-Electrical Safety

In this presentation
Section I
Electrical hazards
Electrical accidents Statistics
Humans & Electricity
Electrical Safety Program elements
Section II
Global Developments in Electrical Safety

Electrical Accidents-Statistics

25% of all fires occur due to electricity (NFPA)

411 deaths from job related electrical accidents
per year (NIOSH)
Electrocution - the fifth leading cause of death
(1982 - 1990) NIOSH
About 12 deaths due to electrocution NCRB,
(India)
42 % of total fires occur due to electrical
sources (Source -OISD)
8% deaths that occur in Indian factories are due
to electricity

ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS- 10 year Period,

Chemical Industry

Electrical Near-Misses &

Accidents- Major Causes
Working on live equipment w/o

authorization or PPE
Wiring mistakes coupled with failure of

safe-energy conditions
Leaving unsafe conditions

Electricity and People

A person usually offers a lesser resistance

for the electricity

The person forms a completed circuit when
touching the ground
Electricity always tries to travel to ground

ELECTRICAL FIRES .
ELECTRICAL FAULTS (Contd.)
STATIC DISCHARGES

LIGHTNING
USING ORDINARY ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IN
HAZARDOUS AREAS

Earthing
Most electrical equipments are designed with an
earthing system
Earth all equipment with metallic body (TVs?)

Double & Single earthing- differentiation?

Carry out ER tests annually as per NFPA 70
Take action on high ER values

Identify all earth pits, maintain a Earth Pit lay out

Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers

ELCBs reduce the likelihood of fatal shocks
Detect small amount of leakage current and
automatically switch off the power
Can be used with extension cords and portable
tools
Fuses and circuit breakers protect equipment,
not people
Use the right sensitivity ELCBs (30, 100, 300
mA)

Static Electricity
Created when materials rub together
Can cause shocks or even minor skin burns
Can damage sensitive electronic equipment

Reduced or prevented by:

Proper grounding
Anti-Static rubber matting
Bonding & earthing of equipment, pipelines

Electrical Fire Protection

Use Linear Heat Sensing cables in cable

cellars along with smoke detectors

Consider all major electrical fires in EMP
Install master control switches outside all
stores
Maintain PFEs for electrical rooms
Consider local flooding systems for critical
panels/ switchgear panels

Case Study
An electrician received a shock while trying to
replace a tube light ballast in live power
condition.
He touched a live conductor. He was not wearing
rubber gloves. Current entered his right hand
through his little finger and exited through his
left hand.
Post Accident Correction:
Working on live circuits not permitted
LOTO to be strictly enforced

Equipment Operators
Never tamper with electrical interlocks
Do not repair electrical components of

your machine
Properly shut off machinery before
operation
Obey warning signs and follow safe
procedures
Follow PTW procedures strictly

Electrical Preventive Maintenance

Identification of critical Electrical Equipment
Emergency lighting

Fire Alarm System

Protection Supply DC System

UPS System, Battery Banks

Electrical Maintenance Procedures to be aligned with NFPA 70 B

Planning for EPM

Personal Safety
Equipment Failure
Production Economics

Electrical Preventive
Maintenance
Implement EPM without slippage
Carry out all tests (ER, IR, transformer oil,
DGA, LP system, transformer protective
devices- simulation, FA system for electrical
rooms, etc.)
Adopt NFPA 70 E / B for electrical maintenance
Adopt Risk Based maintenance
Use predictive maintenance tools (hotspot
detector, Ultrasonic detectors, Thermography)

All electrical accidents are

preceded by rise in temperature
& sound

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AUDIT

A systematic approach to critically

analyze the existing Electrical

Procedures and Practices from safety
point of view

Global Developments in
Electrical Safety

Present Status - ES-India

ES Awareness is slowly growing
Use of RCCBs in the rise, finer details are yet to
be understood by many
More ES workshops / seminars are conducted in
India
Statutory regulations are enforced strictly
(Karnataka, Delhi - Use of RCCBs mandatory in
residential buildings)
Many industries are re-aligning their Electrical
practices based on international standards
(NFPA, IEEE, etc.)

Evolvement of ES Standards / organizationsUnited States

NFPA - NEC (1897)
NESC (1913), from IEEE
NIOSH (Research example: development of
voltage detector that will signal the person if he
gets close to live power)-1970
OSHA (1970)
NFPA 70 E & B (1979) -approved by OSHA
Electrical Trauma Centre, Chicago (1990)
NESF(1994), by UL, NFPA, NEMA, CPSC

ES Products...

ES Auditing Techniques
Electrical Risk Assessment using SemiQuantitative Risk Ranking (SQRR) technique
Emergency Lighting Risk Assessment
Benchmarking against applicable standards:
NFPA 780 Lightning Protection

NFPA 70 M Electrical Preventive

Maintenance
NFPA 70 E Personal Safety from Electrical
Safety

Electrical Risk Assessment (SQRR

Technique)
Risk Ranking based on severity, probability

High Risk- Statutory Non-compliance, F&E hazards,

Shock hazards, Risks that could result in immediate
threat to life & property. Immediate correction
Medium Risk - Maintenance flaws,Operational issuescorrection at the next available opportunity.

Low Risk - Mainly improvement measures, long term

implementation

RCCB Tripping
How do we solve this problem in
India ?
Bypass it !!!

ES related Information
Indian Electricity Rule, 1956 (2000 rev.):

(MoP, CEA web site,http://powermin.nic.in)

Lightning Protection Risk Assessment:www.furse.com
National Electrical Safety Foundation: www.nesf.org
Free safety Power Point presentations: http://siri.org/
Electrical Accidents: http://www.safteng.net:
IEEE IAS ES WS Delhi Dec. 2004

Standards & Codes

NFPA 70 E & B- E-Safety & Maintenance
NFPA 780- Lightning Protection
API RP 2003- Static Electricity
API RP 500- HAC
OSHA 29 CFR- part 1910- Arc Flash
NFPA 70- NEC
IEEE 1584- Arc Flash Protection
NFPA 77- Static Electricity
OSHA CFR 1926-Personnel Electrical Safety

Summary
Electricity will try to reach ground even if it
means going through a person
Earthing has an important role in ES
Always inspect power tools and cords and do
not use them if damaged
Do not attempt to repair electrical equipment
unless trained and qualified
Understand effects of Lightning- it could save
your life!
Major fires, explosions occurred due to ESD ,
lightning in flammable atmospheres