Electricity portable electric tools

Portable fuel-cell systems are systems that produce electricity for devices with a performance ranging from several watts to 10 kilowatts. The heat produced in the process is a by-product that is normally not used. The system has, therefore, to be cooled down by fans or cooling surfaces, etc. A wide range of applications is possible for fuel cells from small electronic devices like camcorders, mobile phones, laptops, etc. to electric tools, back-up systems, or power generation on boats or caravans. 

Are all portable electrical tools and equipment supplied at 110 V and identified with an issue tag ... 

Are all portable electrical tools including cables, plugs and extension leads in good condition, undamaged and in date for annual inspection/test ... 

A quarter of all serious electrical accidents involve portable electrical appliances that is, equipment which has a cable lead and plug and which is normally moved around or can easily be moved from place to place. This includes, for example, floor cleaners, kettles, heaters, portable power tools, fans, televisions, desk lamps, photocopiers, fax machines and desktop computers. There is a requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act for employers to take adequate steps to protect users of portable appliances from the hazards of electric shock and fire. The responsibility for safety applies equally to small as well as large companies. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 also place a duty of care upon employers to ensure that the risks associated with the use of electrical equipment are controlled. 

Portable electrical tools can reduce much of the hard work for any tradesperson and increase his or her productivity. Electrical tools should be maintained in a good condition and be appropriate for the purpose for which they are used. Many construction sites now insist on low-voltage or battery tools being used which can further increase safety without any loss of productivity. Some useful electrical tools are shown in Fig. 4.8. 

Portable electrical tools can reduce much of the hard work for any tradesman and increase his productivity. Electrical tools should be maintained... 

Doors of electrical cabinets should be cleaned free of carbon fiber debris using a vacuum cleaner prior to opening or, as a better option, using a factory installed dust extraction system with portable cleaning tool attachments. It must be remembered that if a portable vacuum cleaner is used, although it sucks in at one end it will blow out the other. This air exiting the... 

Although most portable electric tools have an equipment grounding conductor and many are double insulated, these methods are not foolproof. A grounding wire covdd break or a cord could become defective. Using a GFCI overcomes these insulation problems. 

Damaged portable electric tools shall be removed and tagged Do Not Use. Ask your supervisor for approved company procedures for tagging broken equipment. 

Isolation and Double Insulation Another form of physical control is separating energized portions of electrical equipment from those parts people can contact This is isolation. Several means can accomplish isolation. Covering conductors with nonconductive materials keeps people from contacting them. This is insulation. Another method is to provide two layers of enclosure for energized parts. At least one of the layers must be nonconductive and the nonconductive layer must separate a user from possible contact with any energized part. This is double insulation. Most portable power tools (drills, saws, etc.) have internal parts that cannot energize any portion of the external surface. 

All portable electrical tools and equipment must be grounded or of double insulated type. Electrical appliances such as vacuum cleaners, polishers, and vending machines must be grounded. Extension cords being used must have a grounding conductor. Multiple plug adapters are prohibited. Ground-fault circuit interrupters should be installed on each temporary 15- or 20-ampere, 120-volt AC circuit at locations where construction, demolition, modifications, alterations, or excavations are... 

All portable electric tools that are damaged must be removed from use and tagged Do Not Use. ... 

Portable electric tools are a convenient aid to many occupational activities. However, the necessity to use flexible cables to supply electricity to the tool introduces hazards. For example, such cables are often misused and abused resulting in damaged insulation and broken or exposed conductors. The tool itself could also become unsafe if, say, its metalwork became charged with electricity due to a fault. Constant care and adequate maintenance and storage are essential to safe use. 

Of the hand-held power operated electrical tools, the most common are the electric drill and portable grinding wheel. The major safety requirement for portable tools is contained in Regulation 13 which requires that ... 

