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Prepared by: MR L.

S RAMLUGON
MAURITIUS INSTITUTE OF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
KNOWLEDGE BASED TRAINING CENTRE

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION WORKS NC 3

Module 2 Competency 13

DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF ELECTRICAL SAFETY AND


SAFE WORKING PRACTICES FOR ELECTRICAL WORKERS

13.1 State the physiological effects of voltage and current on the human body.

Electric Voltage required to produce the current


Current with assumed body resistance:
Physiological Effect
(1 second
contact) 100,000 ohms 1,000 ohms

1 mA Threshold of feeling, tingling sensation. 100 V 1V


5 mA Accepted as maximum harmless current 500 V 5V
Beginning of sustained muscular
10-20 mA 1000 V 10 V
contraction ("Can't let go" current.)
Ventricular fibrillation, fatal if continued.
100-300 mA 10000 V 100 V
Respiratory function continues.
Sustained ventricular contraction
followed by normal heart rhythm.
6A 600000 V 6000 V
(Defibrillation). Temporary respiratory
paralysis and possibly burns.

Current Physiological Effect

Below 1 milliampere Generally not perceptible

1 milliampere Faint tingle

5 milliamperes Slight shock felt; not painful but


disturbing. Average individual can
let go. Strong involuntary reactions
can lead to other injuries.

625 milliamperes (women) Painful shock, loss of muscular


control*

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930 milliamperes (men) The freezing current or let-go


range.* Individual cannot let go,
but can be thrown away from the
circuit if extensor muscles are
stimulated.

50150 milliamperes Extreme pain, respiratory arrest,


severe muscular contractions.
Death is possible.

1,0004,300 milliamperes Rhythmic pumping action of


the heart ceases. Muscular
contraction and nerve damage
occur; death likely.

10,000 milliamperes Cardiac arrest, severe burns; death


Probable.

* If the extensor muscles are excited by the shock, the person


may be thrown away from the power source.

13.2 State the hazards of short circuit and uncontrolled faults currents .
Hazards can lead to the risk of fire.
Damage to persons, livestock and property.
NOTE: Short circuit and uncontrolled faults current may cause overheating
which will then cause breakdown of insulation and may lead to fire.

13.3 State the levels of control measures:


Eliminate
Isolate
Minimize
Training of personnel

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13.4 State the principle of risk assessment in order to apply the correct level
of control measure.

Range: risk assessment identifying hazards, assessing and prioritising


risks, applying control measures;
Control measures eliminate, isolate, minimise, personnel training.

13.5 State the importance of competent persons for carrying out electrical
work according to regulation.
To avoid the risk of fatality such as accidents, injuries or death at work.
To obtain electrical works professionally made as per established standards.
This will reduce the risk of electrocution.

13.6 State the warning and reporting procedures of unsafe situations in


the workplace.

ELEMENT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA


1 . Observe basic safety 1. Procedures to achieve a safe working environment
procedures followed and maintained in accordance with all
relevant occupational health and safety legislation,
including codes of practice, relating to particular
hazards in the workplace or industry.
2. Unsafe work practices, including faulty equipment and
plant are followed and reported according to store
policy.
3. Dangerous goods and substances managed in
accordance with store policy and relevant State and
Territory legislation.
4. Tasks identified for potential manual risks and
managed according to store policy.
5. Reporting of work related incidents and accidents to
designated personnel observed.
6. Consultative processes for occupational health and
safety demonstrated and procedures followed.

2 . Observe basic 1. Fire and emergency procedures, including store


emergency procedures evacuation, are followed in accordance with store
policy and relevant State and Territory legislation.

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2. Designated personnel responsible for first aid and
evacuation procedures identified correctly.
3. Safety alarms identified accurately.

13.7 List the control measures to eliminate or minimize electrical hazards.


Switching off
Isolating supply locking
Locking-off and tagging of isolators
Disconnecting load side of isolator
Proving supply is dead for testing
Precautions when leaving unfinished work
Precautions for working on live equipment
Safety distances
Personal training
Safety rules
Insulating areas
Access control
Inspection and testing of tools and equipment
Inspection of clothing.

13.8 List the worker behaviour that promote safety in the workplace.
Carrying out instructions properly
Asking if in doubt
Reporting unsafe conditions
Using correct tools and equipment
Keeping workplace clean and tidy
Not distracting others or indulging in horseplay
Wearing or using protective clothing and equipment
Only using machinery if authorized to do so
Obeying all safety rules and signs
using only authorized tools and equipment
not leaving tools on the floor or where they can fall on people below

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not wearing loose or torn clothing
taking extra care when members of the public are present as they may not be
aware of hazards

13.9 List the good house-keeping practices that can reduce hazards and risks.
Cleaning up at intervals during the day
Not allowing rubbish to accumulate
Aisles and passage ways clear of obstruction
Keeping fire exit and equipment clear of obstruction
Storing tools and equipment in the correct place

13.10 State the safety precautions and practices related to working at elevated
positions:
Ladders,
working platforms,
scaffolding,
cherry pickers,
harnesses.

Power-operated elevating work platforms have many different names including


cheery pickers or aerial platforms. They can be vehicle-mounted, self-propelled,
towed or manually-moved. They have become popular in workplaces such as
construction sites, shopping centres and many others where workers
are required to perform work at height.

