Basic Safety Awareness on Electricity

Electricity is silent, invisible, and potentially fatal. Due to improper handling with electrical items, many cases have been observed inside the refinery and resulted in accident/incident, so it deserves the utmost respect.
The most common and serious electrical injuries occur when electrical current flows( form of electron) through the human body. This happens when a person touches an energized line/part. The electrical energy is looking for the shortest path to the ground, and it will pass through the body to the feet to reach it.When this occurs, a person’s heart and lungs are frequently damaged by the electrical energy.

Basic Do’s & Don’ts when working with electricity.

 Do’s:
o Visual checks of plugs, sockets and cables prior to use – if any damage is identified then remove
from service and report immediately.
o Ensure if any cable joins are required then utilize proper connector blocks, not just insulating
tape.
o Visual check of electrical equipment that is to be used
o Ensure the inner insulation of cables should never be visible – the outer insulation should extend
into plugs and equipment and fully utilize cable grips.
o Ensure LOCK-OUT TAG-OUT If required to work on electrical equipment
o Verify equipment is isolated using electrical tester before starting work

 Don’t:
o Use naked wires in sockets
o Touch any electrical equipment if not trained or authorized to do so.
o Don’t use electric current distribution panels without protected and metal part without earthing.
o Overload electrical sockets – one plug per socket!
o Don’t wear any rings, watches or other materials which could conduct electricity while working on
or in electrical cabinets/distribution boards.
o Don’t use electrical circuits without ELCB of 30 mA rating.
o Use water on electrical Fire

Never ever take electricity for granted, and never assume a circuit is dead.

Types of electrical hazards
 primary hazards
electric shock
electric burns
(i) Joules burns
(ii) Fire and explosions

Causes of electric shock & fires
 Persons coming into contact with live conductors
 Accidental contact with energy part of equipment
 Insulation failure
 Equipment failure
 Poor maintenance
 Wrong work methods ( overloading, make shift wiring etc)
 Substandard materials & workmanship
 Un-authorised personnel
 Lack of training & knowledge
 Short circuit
 Spark from loose contacts
 Mechanical damages
 Loose connections
 Heating of conductors, coils & equipments
 Combustible materials near by
 Incorrect fuses
 Wrongly set protective devices
 Spark near flammable liquids, gases & vapours

Control methods
 Approved methods and procedures
 Segregation of electrical equipments and flame proof equipments
 Use of instrinsically safe circuits such as hand lamps / low voltage & small motors to driving
instruments
 Adopting standard codes of practice and use of equipments
 Allowing only competent persons to work in the electrical system

Burns

Contact burns
 Coming in contact with live conductor
 Accidental contact with energised metallic part

Flash / arc burns
 Arc burns received from flash over (while working with hv)
 Switchgears
 Panels
 Transformer installations
 Short circuit arching
 Burning of minerals

Methods of protection
 Following indian electricity rules & work procedures
 Licensed and authorised persons for electrical works
 Approval from electrical inspectorate before installation energised
 Periodical maintenance of installation and equipments
 Proper replacement of damaged cables and equipments
 Low voltage
 Earthing
 Double insulation
 Current sensitive - tripping devices
 Marking & warning
 Observance of ie rules and regulations
 Use of personal protective equipments
 Training & education
 First aid & fire fighting

How to protect / methods of protection against electrical accidents / injuries
 Proper o/l protection
 Proper o/l setting
 Flame proof motors
 Regular / periodical inspection
 Regular maintenance
 Maintenance of earth pits
 Lightning protection

Earthing
 Earthing means the conductor connection provided between any equipment / apparatus / service
lines to the earth electrode with an extremely low electrical resistance. The earth electrode is a
conductor of gi/ci pipe plate/rod buried underground surrounded by general mass of earth.


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