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UnitIG2 –Risk Assessment

NCMT
Element11:
Electricity

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Learning Objectives
11.1 Describe the hazards and risks associated with
the use of electricity in the workplace.

11.2 Describe the control measures that should be

NCMT taken when working with electrical systems or using
electrical equipment in all workplace conditions.

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Unit IG2: Element 11.1

NCMT
Hazards and Risks

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Introduction to Electricity

Definitions:
Electricity – flow of electrons through
conductor;
NCMT Related terms:
Current – the movement of
electrical charge
Resistance – opposition to current flow
Voltage – a measurement of electrical force
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Introduction to Electricity
An electrical circuit has three parameters:
Voltage (V) or potential
difference:
• Measured in volts.
NCMT Current (I) or rate of flow:
• Measured in amps.

Resistance (R) to the flow:

• Measured in ohms. Linked together by Ohm’s Law:

V=I×R

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Current (I)
Electrons move in a conductor or a material to bring
up flow of charges or flow of electrons which is the
current.

NCMT

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Voltage (V)
The force which pushes the electrons in one path is
called voltage (electro-motive force- EMF).
Or potential difference (which means the electrons
flow from higher potential to lower potential).
NCMT

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Voltage (V)
Because of this voltage, the current or flow of charge
happens. When there is no potential difference, there
is no current.

NCMT

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Voltage Vs Current

NCMT

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Ohms Law

NCMT

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Ohms Law

NCMT

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Introduction to Electricity
Alternating Current (AC): Direct Current (DC):
• Mains supply is AC. • Battery supply is DC.
• Voltage alternates from • Current flows in one
+ve to -ve and back direction only.
again.
NCMT
• Therefore current flows
backwards and forwards.
• UK = 230 volts, 50 Hz.
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• US = 120 volts, 60 Hz.

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The Hazards and Risks of Electricity

• Electric shock.
• Burns.
• Fires and explosion.
NCMT
• Arcing.
• Secondary effects.

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The Hazards and Risks of Electricity

BE SAFE:

Burns
NCMT
Electrocution
Shock
Arc flash/arc blast
Fire
Explosions 7

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Electric Shock
Current (mA) flowing through the body Effect
0.5–2 Threshold of sensation
2–10 Tingling sensations, muscle tremor (shaking),
painful sensations
10–60 Muscle contractions (severe), inability to let
go, inability to breathe
NCMT 60 and above Ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest,
extreme muscle contractions, burns at
contact points and deep tissues

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Electric Shock
The severity of shock is influenced by:
Voltage Higher the voltage, greater the current

Duration Exposure time [60mA for 3msec = Severe

injury, 60mA for 2sec =VF]
Current path Route through the body
NCMT
Resistance Skin condition, clothing, etc.

Contact surface area More skin contact, more severe injury

Environmental factors Metal surfaces, humidity, wet surface etc.

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Clothing and footwear Affects resistance and blocks/reduces current
flow
Frequency AC more harmful than DC at same shock
current (5 times)

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Electrical Burns
Direct electrical burns:
• Current flowing through the body.
• Entry and exit point.
• Internal tissue burns.

NCMT Indirect electrical burns:

• An electrical accident causing something to
overheat or explode, e.g. dropping a spanner on
to a high voltage cable (flash radiant heat).

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Electrical Fires and Explosions

Causes:
• Faulty electrical equipment overheating.
• Overloaded system.
• Overheating during charging.
NCMT • Equipment may be misused.
• Flammable atmosphere:
‒ With wrong type of equipment.
‒ Accidentally created (due to spillage).
• Electrical equipment producing heat or sparks in normal use. 9

• Poor internal electrical connections.

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Static Electricity

• Caused by friction.

• Surfaces become ‘charged’.

• Build up of potential difference (volts) between

NCMT
surfaces.
• Static shock.

• Very short-duration static spark.

• Risk of igniting flammable liquids (Fuel Tanker).

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Arcing
Arc flash
Sudden release of electrical energy through air when a
high-voltage gap exists and there is a breakdown between
conductors gives off thermal radiation (heat) and bright,
intense light that can cause burns.
NCMT

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Temperatures of an arc flash can reach as much as 2800 °C

to 19000 °C ( 5000 °F TO 35000 °F).

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Arcing
Ability of electricity to ‘jump’ across an air gap:
• Usually involves high voltage, e.g. overhead power lines.

Main hazards:
NCMT • Electric shock.
• Direct burns from the arc.
• Indirect burns from the radiant heat.
• Damage to eyes from UV light.

Arc blast – high-voltage arcs can also produce considerable

pressure waves by rapidly heating the air and creating a blast.

