Occupational Safety When Working With Electricity

Causes of Electrical Accidents

Not having sufficient knowledge.
Workers being overconfident and taking risks.
Workers not taking ownership of their work.
Haste, carelessness, and lack of attention.
Not using adequate protective equipment.
Not performing periodic inspections.
Bare metal parts of machines and tools not being grounded or properly insulated.

Protecting Workers From Electrical Accidents

Protective Insulation

This means insulating parts that are not normally energized but could become electrified due to an insulation fault. Pliers, wire cutters, and similar tools used in electrical work must be properly insulated, and the handles of oil cans, brooms, brushes, and other cleaning tools must be made of non-conductive material.

occupational safety for people working with electricity

For fixed electrical machines and equipment that don’t change location, protection should be provided by placing wooden gratings, rubber mats, etc. on the floor area of electrical panels. This protection prevents electric shock in the event of any electrical leakage, because it insulates the person from the ground.

Using Low Voltage

This means operating electrical tools at 42 volts so that an electric shock is not effective in the event of an insulation fault. Tools using this protection method don’t require extra grounding.

Low voltage should be used in locations such as inside boilers or similar cramped, conductive spaces, and in wet locations, when AC-powered lamps are used.

The plugs on this circuit should be selected so that they don’t fit into higher-voltage outlets that might be located in the same area.

Neutral Bonding

This means connecting the body (chassis) of electrical machines and tools to the neutral conductor. However, a copper conductor with a cross-section of at least 10mm² must be used to connect directly to the neutral line.

Grounding

In places where electrical energy is used, grounding refers to the electrical connection arrangement between the ground and metal parts that could carry current. In other words, it’s the connection between a machine’s chassis and the earth.

Visually inspectable grounding lines must be run to the chassis of all electrically operated machines and benches.

In addition, steel-framed metal roofs must also be effectively grounded against lightning.

The grounding circuit must be made of a low-resistance conductor (copper or aluminum).

It must have the capacity to carry the maximum leakage current that could occur in the circuit of the device it’s connected to. It must be routed protected from mechanical and chemical effects.

The grounding circuit shall be made of a low-resistance conductor and shall have the capacity to carry the largest leakage (short circuit) that could occur in the insulation of the device it’s connected to, or the circuit shall have a suitable circuit-breaking device to disconnect that device when needed, and the grounding installation shall be properly protected.

Grounding Inspection

The grounding installation must be inspected and measured periodically by authorized technical personnel, at least once a year, and every 6 months for portable operating equipment.

The document prepared as a result of the inspection, measurement, and control must be kept on site. In inspections, measurements, and controls, the measurement points, motor power, operating voltage, motor nominal current, fuse tripping current, conductor arrangement, measured grounding resistance, calculated grounding resistance, and results must be clearly stated in the document.

Residual Current Device (RCD)

This is a protective device that automatically cuts the circuit when the incoming and outgoing currents in the consumer circuit are not equal. In other words, if electricity passes through a human body, the returning current will not equal the incoming current, and the electrical circuit will be cut.

The so-called life-protection RCD doesn’t even require a grounding line. For this reason, it’s very safe to use with electrical tools whose location changes frequently.

For grounded tools, having a contactor that cuts the tool’s electrical circuit in the event of an interruption in the grounding circuit is also considered valid.

De-Energize Rule

Before starting electrical maintenance work, the relevant circuit must always be de-energized and locked out (LOTO).

Using Insulated Equipment

Electrical technicians should work using insulated gloves and specially insulated hand tools.

Voltage Verification

Before starting work on a de-energized line, verify with a voltage tester that the circuit is actually dead.

Occupational Safety in Electrical Maintenance and Repair Work

Electrical installations, devices, or bare conductors must always be assumed to be energized, and electrical repairs must not be performed on live circuits unless technically unavoidable. Maintenance and repair of electrical installations or equipment must have a circuit-breaking device to disconnect them, and they must remain grounded after being disconnected.

Voltage must be cut before starting work on low-voltage installations. However, in cases of necessity, work must be carried out under the conditions specified in the work permit or service instructions, and while observing the following points.

a- Unless the task requires climbing a pole without a platform, one should stand on an insulating item,

b- Insulated gloves in good condition and tools with insulated handles should be used,

c- When working near bare conductors, a hard hat, insulated-sole work shoes, and work clothing should be worn,

d- The worker must ensure they’ve isolated themselves in advance from other energized conductors nearby, including the neutral wire.