The Prevention Of Electrical Injuries Construction Essay

The Prevention Of Electrical Injuries Construction EssayElectricity is the proceed of electrons through a conductor. Electrons f depressed outside from an object through a conductor creates an galvanic current which is measured in ampheres.The galvanic force that pushes the galvanizing current is the potential and it is measured in volts. The opposition to the flow of current through a conductor creates a resistance which is measured in Ohm unit.Flows of galvanizing energySome substances such(prenominal) as metallic elements usually pee low resistance to the flow of electric current and they atomic number 18 called Conductors.Glasses, plastics, rubber, dry wood argon insulators. They slow or stay flow of electricity.Normally air is an insulator entirely plenty become a conductor during an arc or lighting stroke.Pure water is a poor conductor entirely small amount of impurities in water like salts, acids, solvents or other materials present in water crowd out turn away it to a veracious conductor of electricity.Electrical safeguard is the recognition of hazards associated with determination of electricity and taking necessary precautions so that the hazards do non cause injuries or final stage.No wiz could overstate the importance of Electrical Safety knowledge.It is essential to know how to stay and work safely with or within the vicinity of electricity because electrical current at home or at work assign get under ones skin enough power that can be fatal if one is unresolved to.An electrical injury will march on when a psyche comes into clashing with the current produced by a source. The source can be touch of both bare wire or electrical appliances with bare hands at home as well as it can be a subjective source such as lighting.Hazards of ElectricityWhen electrical systems breakdown, people are exposed to the following hazardsElectrocutionElectric shockElectrical burns travel1. ELECTROCUTIONTo electrocute is to be killed by elec tricity.Electrocution is death by means of an electric current passing through the consistency.The current usually dupe the capacity to stop the heart and cause death through heating and destruction of the tissue.Effects of Electric reliables.Current is the killing factor when in get hold of with electricity.The table below shows the value for Human ResistanceTypes of ResistanceResistance value (Ohm)Dry fight100 000 to 600 000Wet skin1000 raft to foot400 to 600Ear to ear100Source www.lanl.gov/ preventive/electrical gumshoe /docs.pdf2. ELECTRIC SHOCKElectricity travels in closed bands through a conductor. When homo body (conducts electricity precise well) acciden long-stalkedy becomes leave of the electric overlap, this results in electric shocks, that is the electric current flow through the skin, muscles and vital organs.The Severity of Shocks depends onAmount of current that flows into the bodyType of current that flows into the body (Direct or Indirect)The currents path through the bodyThe current intensityDuration of the buttCurrent frequencyVoltageThe amount of current depends on the potential difference and the resistance. The table below shows the effects current on the human body mold from a tingling sensation to death.Amount of current (miliAmphere, mA)Effect on the human bodyLess than 1 mAUsually not indubitable to human body.Between 1-5 mAIt can be anything between tingling or mildly painful sensation5-9 mAPainful sensation9-25 mAMuscular contraction25-60 mARespiratory paralysis60 mA or moreVentricular contraction(affects different chambers of the heart, contraction loosening of ventricles becomes eratic. If last long, it can be fatal)Nerve damage4A(Amphere) Or moreHeart paralysis ( muscles stop contracting relaxing, closely probably put stunned to death)5A or moreTissue burning ( if tissues are those of vital organ, lead to death.)Source lecturers class notes3.BurnsBurns are the most common shocks related injury.Direct get hold of BurnWhen roughbody direct touch the flow of electrical current, burns occurs. Currents enter the body and exit where the individual is grounded.It somebody suffers from a direct contact with electricity, two skin burns will be find at the site of entry where the electricity leaves the bodyAlso, internal burn may occur where the power traced through the body.Electrical ArcElectric arcing occurs when the potential difference is uplifted enough for current to flow in air. Electrical arcs reach genuinely high temperature causing the individual to pull in deep thermal burn where the arc hits the body, consequently causing Flash Blast Arcing.Along with burns, arcing causes electrical shock, enlargement if the volume of air is large. It is thitherfore advised not to approach high voltage line.One of the most common examples of arcing is lighting (electricity travelling onto air). A cornerstone is created for the electricity to go earth. Thus, a metal rod is placed