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Secondary Effects
 Injuries that results indirectly from receiving an
electric shock Eg:- Muscle contraction.

 Physical injury caused by an electrical incident, e.g.

NCMT falling off a ladder causing:
• Cuts.
• Bruises.
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• Broken bones.

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Dangerous Activities
• Use of poorly maintained electrical equipment.

• Use of electrical equipment in wet environments.

• Work near overhead power lines.

NCMT
• Contact with underground power cables.

• Work on mains electricity supplies.

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Fixed and Portable Electrical Equipment

Conditions and practices likely to lead to accidents:
• Use of unsuitable equipment.
• Using equipment in damp (slightly wet) conditions.
• Misuse (Insert bare wire in to socket).
NCMT
• Physical abuse [Pulling cord, carrying by cord].
• Improper repairs, e.g. taped-up joints.
• Use of faulty, defective equipment.
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• Chemical/abrasion damage to the flex.
• Lack of inspection, testing or maintenance.

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Unit IG2: Element 11.2

NCMT
Control Measures

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Protection of Conductors
• Insulated to prevent contact with live conductor:
‒ Cable coverings unbroken.
‒ Equipment casing intact.

• Inspect to ensure protection is in place.

NCMT
• Ensure electrical panels are locked.

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Strength and Capability of Equipment

Electrical equipment must be carefully selected to ensure
that it is suitable for the:

• electrical system that it will become a part of;

• task that it will perform; and
NCMT • environment in which it will be used.
No electrical equipment (Manufacturer recommendations)
should be put into use where its electrical strength and
capability may be exceeded (Do not overload).

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Strength and Capability of Equipment

Consider (Hazardous environments – Equipment
exposure):
 Weather (rain, dust, ice).
 Natural hazards, e.g. sun light, rats.
NCMT
 Extremes of temperature and pressure, e.g. heat from
motors.
 Dirty conditions (contaminations).
 Corrosive conditions (chemicals) & liquid splashing 14

 Foreseeable mechanical damage (cable damage due to

abrasion).

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Protective Systems and Devices

 Fuses and miniature circuit breakers.
 Earthing.
 Isolation of supply.
NCMT  Double insulation.
 Residual Current Devices (RCDs).
 Reduced and low-voltage systems.

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Fuses and Miniature Circuit Breakers

Fuses:
• Prevents current overload:
‒ An overcurrent protection device.

• Weak link in a circuit.

NCMT
• Overheats and melts if the current exceeds the fuse rating.
• Designed to protect equipment, not people.
• Advantages? 15

• Disadvantages?

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Fuses

Advantages
• Very cheap

• Reliable
NCMT • Offer good level of protection for electrical equipment

Disadvantages
• Protect only equipment

• Over rated fuse wire can give electric shock

• Very easy to bypass

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Miniature Circuit Breakers

Miniature circuit breakers (MCB):
• Similar to a fuse.

• Prevents current overload:

‒ An overcurrent protection device.

NCMT • Electromechanical device.

• Trips a switch.
• Can be reset.
• Designed to protect equipment, not people. 16

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Earthing
• In event of a electrical fault, it provides a safe path to
earth.
• Outer metal casing connected to earth by wire.
• Electric shock should be minor.
NCMT

Advantage – Protect the person from fatal electric shock.

Disadvantages – Easy to disconnect or disable.
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Isolation of Supply

• Removing the plug (plug & connected equipment).

• Removal of electrical power from a circuit or system.
• Circuit ‘dead’ and safe to work on.
NCMT
• Physically secured by lock (lock-out/tag-out - LOTO).
• Should be clearly labelled.
• Circuit should be tested (Integrity).
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Double Insulation
• Separating people from the conductor using two layers
of insulations.
• Live parts under fault conditions cannot be easily
touched.
• Often achieved by having two layers of insulation
NCMT between live conductors and any external metal surfaces.
• Called Class II equipment.
• No need for earth protection.
• Commonly used in portable electrical equipment's.

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Residual Current Devices (RCD)

• Specifically designed to protect human life (electric shock).
• Constantly compares amount of current in live and neutral.
• Sensitive to small current imbalance, i.e. leak to earth:
‒ Very sensitive: 30 mA.
NCMT ‒ Very fast: 40ms (break the circuit- trip).

• Can be used:
‒ As part of a plug.
‒ As standalone device. 18
‒ Hard-wired into distribution system (domestic house).

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Reduced and Low-Voltage Systems

As voltage is reduced, so the shock current is reduced:
• UK voltage 230 V stepped down to 110 V for portable
tools.
NCMT • 50 volts AC equipment (SELV- Safety Extra Low Voltage).

230 V – 110 V

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Group Exercise
What factors do you think should be considered when selecting
suitable electrical equipment for use on a construction site?

