In an electric field, working with electricity is not safe when workers don’t identify and control electrical hazards properly. However, lack of knowledge, failure to identify potential hazards, and not enough training cause electric shocks, fire hazards, and explosions. Most of these hazards were caused mainly by direct contact with machines, overhead transmission lines hand-carried metallic objects & contact with tools. So protecting ourselves against these hazards is very important by taking precautions while working with electricity & electrical equipment to reduce the risk of harm to you & others around you. One of the finest ways to guard against these hazards is through awareness of potential risks associated with electricity. This article provides brief information on an electrical hazard.
What is an Electrical Hazard?
Electrical hazard refers to the electrical risks & potential dangers that are associated with electrical systems. These electrical hazards can cause danger like electric shock, electrocution, burns, arc flash & serious injuries. In severe cases, these hazards can even lead to explosions or fires, posing a risk to human life, assets & the overall protection of a place & its residents.
Electrical Hazard
Causes of Electrical Hazard
The hazards in the following are the most common causes of electrical hazards which are discussed below.
- Inadequate Insulation.
- Electrical insulation over time can go down because of rodents, exposure to moisture & corrosion. This degradation leads to exposed electrical wires & enhances the hazard of short circuits & electric shock.
- Failure of Circuit Breaker.
- If the CB fails to trip throughout an overload condition, then it loses its protecting function and increases the possibility of electrical hazards.
- Injured Electrical Appliances.
- Cracked insulation, loose wire connections & frayed wires result in electrical malfunctions.
- Poor Maintenance.
- Failing to frequently inspect electrical systems, and warning signs ignoring (or) bypassing security procedures can activate severe electrical hazards eventually.
Electrical Hazards Types
Electrical hazard poses major risks to the public and electrical workers. So, understanding different kinds of electrical hazards is necessary for promoting electrical security & avoiding accidents. There are different types of electrical hazards which are discussed below.
Electric Shock
The most common electrical hazard is Electric shock which mainly occurs from direct contact through a live electrical equipment or conductor. This type of hazard can cause burns, pain, nerve damage & even death based on the strength & duration of the electric current supply.
Electrocution
This type of electrical hazard is a fatal electric shock that can be caused frequently by immersion in water or high-voltage contact. Generally, the human body acts as a conductor that allows the electrical current to supply through very important organs which leads to very severe injuries (or) death.
Electrical Burns
These types of hazards mainly occur whenever current supplies throughout the human body (or) across the human skin, generate heat & cause tissue damage. So these burns can be deep or surface-level based on the intensity & duration of the current.
Electrical Fires
Electrical fires can occur from overloaded circuits, short circuits, faulty wiring (or) injured electrical equipment. So these types of electric hazards cause property damage, loss of life, injuries, etc.
Arc Flash
Arc flash mainly occurs whenever an electrical discharge moves throughout the air then it creates a high-temperature explosion. So this incident can cause very severe burns, loss of hearing & eye injuries from the light intensity as well as generated heat.
Arc Blast
An arc blast is a pressure wave caused by an arc flash, which can lead to injuries from flying debris, collapsed structures, and blast pressure. Workers near the blast are at the highest risk of injury.
Falls
Falls are less noticeable electrical hazards although they occur whenever a worker gets an electric shock (or) arc flash when working at height. This flash (or) shock causes the worker to lose stability & fall, thus it results in severe damage (or) death.
Electrical Hazards Do’S and Dont’S
The Do’s electrical hazards are listed below.
- Work with electrical equipment only if you are trained and certified to do so.
- Isolate or disconnect all the equipment before operating it.
- Need to wear standard rubber gloves, rubber-soled shoes & boots.
- Utilize an insulating map over damp surfaces.
- Drag the plug itself, not the cord connected to it.
- Stay away from transformers, power lines & substations.
- Make sure Isolation has been established.
- Make sure you work securely & to the rules.
- Maintained machines & other electrical equipment very clean & well lubricated.
- Obey cautions to stay away from electrical circuits & locked-out equipment.
- Follow & read instructions from manufacturers for secure utilization of electrical equipment.
- Report electrical faults immediately to your supervisor
- Only utilize standard & certified electrical appliances.
- Utilize ISI-certified appliances.
- Utilize the best quality and correct rating fuses, MCBs & ELCBs.
