Hazardous Energy Control

Tags: Electrical Safety

Working Safetly with Electricity

 Always

• Check equipment, cords and attachments before each use.
• Report damaged equipment promptly.
• Make sure equipment is properly grounded and plugged into grounded circuits.
• If flammable or corrosive chemicals are nearby, use extreme caution with electricity.
• Use your company's lockout/tagout procedures to ensure that equipment is turned off and stays off during maintence and repairs.
• Stay clear of energized parts whenever possible. 
• If you must work with energized parts, always use protective equipment, such as blankets, mats, nonconducting tools, rubber gloves, and sleeve.
• Keep conductive materials away from sources or electricy such as steel, metallic cleaning cloths and chemical solutions.

Never

• Never modify or remove a guard.
• Never use electrical equipment in wet or damp locations unless the equipment was designed to be used there.
• Always use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in damp areas.
• Never use equipment that you know is damaged.
• Never leave an electrical panel door off or open.

 

Hazards of Electrical Shock

 Shock can Cause

• Heartbeat and breathing to stop.
• Muscle contractions that result in broken bones, bruises, and falls.
• Severe internal and external burns.

The effects of Shock Depends on

• The type of circuit.
• Its voltage.
• How it travels through the body.
• How long it lasts.

To Prevent Shock, Use Save Equipment

• Clean, dry, undamaged cord insulation.
• Guards to cover energized equipment parts.
• Fuses, circuit breakers and ground fault circuit interrupters to cut off power during a circuit overload or short circuit.

Safety Work Habits

• Keep a distance from exposed wires or parts.
• Avoid using equipment in wet conditions.
• Always use grounded tools, and grounded circuits.
• Use protective clothing and devices, such as rubber gloves, safety mats or special tools, when required.

 

Responding to an Electrical Emergency

 Electrical Injuries

• Move the victum away from power safely.
• Never touch a person who is in contact with a source of electricity.
• If possible, turn off the power before touching the victum.
• If you can't turn the power off, use a nonconductive tool, such as a rope or wooden stick to move the person.
• Make sure you don't complete a circuit between two wires or between one wire and the ground while moving a victum.
• If the victum is touching a power line, stay clear and call for help.
• After the victum is away from the power source, check breathing and pulse.
• Give rescue breathing or CPR if necessary and if you have been trained.  Otherwise, get immediate medical help.
• Continue rescue breathing of CPR until medical help arrives.
• Treat minor burns at the point of contact with cool water, then cover with a clean, dry cloth.
• Cover serious burns with a steril, dry cloth and get immediate medical attention.
• Never use ointment, ice or butter on a burn.
• Never dry to remove clothing from burned skin.
• Treat victum forvshock by keeping the victum lying down with feet elevated until help arrives.

Electrical Fires

• Use of class C fire extinguisher on small electric fires.
• Never use water on an electric fire.

Preparing for Emergencies

• Know your worksite's emergency exits and escapes routes.
• Know the location of the fire extinguishers and posted emerengency phone numbers.
• Take a course in CPR.

 

Working Near Overhead Power  Lines

 Shock can Cause

• Estimate clearances from the lines to the highest possible part of your vehicle or equipment.
• Follow your company's quidelines for safety clearances.
• Be careful when handling long pipes or metal rods.
• Use ladders with nonconductive rails.
• If you need extra protection, contact the power company or facility owner, who will install barriers or de-energize the line.
• Make sure workers standing on the ground do not touch vehicles or equipment.
• If a vehicle or other equipment is grounded, make sure workers stay several feet away from the grounding location.

If a Live Wire Falls

• Stay away from it and call for help.
• If the wire hits your vehicle, stay inside.
• If a vehicle catches fire, jump out, being careful not to touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time.

 

Steps to Lock Out Hazardous Energy

• Identify all parts of any system that need to be shut down.
• Find the switches, valves or other devices that need to be locked out.
• Tell affected employees you'll be locking out the equipment and why.
• Locate all power sources, including stored energy in springs or hydraulic systems.
• Neutralize all power at its source:
  • Disconnect electricity.
  • Block moveable parts.
  • Release or block spring energy.
  • Drain or bleed hydraulic and pneumatic lines.
  • Lower suspended parts to rest positions.
• Lock out all power sources: 
  • Use a lock designed only for the purpose.
  • Each worker should have a personal lock.
• Test operating controls. Turn on all controls to make sure the power does not go on.
• Turn controls back to off.
• Perform necessary repairs or maintenance.
• After maintenance is finished, and before restarting equipment:
  • Remove tools.
  • Reinstall machine guards.
  • Make sure workers are a safe distanceaway while restoring energy.
  • Notify others that the machines are back in use.