For safety precautions and practices related to working at elevated positions, there are
certain points to be considered in making the above selection & include: -

(a) the working height and horizontal reach required;


(b) the weight to be carried by the machine, including weight of persons,
materials and equipment;
(c) working conditions such as unrestricted open grounds or
congested areas with narrow operating paths;
(d) working environment such as indoor, outdoor and ventilation
of workplace;and
(e) whether warning and safety devices including reversing alarm and CCTV
device, flashing lights and horns are provided.

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13.11 List the special hazards and their harmful effects.

Infrared:- Laser radiation predominantly causes injury via thermal effects. Lasers
can cause damage in biological tissues, both to the eye ( by burning the rectina )
and to the skin.

Ultraviolet:- The sun emits two kinds of ultraviolet rays:

1) UVA - which penetrate deeply into the skin and can trigger allergies
and cause premature ageing and wrinkling.
2) UVB - these affect the upper layers of the skin and trigger the
production of melanin which causes tanning. Too much causes
burning, freckling and thickening of the skin. They can also cause
skin cancers.

Radio waves:-

Damage nerves in the scalp


Cause blood cells to leak hemoglobin
Cause memory loss and mental confusion
Cause headaches and induce extreme fatigue
Create joint pain, muscle spasms and tremors
Create burning sensation and rash on the skin
Alter the brain's electrical activity during sleep
Induce ringing ! in the ears, impair sense of smell
Precipitate cataracts, retina damage and eye cancer
Open the blood-brain barrier to viruses and toxins
Reduce the number and efficiency of white blood cells
Stimulate asthma by producing histamine in mast cells
Cause digestive problems and raise bad cholesterol levels
Stress the endocrine system, especially pancreas, thyroid, ovaries, testes.

Microwaves:- .
People who ingested microwaved foods showed a statistically higher incidence
of stomach and intestinal cancers, plus a general degeneration of peripheral

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cellular tissues and a gradual breakdown of the function of the digestive and
excretory systems.
Due to chemical alterations within food substances, malfunctions occurred within
the lymphatic system, causing a degeneration in the immune system's ability to
protect the body against neoplastic(cancerous) growth.

Microwave exposure caused significant decreases in the nutritional


value of all foods studied, most significantly in the bio-availability of Bcomplex
vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, essential minerals and lipotropics (substances that
prevent abnormal accumulation of fat).
Heating prepared meats in a microwave sufficiently for human consumption
creates the cancer-causing agent d-nitrosodiethanolamine.
Cancer-causing free radicals were formed within certain trace-mineral, molecular
formations in plant substances --particularly in raw root vegetables.
Ingestion of microwaved foods caused a higher percentage of cancerous cells
within the blood serum.
Microwaving foods alters their elemental food substances, leading
to disorders in the digestive system.

electrostatic, and electromagnetic fields:- EMFs have an increased risk of


leukaemia and brain cancer. Male electrical workers may be at increased risk of
developing breast cancer.

chemicals:- The toxic residues of the chemicals can affect the central nervous
systems , liver & respiratory organs. Pesticides can cause depression , insomnia
, blindness , cancer , hyperflexia & other gastrointestinal problems. Tumor or
cancer of the brain is more common in people who have been exposed to
various chemicals.

Gases:- Headaches, nausea, loss of appetite , drowsiness , dry burning throat,


chest pain, vomiting, headaches.

Dusts:- The main danger from harmful dusts is that you can breathe (inhale)
them into your lungs. When breathed in, the larger dust particles are usually

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trapped by hairs and mucus and then removed by the body. Smaller particles,
however, are more dangerous because they can get deep inside the lungs where
they can have damaging effects, or they can be absorbed into the bloodstream
and travel to other parts of the body where they can cause damage. They can
also cause eye damage.

Asbestos:- Three of the major health effects associated with asbestos exposure
include:

Asbestosis -- Asbestosis is a serious, progressive, long-term non-cancer


disease of the lungs. It is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers that irritate
lung tissues and cause the tissues to scar. The scarring makes it hard for
oxygen to get into the blood. Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of
breath and a dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. There is no
effective treatment for asbestosis.
Lung Cancer -- Lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths related
to asbestos exposure. People who work in the mining, milling,
manufacturing of asbestos, and those who use asbestos and its products
are more likely to develop lung cancer than the general population. The
most common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing and a change in
breathing. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent chest
pains, hoarseness, and anemia.
Mesothelioma -- Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is found in
the thin lining (membrane) of the lung, chest, abdomen, and heart and
almost all cases are linked to exposure to asbestos. This disease may not
show up until many years after asbestos exposure.

13.12 State typical occurrences of the special hazards as mentioned


in 13.11 .

13.13 State the general principles relating to safe use of tools and
test equipment.

Regular inspection of handtools


Routine testing of electrical tools
Features and ratings of test equipment for use on live circuits

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Skills
13.14 Identify hazardous material that may be found on the job.
13.15 Select and use appropriate tools and test equipment.
13.16 Identify tools and test equipment in poor condition.
13.17 Demonstrate in practice the prove-test-prove method.
13.18 Examine some case studies to conclude;
the cause of the accident
the extent and nature of the damage resulting from the
electrical incident.
13.19 Identity the fundamental errors made from case studies that led to:
the electrical incident in terms of hazardous practices used,
testing procedures not followed and
general safety measures not taken.
13.20 Carry out a simple risk assessment in workshops and
suggest control measures.

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