J) Extension cord sets used with portable electric tools and appliances shall be of three-wire type and shall be designed for hard or extra-hard usage. Flexible cords used with temporary and portable lights shall be designed for hard or extra-hard usage. 

In 2012, the main outlet for lithium-ion batteries, both in terms of number of units sold and turnover, was still cellphones, followed by portable computers. Lithium-ion batteries have also built up a significant presence in digital cameras and camcorders, audio and video players, games consoles, PDAs, etc. In addition, they are increasingly to be found in portable electric tools. Electric vehicles, if they develop as they are currently predicted to, will ultimately come to represent the dominant maiket. The more distant future should see the development of the maiket of batteries for grid support. LiPo batteries are primarily used in model-making and in EAPCs, etc. 

Almost 25% of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable electrical equipment (known as portable appliances). While most of these accidents were caused by electric shock, over 2000 fires each year are started by faulty cables used by portable appliances, caused by a lack of effective maintenance. Portable electrical tools often present a high risk of injury, which is frequently caused by the conditions under which they are used. These conditions include the use of defective or unsuitable equipment and, indeed, the misuse of equipment. There must be a system to record the inspection, maintenance and repair of these tools. 

To remove the need for earthing on some portable power tools, double insulation is used. Double insulation employs two independent layers of insulation over the live conductors, each layer alone being adequate to insulate the electrical equipment safely. Since such tools are not protected by an earth, they must be inspected and maintained regularly and must be discarded if damaged. 

Describe the measures to be taken to minimize the risk of eiectric shock from the use of portable electric tools. 

O Are portable electrical tools and equipment grounded or of the double insulated type ... 

Portable electric tools are a convenient aid to many occupational activities. Flowever, the necessity to use flexible cables to supply electricity to... 

In the case of testing portable electrical equipment reference should be made to HSE Guidance Note HSG 107. Portable electrical tools should be inspected each time they are returned to stores and tested annually, although xmder certain hostile operating conditions testing should be more frequent. 

Yet this phrase is not entirely tone. In fact, everyone knows this. On a daily basis, we all use objects, tools or mobile systems using an electrical supply (mobile telephones, laptop computers, portable electric tools, electrical vehicles, etc.). Thus, de facto, we know that electricity can be stored. Nevertheless, it is relatively difficult to store it, more difficult to store it over long periods of time, and more difficult still to store it in extreme environmental conditions. 

Since portable power tools are frequently used on ladders, scaffold structures and platforms, a relatively common result of a person experiencing an electric shock when using a power tool under these working conditions is a fall from height leading to impact injuries. 

From an historical perspective, the problem with electrical safety on construction sites largely began after World War II when portable electric tools, electrically powered plant and electric lighting came into general site use. Up until the 1960s, there was no purpose-designed electrical distribution system available, so the main contractor would usually ask the electrical subcontractor to provide a minimum installation at minimal cost. 

In addition to the fixed installation, all other electrical equipment and apparatus used on the site should be included in the preventive maintenance programme. This will included portable electrical tools, handlamps, lighting equipment and so on. By far the most important element of this maintenance is a routine visual examination of the equipment, which will detect most faults that can lead to danger. These examinations should be carried out as pre-use user checks and then periodically as part of a formal visual inspection, typically at a frequency of once every week for 230 V hand-held equipment and extension leads, and monthly for 110 V equipment and fixed 230/400 V equipment. Guidance on the frequency of these examinations, and the frequency of tests aimed at detecting defects, is published in HSE s Guidance Note HS(G)141 and the lEE s Code of practice for in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment. 

For all areas with moist or wet ground where electrical equipment or portable electric tools are likely to be used... 

Areas where portable electric tools are used regularly, such as in plant shops, or during maintenance... 

B107.4M-1995 Driving and Spindle Ends for Portable Hand, Impact, Air, and Electric Tools (Percussion Tools Excluded)... 

Portable tools and equipment 63/1139 Confined spaces 63/1139 Electricity 63/1140... 

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