as a safe pa th for the electricity to travel to earth near tall buildings.. The metal rod is a conductor of electricity, it attracts electricity. Several more precautions are to be sign onn during lighting such as stay indoors, do not venture to the sea, stay away from metal materials and so on.Flash Arcing is a short circuit through air that flashes over from one exposed get conductor to another conductor or to the ground. The high heat energy at a point of the arc is called the arc flash. Arc flash is caused by uncontrolled conditions of electrical current from phase to ground and phase to neutral accompanied by ionization of the surrounding air.Arc flash burns the skin by direct heat exposure and causes ignition of clothing.High intensity flash also causes damage to the eyesight.Flash burns are very uncomfortable, most of those caused by shorter flashes are not serious and usually heal in 12 to 24 hours. However with longer flash of a couple of seconds, a permanent damage may occur from ul tra violet light.Arc Blast is the explosive effect caused by the expansion of air and other gasified materials that are overheated by the sudden presence of an electric arc.Arc blast can result from unintentional contact with electrical system.4.FALLSSlips, trips and falls are one of the most common accidents at workplace even at home.It cab be that the electric shock is not as fatal but one can fall down and injured if working, standing at height on ladder or cranes. It can also lead to death at times.Prevention of Electrical Injuries.Maintain all electrical installations in good working order with proper grounding.Have al installation, operation, maintenance and pay aside work done only by a qualified person * and bedevil use of PPE during installation.Regular inspections of electrical systems and make use of a checklist. decent install ground equipment with proper labeling and coding of wires.Read all instructions, labels and installation manual before operating or servici ng electrical equipment.Turn collide with equipments when not in use. Disconnect the power to the equipment that is left unattended or out of service.High voltage equipment should be kindled to ground through discharge rods after their switching off.Provide enough sockets for equipment in use.Avoid overloading sockets and using adaptors may cause excites.Ensure that equipment is surviveted with a correctly rated fuse.Replace damage sections of production line completely and never repair cuts with insulating tape.Use proper connection to join lengths of cable.Do not wrap cables carrying electric current around any part of the body.Do not touch live electrical parts.Make sure that all connections are tight, clean and dry.*a Qualified Person is one who has the skills and knowledge related to the construction and operation of the electrical equipment and installations and has go throughd sufficient training to recognize and avoid the hazards involved.ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT HOMEElect rical safety at home depends on 3 main factorsSafe Electrical Installation a correct earthing system to treasure residents from an excess flow of electrical current. encourage residents to make use of the installation in a correct way.For example if there is enough sockets in the syndicate, individual will sport no need to adapters. This eliminates the risk of fire.In short, installation should be designed in such a way that it is safe in itself regardless of how it is used. For font break apart circuits should be included for higher power appliances.Safe design of electrical appliances devicesThe use of high quality sound electrical appliances together with electrical safety devices such as surge, residual current device and a proper grounding system eliminates the risk of electrical hazards at home.However, it cannot be denied that there are people who use old appliances which do not meet the standards or they have a tendency to buy appliances manufactured in countries with low safety standards. This may be because of cheap price and insufficient electrical knowledge.The Human FactorHabits of people such as not switching off electrical appliances when not in use, overloading sockets, use of extension cable more often and the use of electrical equipment (hair dryer, electrical razors) in the bathroom may lead to electrocution or fire. If people make an effort to change their bad habits, safety will be ensured at domestic level.Electrical safety at home cannot be thought of without the use and knowledge of legitimate safety devices.House hold circuitsThe circuits that are wired into a category by a qualified lineman all start with wires coming in from power lines outside that are connected to a fuse box.Fuse boxes contain safety devices called fused or circuit breakers which are designed to prevent an excess of electric current entering the stand by go outing a certain maximum current to flow in.When electrical