Hazardous Energy Control

on . Posted in Safety Engineering

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.

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Tags: Electrical Safety