- Utilize a single socket for a single appliance.
- Turn off the electric supply for the fire-affected areas.
- Switches and fuses must be placed on metallic cubicles mainly for superior security against combustion.
- Change broken switches & plugs.
- Keep the wires away from wet & hot surfaces.
- Turn off the appliance after utilization & take out the plug from the electric socket.
- Turn off the main switch whenever leaving home for a long period.
The DON`T of electrical hazards are listed below.
- Do not work live.
- Do not plug extra stuff into a single outlet.
- Do not carry metal objects because they may work as conductors for electricity.
- Don’t carry loose clothing because it might knot in machinery or wiring.
- Do not touch the surfaces of dampness or water.
- Do not touch bare or unearthed metal surfaces.
- Don’t repair or Install any plugs and sockets unless skilled.
- Detach an earth pin to put a plug into a socket.
- Do not touch the injured part of the device instead turn it off.
- Do not drag Electrical wires because it may hurt you.
- Do not utilize a power tool or machine that sparks, smokes, shocks, or smells.
- Do not reach into a space blindly that may include energized equipment.
- Do not use any wiring for temporary purposes.
- Do not use appliances and substandard fixtures.
- Do not lay electric wires below carpets, doorways, or mats because they get compressed and result in short-circuiting.
- Do not situate bare wire ends within a socket.
Electrical Hazards Examples
The examples of electrical hazards are listed below.
- Poor wiring.
- Using or leaving electrical appliances close to water
- Overloading outlets & power strips.
- Faulty electrical wires
- Frayed appliance (or) extension cords.
- Using the incorrect light bulb wattage
- Insecure electrical outlets
- Improper or loose connections like switches or electrical outlets.
- Overheated cords or wires.
- Electrical wire chewed through rodents
- Water pouring on electrical fires
- Scratched electrical appliances
- Overhead power lines
- Overloaded Electrical circuits
- Broken wire insulation caused by age, heat, bending or corrosion.
- Covered electrical wires & cords.
Control Measures for Electrical Hazards
The control measures of electrical hazards are discussed below.
- Need to access all types of electrical installations.
- Use circuit breakers and Fuses appropriately.
- Use strong electrical accessories like sockets, cables, plugs & fittings must be strong enough & sufficiently defended for the working environment.
- Make sure whether the machinery has a stop key or not.
- Sufficient maintenance & inspection timely.
- Repairs must be done by an electrician.
- Do not handle any switchgear or electrical equipment with a wet hand.
- Use suitable PPE while handling electrical equipment.
- Use secure work practices when each time electrical equipment is utilized.
- Reduce the utilization of extension cords.
- Place exposed electrical conductors after shields.
- Reduce the potential for water (or) chemical spills on (or) close to electrical equipment.
- All electrical cords in a laboratory must have enough insulation to stop direct contact through wires.
- Damaged cords must be repaired particularly in wet environments like near water baths & cold rooms.
- Make sure that electric workers are familiar with how to utilize the electrical equipment securely.
- Make sure there are no trailing cables that can cause people to trip or fall
- Make sure that sufficient sockets are available or not and verify that socket outlets are not overloaded with unfused adaptors because this causes fire.
- Turn off & unplug electric appliances before adjusting or cleaning them.
- Make sure everybody looks for electrical cables, wires (or) equipment near wherever they are working & checking for dangerous sign warning from electricity.
- Stop using electrical equipment right away if it appears faulty.
What are the Most Common Electrical Hazards?
The most common electrical hazards are; improper earthing, insufficient wiring., exposed electrical parts, overloaded circuits, wet conditions, damaged insulation, damaged tools, damaged equipment, overhead power lines, etc.
What are the Risks and Hazards of Electrical Wiring?
The main risks and hazards of electrical wiring mainly include electric shock & burns from live parts, damage to arcing from exposure and fire from defective electrical equipment (or) installations.
What are the Two Major Hazards of Electricity?
The two known major electricity hazards are; shock & thermal.
What is Hazard Risk?
A hazard is a potential source of danger or harm whereas risk is the chance of something unpleasant or bad like a loss or injury.
Thus, this is an overview of electrical hazards, causes, types, Dos and Dont’S, examples, and control measures. Here is a question for you, what is an electric socket?