of identifying hazards around electricity on the job-site, alongside other hazards, for a comprehensive safety approach.

Electricity is an essential element in daily life, but can be dangerous if not handled properly on the job-site.

Workers must properly identify and mitigate electrical hazards to ensure safety.

Only qualified personnel should operate or repair electrical equipment to prevent accidents.

Inadequate training and lack of experience can lead to electric shock or arc flash incidents.

Electric shock can cause a range of effects from tingling to severe internal and external burns, or even death.

Arc flash can result in a blast wave containing molten metal, shrapnel, and toxic gases.

Any worker exposed to electrical shock or flash must seek medical attention, regardless of severity.

Field level hazard assessments are crucial for identifying potential electrical hazards.

A walk-through of the job-site using sight, sound, and smell can help identify electrical hazards.

All power tools and equipment should be connected to a GFCI for safety in wet or moist conditions.

GFCI units must be bump tested to ensure they are functioning correctly.

Adequate lighting is mandatory in the work area to prevent accidents.

Deenergizing equipment is recommended to prevent electrical shock by removing power.

Lockout/tagout procedures are essential for understanding and safely handling electrical equipment.

Inspection of electrical cords and tools is necessary to ensure they are in good working order.

Knowing the location of fire extinguishers and having the correct type for electrical fires is important.

Compliance with site-specific policies regarding permits and controls is crucial for safety.

Overhead hazards, such as power lines, must be considered and marked to prevent accidents.

Line locates are legally required before any ground disturbance to avoid high voltage hazards.

Occupational Health and Safety regulations provide minimum work distances from high voltage sources.

Recognition of abnormal equipment conditions like open panels, exposed wiring, or sparks is vital for safety.

Water or liquids increase the risk of electrical shock and should be handled with caution.

Seeking solutions from appropriate personnel is essential when encountering unrectifiable hazards.

Common PPE requirements include fire-resistant clothing, protective headwear, and safety glasses.

CSA standard Z462 provides guidelines for competent workers to identify electrical hazards and use specialized PPE.

PPE should not be used as a substitute for hazard control or removal but as a last line of defense.

In case of a co-worker being shocked, deactivating the power source and following the emergency response plan is crucial.

Executing sound judgment, following safe work procedures, and using proper equipment ensures safe work around electricity.