Training electrical hazards

You need to instill in your employees a healthy respect for electricity and its power. Safe work practices are essential. Training can ensure your employees recognize electrical hazards and use safe work practices to control or eliminate those hazards. 

In addition, this section specifically addresses the requirements for vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms. It specifically states "Unless otherwise provided in this section, aerial devices (aerial lifts) acquired on or after July 1,1975, shall be designed and constructed in conformance with the applicable requirements of the American National Standard for Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Notk Platforms, ANSI A92.2-1969, including appendix." The employee training, personal protective equipment required, boom operation around electrical hazards, and inspection and maintenance of equipment are also discussed. 

Electrical hazard, safety-toe shoes are nonconductive and will prevent employees feet from completing an electrical circuit to the ground. They can protect employees against open circuits of up to 600 volts in dry conditions. Electrical hazard, safety-toe shoes should be used in conjunction with other insulating equipment and precautions to reduce or eliminate the potential for employees bodies or parts of their bodies to provide a path for hazardous electrical energy. Note Nonconductive footwear must not be used in explosive or hazardous locations in such locations, electrically conductive shoes are required. Train employees to recognize that the insulating protection of electrical hazard, safety-toe shoes may be compromised if... 

Qualified workers must have training to recognize and control or avoid electrical hazards present at the worksite. 

Drill rigs are t3rpically powered by mechanical means or by electrical power. Rigs powered by electricity use diesel engines to drive electric generators to develop the needed horsepower. Then the power is transmitted to the appropriate rig components via electrical cables. With the additional electrical components and cables the electrically-powered rigs often have more electrical hazards than a mechanically-powered rig. Both types of rigs need work crew members that are specially trained to maintain the electrical system. 

The following section provides an overview of basic electrical safety for individuals with little or limited training or familiarity with electrical hazards. The concepts and principles presented will help further an understanding of OSHA s electrical safety standards. 

To ensime they use safe work practices, employees must be aware of the electrical hazards to which they will be exposed. Employees must be trained in safety-related work practices as well as any other procedures necessary for safety from electrical hazards. 

Qualified employees must be trained and competent in distinguishing exposed live parts, determining nominal voltage, minimum approach distances, use of precautionary techniques, PPE, insulating and shielding materials, insulated tools, and recognition of electrical hazards. 

The potential for electrical shock exists when removing the extruder covers, thus exposing bare wires and electrical connections. Extruder heater bands are normally 220 or 440 volts and can cause serious electrical shock. Check the wires to the heater bands on the die and adapters to assure there are no frayed, bare, or exposed wires or connections that can cause electrical shock. In some extrusion processes, watercooling baths are very close to the die, which can create additional electrical hazard. Operators unless properly trained should never remove guards exposing electrical terminals on heaters or open electrical cabinets to solve electrical problems. 

This section smnmarizes several MSHA-recommended safe job procedures as they relate to electrical safety. Note that these descriptions are not intended to provide detailed instruction, rather, they are intended to serve as representative examples and to familiarize the reader with the most common electrical hazards and basic recommended safe job procedures for several common job functions. The first section describes basic procedures that apply to most pieces of electric equipment. The second section smnmarizes procedmes for a coal mine shuttle car operator. FinaUy, equipment lockout procedures are smnmarized. See MSHA s On-The-Job Training Modules for additional details (MSHA 1985a MSHA 1985b MSHA 1986a MSHA 1988a MSHA 1988b). 

There is a list of topics in the OSHA regulations and in NFPA 70E that must be included in your training. OSHA requires PPE training that will teach your employees when and how to use it and how to care for it. Your personnel must be trained on the particulars of the arc flash analysis that was completed so they understand the labels and how to react if there is no label present. They must be educated on specific safety issues concerning your facility and all training must be documented. None of this training qualifies your people to work around electrical hazards unless... 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) NFPA is non-profit organization that publishes the National Electrical Code , the Life Safety Code , the Fire Prevention Code , the National Fuel Gas Code , and the National Fire Alarm Code . The mission of NFPA is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating scientifically based consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA is developing a fuel cell specific code, NFPA 853, which will cover the installation of stationary fuel cells of at least 50 kW output. Publication is expected to occur in 2000. 

A written safety program that includes the following topics new employee safety orientation, safety training, hazard communication, emergency action plan, fall protection, scaffolding, heat stress, personal protective equipment, electrical, first aid, and bloodborne pathogens. 

The survey should include all units of the institution. Some laboratories will find units that are using chemicals and generating hazardous waste without the awareness of any hazard. This situation is particularly likely in academic institutions, where chemicals are used routinely in many areas, such as the biology, geology, electrical engineering, art, and physics departments, and in hospitals where workers may have little or no training in chemistry. 

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