current flow is high, an electromagnet attracts a spring loaded switch which breaks the circuits and cuts the power supply. The switch must be fix before any current can flow again.Circuit breaker v/s FuseCircuit breaker is similar to a switch. interior(prenominal) circuit beaker usually can withstand a current up to 13 16 Ampheres ( in most cases 13 A).How it works?If a circuit breaker of 13 A current rating is inserted, it will allow 13 A current to flow into the circuit.An automatic switch will move over whenever there is a flow of above 13 A of current. This prevents appliances from getting damage. And it re-open again when the current flow is 13 A.Fuse is a piece of metal that has relatively lower melting point than copper wires. It is rated according to the amount of current that affect the fuse.For example if it is a 13 A fuse, it will allow 13 A flow of current to flow through the fuse.How does it works?As soon as there a current flow of great than 13A in the fuse, the fuse heats then melts and opens the ci rcuit and current will not flow in the appliance.Circuit breaker and fuse prevent electrical fires and heat up that can be caused by an overload of electricity.However, circuit breaker can be used again and again but fuse need to be replaced. (Melted fused cannot be re-used).Circuit breaker and fuse only prevents appliances from getting damage but they do not protect individuals from getting electric shock. Devices that protects from electric shock areResidual Current Device (RCD)It is a device that disconnects a circuit when it witnesss an disproportion of the electric current.It works on the principle that electricity menstruation into a circuit must be equal to the current flowing out of a circuit.If the RCD identifys an imbalance in electrical current, indicating a leakage to earth, it direct cut the electricity to supply to prevent electrocution.RCD protection can save lives by protecting from fatal electric shock and can provide some protection against fires.It is usually used on outdoor electrical equipment. RCD should incessantly be used when operating power tools outside or in fall in conditions as it ensures that current is switched off automatically if there a fault or accident.Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)It is sensitive enough to detect the even tiny amount of current present in faulty electrical system. It is slightly less sensitive than RCD. It shares the alike(p) function as RCD but because of its sensitiveness ELCB is less likely to cause false alarms.Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)It is a fast acting circuit breaker that is sensitive to very low levels of current leakage 5m(A) to ground. When leakage becomes hazardous, it interrupts the circuit, turning it off. It is normally used for outside outlets.Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)AFCLs are electrical devices designed to protect against fires caused by arcing faults in home electrical wiring. Arc fault protection will be inevitable for any 15 to 20 ampheres branc h circuit to bedrooms, family rooms, living rooms and so on.Arcing faults can occur in damaged or old cords, poorly installed outlets or switch with loose connections and furniture pushed against plugs.AFCIs use unique current sensing circuitry to discriminate between normal and unwanted arcing conditions. Once an unwanted arcing condition is detected, the control circuitry in the breaker will de-energize the circuit.Once a resident is aware of the types of safety devices used at home, he may choose which device needs to be installed at his place depending the conditions of his house and equipments used.ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT MY OWN HOUSEAn electrical survey with use of a checklist was carried out in my house by me to detect electrical hazards in my house. A checklist was designed.Checklist Date 20/10/2012InspectionRemarksYESNOAre the family members aware of the hazards and the risks associated with the use of electricity?Has the electrical installation undertaken by a qualified elec trician?Has the electrician issued a certificate of compliance on completion of all electrical works?Is there any fixture inspection or maintenance of the electric system?Switches, sockets ,lightings, plugsDo all the switch for lighting system work properly?Do all sockets have surfaces that cover all wiring?Is there overloaded sockets?Are all the switch cool to touch?Do the bulbs used at home correctly rated?Are the bulbs changed by member of the family?Does she/he crew the bulb tightly?Are the switch circuit breaker turned off before changing a bulb?Do the plugs fit the outlet correctly?Electrical appliances EquipmentsAre all equipment in good working conditions?Has any family member receive an electric shock while touching any electrical appliances?Are all appliances connected to separate socket?Is proper type of plug used for each outlet?Are all appliances