Electricity hazards electric shock injury

Acute and chronic health problems caused by the use or release of hazardous substances. Injuries to employees and members of the public due to equipment failure such as electric shock. Injuries to employees and members of the public from slips, trips and tails. 

Petroleum and chemical related hazards can arise from the presence of combustible or toxic liquids, gases, mist, or dust in the work environment. Common physical hazards include ambient heat, bums, noise, vibration, sudden pressure changes, radiation, and electric shock. Various external sources, such as chemical, biological, or physical hazards, can cause work related injuries or fatalities. Although all of these hazards are of concern this book primarily concentrates on fire and explosions hazards that can cause catastrophic events. 

The operator of x-ray apparatus is exposed to two obvious dangers, electric shock and radiation injury, but both of these hazards can be reduced to negligible proportions by proper design of equipment and reasonable care on the part of the user. Nevertheless, it is only prudent for the x-ray worker to be continually aware of these hazards. 

It is estimated that office workers sustain 76,000 fractures, dislocations, sprains, strains, and contusions each year. In office areas, trips and falls are the number one cause of injury. Office workers are also injured as a result of foreign substances in the eye, spilled hot liquids, burns from fire, and electric shock. The office may also contain hazards such as poor lighting, noise, poorly designed furniture and equipment, and machines that emit noxious gases and fumes. Even the nature of office work itself has produced a whole host of stress-related symptoms and musculoskeletal strains. 

Gloves used to protect the hands of individuals from physical injury (cuts, abrasions, temperature extremes, electrical shock, etc.), chemical hazards, biological hazards,... 

Workers exposed to electrical hazards face a risk of death or serious injury from electric shock. According to the Bru eau of Labor Statistics, there were 192 and 170 fatalities involving contact with electric crurent in 2008 and 2009, respectively. About half of these fatalities (89 in both years) occrured in construction. OSHA explains that the use of properly designed, manufactured, and cared-for electrical protective equipment helps protect employees from this risk. 

Employers must make sure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, or when the use of protective footwear will protect the affected employee from an electrical hazard, such as a static-discharge or electric-shock hazard, that remains after the employer takes other necessary protective measures. 

Physical hazards. Injuries resulting from flames, explosions, and equipment (cuts from glass, electrical shock from faulty instrumentation, or improper use of instruments). 

OSHA has requirements for safe work practices at 1910.333. By not complying with these work practices employees performing work near or on equipment or circuits (which are or may be energized) could be exposed to electric shock or other injuries resrdting from either direct, or indirect, electrical contacts. Your company-specific safety-related work practices must be consistent with the nature and extent of the electrical hazards. 

Although each of the hazards is considered separately, in reality they often occur together. For example, current passing through the body causes an electric shock, but current passing through tissues also causes the tissue to heat up, often to the point at which burn injuries are caused. So shock and burn injuries are frequently, but by no means always, experienced together. 

Arc welding can be done safely, provided that sufficient measures are taken to protect the operator from the potential hazards. If the proper measures are ignored or overlooked, welding operators can be exposed to such dangers as electrical shock and overexposure to radiation, fumes and gases, and fire and explosion, any of which could cause severe injury or even death. With the diversification of the welding that may be done by maintenance departments, it is vitally important that the appropriate safety measures be evaluated on a job-by-job basis and that they be rigidly enforced. 

An electrical hazard is the direct ejq)osure of people and equipment to destructive electric energy. Electrical shocks, bums, arcs and flash injuries fall into this category. 

To get the attention of the people in your organization who are exposed to electrical hazards or who you want to have a greater awareness, there must be examples to which they can relate. Some trainers like to use graphic pictures of electrical injuries for the shock potential others would rather use interactive discussion of accidents that co-workers have experienced. The reality of explaining the human effect of electrical shock and bum is probably a composite of showing what may happen and encouraging discussion of electrical hazards and electrical hazard management. It is probably important to emphasize all of the other potential results of electrical contact and state that death is, conceivably, a worst case. 

Typically the actual number of potentially dangerous electrical contacts is higher than the injury data implies. One laboratory performed a questionnaire study of electrieal safety practices with interview follow-up. The 3000 person population studied had a direct exposure to a broad spectrum of electrical hazards. The response data from the questionnaire represented a signifieant pereentage of the population. A simple reduction of the response data indicated that four painful electrical shocks occurred daily in that population. Only a handful of shocks actually were reported each year. 

System experiencedpeople. Experienced people are a common element in electrical shocks. This may occur because experienced people have learned what they can or may be able to do to speed up a task. In other words they may take shortcuts that involve some hazard. However, there is another probable reason for experienced people being a common element in electrical shocks. Experienced people are given a greater opportunity for the injury. They are the ones that are called, especially for difficult jobs. Experienced people are often exposed to the greater hazard. 

Surface residues in confined spaces can increase the already hazardous conditions of electrical shock, reaction of incompatible materials, liberation of toxic substances, and bodily injury caused by slips and falls. Without protective clothing, additional hazards to health may arise because of surface residues. 

Examples of injuries to arms and hands are bums, cuts, electrical shock, amputation, and absorption of chemicals. A wide assortment of gloves, hand pads, sleeves, and wristlets are available for protection against various hazardous situations. 

Electrical protective devices are used to protect machines and equipment from damage due to values of voltage or current exceeding design levels. They are also used to protect individuals from the risk of injury, by isolating electrical faults in part of the system. Electrical hazards associated with workshop machinery and tools may be caused by overload current, short-circuit current, or electric shocks to individuals arising from direct or indirect contact with live conductors. Overload current is an excessive current... 

Key hazards of electric-powered tools include burns and slight shocks that can lead to injuries or heart failure. To protect users from shock, tools must contain a three-wire cord with a proper ground. Tools can also contain double insulation or powered by a low-voltage isolation transformer. Operate electric tools within their design limitations. Recommend use of gloves and safety footwear when using electric tools. Never use electric tools in damp or wet locations. Keep work areas well lighted. 

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