Electrical Safety

 Definition of Safety:-

·        Safety is a state of freedom from “unexpected risk” of “personal harm”

·        Safety is not a gadget.

·         Safety is a state of mind.

·        Comply with the requirements of all relevant statutory provisions.

·        Safety awareness for all employees.

·        Appropriate training and support

·        Major Suppliers, Contractors & Customers - obligatory for them to follow the Plant safety rules

·        Resources availability

·        It is essential that safety should be preached and practiced at all times in the installation, operation and maintenance works.

Objectives:-

·        To Ensure Safety of Personnel, Equipment and Materials by adopting safe practices for carrying out various activities

·        To ensure timely detection of Fire and to extinguish the fire at the earliest

·        To achieve a “Zero Accident Level”

Fire:-

·        It is defined as a self sustaining oxidation process with evolution of heat and light.

·        Fire is a chemical Reaction involving rapid oxidation or burning of a fuel.

Electrical Source of Fire:-

• Short circuits

• Over capacity fuses

• Overheating of cables due to over load

• Electrical components coming in contact with water.

• General fire in the compartments

• Electrical equipment not connected properly

• Over charging of batteries

• Leaving heaters in on position for long time

• Overheating of electrical equipments

• Due to temporary and loose electrical connection

General reasons of fire:-

• 99% of fires are caused due to negligence

• Hot work like welding and gas cutting

• Hammering

• Chipping

• Blow lamp

• Short circuit

• Discharge of static electricity

• Un-maintained equipment

Types of Extinguisher:-

v Soda-Acid extinguisher

v Carbon dioxide extinguisher

v Foam extinguisher

v Carbon-tetrachloride extinguisher

Soda-Acid extinguisher:-

This type of an extinguisher is cylinder or conical in shape. Inside it above the solution of soda and water, is a small flask containing sulphuric  acid it is suitable for fires of wood, floor, paper, etc., but unsuitable for petrol, oil, spirit and electrical fires.

Carbon dioxide extinguisher:-

This type of an extinguisher has a horn like nozzle and is, therefore, easily distinguish from other types. It is used to extinguish electrical fires and fires involving liquid.  It is effective against small surface fire and not used in open air.

Foam extinguisher:-

This type of extinguisher is used against inflammable liquid and small fires in solid. They cannot be used against electrical fires as both water and foam conduct electricity.

Carbon-tetrachloride extinguisher:-

It compromises a cylindrical metal container containing carbon-tetrachloride liquid. It is suitable for electrical fire but it should not be used in enclosed places as the vapour is poisonous.

Precautions to be taken during fire:-

·        Disconnect the supply immediately.

·        Do not throw water on the live conductor or equipments. It is dangerous because water is conductor of electricity.

Subsiding the fire

·        Throw dry sand or dust on a fire equipment.

·        Use carbon-tetrachloride or liquid carbon dioxide type fire extinguisher.

Electric shock:-

•An electric shock occurs when the body comes into contact directly or indirectly with any live electric circuit and the ground simultaneously.

•By its own characteristics, electricity takes the shortest route to travel. It always finds a connection, which offers less resistance (or a better conductor) for its travel.

•Metals and water are good conductors of electricity. Your body contains a lot of water. So you are a great conductor of electricity. If your body touches an electric circuit and the ground at the same time; electricity will travel to the ground through you.

•As a result of this flow, you may be seriously injured or killed, even if you have no direct contact to the electric circuit and the ground simultaneously. The connection may be through a metallic ladder (a good conductor of electricity).

•Voltage is the CAUSE, Current does the damage.

Instruction for Electrical Safety:-

• Use all electrical wires, cables and material of proper capacity and proper insulation.

• Use I.S.I. marked or quality control certified electrical material and appliances.

• Don’t overload any electrical circuit.

• Use 3-pin plug top instead of open wire in socket.

• Don’t use wires and cables having joints.

• Use only one plug in one socket.

• Don’t use temporary wires.

• Use E.L.C.B. to avoid accidents from earth leakage current.

• Use insulated hand gloves, gumboots and tools while working on electrical live lines.

• Use electrical appliances having provision of earthing i.e. 3-pin plug.

• Don’t use charged electrical wires for drying cloths.

• Keep meter room neat, clean and ventilated.

• Use insulated wires for neutral and independent wire for earthing.

• For fire due to short circuit, first switch off main supply. Don’t use water or any liquid on electrical appliance when on fire. Use only dry chemical powder and carbon dioxide.

• Don’t construct any house or structure below the overhead wires & maintain specified horizontal distance of the house or structure from overhead lines.

• Get your wiring and earthing tested periodically by concerned authority.

• All electrical consumers and suppliers should follow Indian electrical act and rules.

General Precautions – Fuses:-

·        If a fuse blows, turn off all appliances and lights on the circuit before changing the fuse.

·         Don't try to replace a fuse in the dark. Use a flashlight.

·        Replace a blown fuse with one of the correct rating – never with a higher one.

·         Periodically check that plug-type fuses are snug.

·        A loose fuse can overheat.

General Precautions - Cords and Plugs:-

·        When disconnecting an appliance, pull the plug, not the cord.

·        Keep all cords away from heat and water.

·         If multiple electrical connections are required use a properly rated power bar.

·        Do not break off or bypass the third prong of a plug. It's there because it's needed for safety reasons.

·        Always use extension cords that are properly rated for the load.

·        Never use cords or plugs that show any wear or damage.

·        Don't place a cord under a carpet, through a doorway, or anywhere that it could be stepped on.

·        Never remove a plug when your hands are wet or when touching a metal object.

·        Never remove a plug when your hands are wet

General precautions-Extension Cords:-

·        Keep your extension cords away from water.

·        Do not use a two pronged extension cord outdoors.

·         Always use extension cords that are properly rated for the load.

·         Never break off or bypass the grounding prong on a three-pronged plug.

·        Worn cords can cause shocks and fires. Do not use them!

·        When removing a plug from a socket, pull on the plug and not on the cord.

Don’ts:-

Do not hang clothes on wire

Do not overload outlets with too many plugs

Do not put too many wires in one Socket.

Do not use 2 pin plug and socket

Do not overload electrical installation