unplugged when not in use?Is there any appliance plugged in area where it may come into contact with water?Are all equip ments correctly fitted with a correct rated fuse?Extension cord cablesIs there use of extension cord in the house?Are the extension cord used overloaded?Is the extension use for a working(prenominal) basis?Is there any cord lying on the floor?Is there any damaged cable in the house?Fuse box Circuit breakersIs the main fuse box friendly to children or other persons?Does everyone in the house know where the fuse box is located and how to shut the power of the entire house off?Is there any accessible bare wire near the fuse box?Is ELCB or any other security device provided in the electrical system of the house?Is the device tested regularly?Are different circuit breaker provided for each circuit?Are circuit breakers appropriate for the power required?Is grounding provided for the whole house?LightningDo the family members aware of the electrical hazards during lightings?Do they make it a must to take necessary precautions during lightning?Are all sensitive equipment (computer, tele vision) unplugged during lightning?Are surge protectors used on electronic device?Problems detected during the surveyExtensions used are not for temporary basis and is overloaded.Extensions cables lying on the floor.There are no separate sockets available for each electrical appliance.No proper type of plug for each outlet. Hair dryer is by and large fitted in a multi-plug.Damaged iron cableUse of electrical equipments with wet hands bare feet and wet hair.Frequent use of spit (metal) to appliances fit the socket.One socket is pushed against furniture in the living room.2 melted sockets are found.Unplugging of electrical equipments by pulling on the plug not the cord is noticed several times.Electrical devices are cover with cloth so as to prevent dust.Pictures of some of the electrical hazard were taken during the survey.Report of the surveyWhat are the hazards identified can cause and their recommendations.2 extensions are used in the houseThe use extensions comprises of several hazards in itself.Starting with the extension used in the bedroom.It is not in good condition as it is wrapped with tape and on top of that it is overloaded, it has mobile charger, fan and mosquito killer heater plugged into it. This can cause overheating of the extension as well as fire.The extension is placed on the floor besides the bed, any family member getting out of the bed may accidentally put his/her leg on the extension and get electrified. the cable lying on the floor can cause falls and injuries.Secondly, in the computer room.All the computer outlets (CPU, UPS, speakers, printer) and the internet live box are connected into the extension. Something fan and Mosquito killer heated are also connected. though the extension is in good condition, it may overheat and cause fire since it overloaded. Moreover it is placed at the bottom of the computer table, thus any body using the computer may unintentionally touch the extension with his/her feet and receive shocks.It is to be noted that the extensions are not used on a temporary basis, they are used everyday. Thus, the risk of the electrical hazard is higher.What should be done?The everyday use of extension should be eliminated by providing separate sockets for each outlet. If the extensions are still used, the user should be sure that it is in good condition and it is not overloaded. It should be placed in a place where nobody can get into contact to it and its cable and the cable of the outlets should not be lying on the floor.There are no separate sockets for each applianceTelevision, MBC feeler and Canal Sat decoder are all plugged in the same socket by the use of a multi-plug. These appliances need a quiet high voltage of current and since the multi-plug is overloaded, this can cause the fuse in the multi-plug to heat, melt and then cause fire.What should be done?The best solution is to provide separate socket for each outlet.The multiple used should be in good condition and should be replaced with a new one more frequently.There is no proper type of plug for each outlet.The pins of the hair dryer do not fit into the socket available, hence a multi-plug is used. However the multi-plug used is not in a good condition and the pins of the hair dryer do not fit the multi-plug tightly. This loose connection may cause fire due to overheating and the person using it is at the risk of receiving electric shocks.What should be done?The pins of the hair dryer can be changed to pins which can fit the socket, thus no multi-plug will be required.If the multi-plug is used, it should be replaced with a new one.Damage cable of the ironThe defective cable of the iron may cause fire and electrify the one using it. Filling the iron with water while the switch is still on causes electric shock to the user as water is a good conductor of electricity. Regular use