NCMT

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Control measures when selecting portable electrical

equipment on construction sites:
• Use battery-powered, reduced- or low-voltage equipment.
• Use RCDs.
• Locate cables carefully.
NCMT • Use double-insulated equipment.
• Carry out pre-use checks.
• Train operators in correct use (Competent).
• Avoid using in wet conditions.
• Implement routine visual inspection and testing.

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Group Exercise
What do we mean by the term ‘competence’?

NCMT

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Competent Persons
• Knowledge of electricity.

• Experience of electrical work.

• Understanding of the system.

NCMT • Understanding of hazards and precautions.

• Ability to recognise whether safe to continue work.

S - Skill
K - Knowledge
E - Experience
T - Training
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Working on or Near Live Electrical Systems

No live working unless no alternative.
If essential, safe system of work to include:
• Permit to work.

NCMT • Competent persons.

• Insulating PPE.

• Insulated tools and equipment.

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Working on or Near Live Electrical Systems

NCMT
Insulating Gloves
Insulating Boots

Insulated Ladder Insulating Mating

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Isolation
Usually requires:
• The breaking of the circuit.
• Physical securing of the break in the circuit.
NCMT • Some form of label (or tag).

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Preventing Buried Cable Strikes

May be struck during excavations.

Can result in:

• Arcing, shock, burns, fire.
NCMT
Precautions:
• Check plans (Drawing).
• Detection equipment (CAT scanner - Cable Avoidance
Tool).
• Expose by hand digging (Trial pit).
• Identify and label.
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Work Near Overhead Power Lines

Usually uninsulated.

Control measures:
• LOTO Procedure (Isolation).
NCMT • Safe systems of work and
permit to work.
• Barriers, signs, goal posts.
• Banksman (signaller).
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• Non-conducting equipment.

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Work Near Overhead Power Lines

OBEY ALL SIGNS AND BARRIERS!
Signs, Symbols, Tags, and Barricades
are used to warn personnel of potential
NCMT electrical hazards.

HIGH
VOLTAGE

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Group Exercise

What action should be taken on finding a person

suspected to have suffered an electric shock?

NCMT

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Emergency Procedures Following an Electrical

Incident
• Don’t touch the casualty. • Check for breathing:
• Call for help and ambulance. - Start CPR if not breathing.

• Turn off power supply. • Treat burns.

NCMT • If can’t switch off power, • Ensure medical help is
isolate casualty from the obtained.
supply (wood or dry cloth).

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Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

NCMT

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Inspection and Maintenance Strategies

• Applies to:
‒ Fixed wiring systems.
‒ Portable electrical appliances.

NCMT • Combined inspection and testing (PAT).

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Group Exercise
Consider the use of portable electric tools at home or at work,
e.g. iron, sander, drill, etc.

Discuss:
NCMT • How the tools, leads and plugs become damaged.
• What you would look for if you were checking that they are
safe to use.

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User Checks
• Body of plug intact and secure.
• Outer flex sheath covers all inner wires.
• Flex fully insulated - no splits or kinks.

NCMT • Body of appliance intact.

• No damage to casing of equipment.
• No burns/scorch marks.
• Not soiled or wet.

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Formal Visual Inspection

User checks plug:
• Remove plug cover and check:
‒ Fuse.
NCMT ‒ Connections are secure.
‒ Terminals are secure.
‒ No signs of internal damage.
• Competent person. 27

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Combined Inspection and Testing

Visual inspection may fail to detect:
• Deterioration of insulation.
• Defective earth pathway.
NCMT
Inspection and test (PAT Testing):
• When suspect equipment is defective.

• After repair/modification.
• At appropriate intervals.
• Competent person.

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PAT Testing
 Portable appliance testing (PAT) - the examination of
electrical appliances and equipment to ensure they are
safe to use.

 “in-service inspection & testing of electrical equipment”.

NCMT
 Most electrical safety defects can be found by visual
examination but some types of defect can only be found
by testing.
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 Detect faults not visible to the eyes.

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Frequency of Inspection and Testing

Frequency is determined by:
• Legal standards and codes of practice (H & S regulations).
• Manufacturers’ recommendations.
• Age of the equipment.
NCMT • Working environment.
• Frequency and duration of use.
• Effects of any modifications or repairs.

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Summary
In this element, we have:
• Outlined basic electrical principles such as voltage, current
and resistance and the relationship between them.
• Described the risks of electricity.
NCMT • Described the various protective systems that can be used
for electrical equipment.
• Described an emergency procedure to be put in place if a
person is injured in an electrical incident. 29
• Explained the importance of user checks, formal visual
inspections, and combined inspection and testing.

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