Electrical safety is a general practice of workers who are
exposed to handling and maintaining electrically powered equipment. It is a set
of guidelines they follow to mitigate electrical hazards and prevent their dangerous
effects in case of an incident. Unable to adhere to electrical safety can lead
to accidents, near misses, or even fatalities.
Types of
Electrical Hazards & Control Measure.
The main common Electrical hazards were found on construction
sites of the following list
1. Inadequate wiring:
Ø Use properly rated extension cords.
Ø Make sure your power tools are being used with a properly rated
extension cord.
Ø Different types of electrical wires for equipment.
2. Damaged tools & Equipment:
Ø It will have the following symbol.
Ø It will be marked “Double Insulated.
Ø Double insulated tools are labelled.
3. Damaged Insulation:
Ø No prevention to conductors by insulation from contacting with
each other or us.
Ø Inadequate or defective insulation is a hazard.
Ø Repairing the damaged cord with taped
Ø Running the extension cords through doors or windows.
4. Exposed electrical parts:
Ø All the openings must be enclosed.
Ø The outer insulation of electrical cords must be in perfect
condition.
Ø The in-contact of a temporary lighting system with Potential
shocks and broken bulbs.
Ø The missing circuit breakers of the electrical panels.
5. Improper Grounding:
Ø Unwanted voltage will not be safely eliminated.
Ø Leakage of current to the ground.
Ø Removal of the ground pin.
Ø Removes a vital safety feature.
Ø Electroshocked will occur
Ø Improper grounding of circuitry and equipment.
6. Overhead power lines:
Ø Lack of concern of overhead power lines on construction site.
Ø Storing of equipment’s or materials under overhead power lines.
Ø Not maintaining a distance of at least 10’ between equipment and
tools and overhead power lines.
Ø Examples of equipment that can contact power lines: Crane,
Ladder, Scaffold, Backhoe, and so on.
7. Overloaded circuits:
Ø Overloading an outlet.
Ø Overloaded circuits can cause fires.
Ø Improper circuit breakers are used.
Ø Using power strips or surge protectors on construction sites.
Ø Should use a 3-way extension with a ground fault circuit
interrupter (GFCI) instead.
8. Wet Conditions:
Ø Wet conditions are hazardous.
Ø Damaged insulation will increase the hazard in wet locations.
Ø Using tools in wet locations.
Ø Water increases the risk of electric shock.