of the iron with wet hair and bare feet.What should be done?The damaged cable of the iron should be replaced.The user should make it a mu st to turn off the switch before filling in water into the iron.Avoid using iron with dry hair and always wear sandal while using iron.Use of electrical equipment with bare hands.In the kitchen, it is found that in rush mother uses mixer with wet hands in the kitchen. This can lead to electrification.It is also noticed that a knife is frequently used to make the mixers and the radios plugs fit into the socket. This cause the person doing this unsafe act to receive electric shock.Moreover slight shocks are often received in fingers when using the iron, hair dryer and DVD which if of metal casing when barefoot or wet hair.What should be done?Make sure hands are dry while using electrical appliances.Do not use knife to make the plug fit in socket, use instead an insulator such as a piece of wood or plastic to do it.One socket is pushed against a furnitureThis hazard can cause fire and if this socket is used , it may cause the person using the socket to be electrified as he/she can hard ly see where the appliances is being plugged.What should be done?The furniture can be moved away.The socket should be removed and placed somewhere else.2 melted sockets are found.These melted sockets are useless. They simply need to be replaced to prevent fire and prevent anyone from receiving electric shock.Family members unplug the television, microwave, radio and other electrical appliances by pulling the cord not the plug. The cord may at any time come out of the plug and cause the person to be electrified. This unsafe act may also cause fire. The only preventive measure is that this particular unsafe should never be practiced.Electrical devices are covered with cloth so as to prevent dust.Electricity needs proper ventilation particularly with high voltage appliances such as television, computers, refrigerator, and microwave.Dust is broadly stored at the back of the electrical appliances. This can result in overheating of the appliances as the fan available on the device cannot work efficiently.Moreover, we have a tendency to cover the appliances with cloth as means of cleanliness to prevent dust on the appliances. This is another hazard that causes overheating and may result in fire usually after long use of the appliances.What should be done?We should make sure that dust is not accumulated at the back of appliances. This can be done by regular cleaning.The appliances should not be covered when in use and after use when still hot.Further recommendations to ensure electrical safety in my houseReview of the electrical system by a qualified electrician to eliminate the risks and hazards detected in the survey.This time the qualified electrician should issue a certificate for the the electrical network installation.Testing of the ELCB device should be done.Key terms and concepts of electrical safety.Ground pin of the plug of an electrical device should never be removed so as to make it fit a 2-pin socket. Never force a 3-pin plug into a 2-pin socket. level-h eaded points which I noticed in my surveyThe main fuse box was found in the corner of the roof of the dining table. There used to have water linkage at that particular corner during heavy rain. 3 years ago the fuse box was shifted to a place on the same roof where there is no water linkage.Correctly rated bulbs (60 watt) are used.A surge protector is provided for the computer to prevent overheating is used.All the switches in the house are in good conditions.No bare electrical wires are found hanging on the roof or walls of the house.CONCLUSIONThough electricity is a boon to mankind, it is also one of the natures most powerful and life-threatening forces. If electricity enables us to live our lives with ease and comfort, it can take our life away as well. It cannot be denied that electricity is an integral and normal part of our everyday lives.Electrical safety at home becomes a very important aspect. for each one and every electrical hazard should be eliminated or reduced as far as reasonably practicable as it takes only one misadventure to cause a dangerous occurrence. An electrical safety system protects us from dangers of electricity.In our modern homes, people use several electrical appliances ranging from dishwasher to electrical razor. Everything works electrically with a simple click.It is very easy for people to forget the risks associated with their use. Use of the electrical appliances is not forbidden but provided that people take the and make an effort to stick on the principles of the devices.To stay safe from electrical hazards, good habits based on the knowledge and understanding of the safety measures should be developed. meet precautionary measures and recommended safe practice should be adopted not only to keep ourselves safe but also people around safe from dangerous electrical occurrences.