Approximately 30 people at work die every year as a result of electrocution. The majority of these deaths are caused by contact with overhead or underground cables.
The main hazards from electricity:
Electric shock - the effect on the body and central nervous system produced by the passage of the electric current. Common cause of death is ventricular fibrillation (spasm of the heart muscle). The vascular system ceases to function and the victim dies of suffocation. It’s the current that kills.
Burns - a current passing through a conductor (the person) produces heat. Burns can be caused by contact with hot conductors, e.g. metal, or by the passage of the electric current through the body.
Explosions - electrical short-circuiting or sparking from the electrical contacts in switches or other equipment. There needs to be combustible material, e.g. flammable vapours, dusts or gas.
Eye injuries - exposure to ultraviolet rays from accidental arcing in a process such as welding
Accumulators and batteries - hydrogen gas may be produced as a by-product of battery charging. This results in a potentially explosive atmosphere.
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Safe Systems of Work
Where work is to be undertaken on electrical apparatus or part of a circuit, a formally operated, safe system of work is essential. This commonly takes the form of a Permit to Work system, which ensures the following procedures and precautions:
- Switching off and locking out the electricity supply, i.e. isolation;
- Checking by the use of an appropriate voltage detection instrument that the circuit, that part of same to be worked on, is dead before work commences;
- High levels of supervision and control to ensure that work is undertaken correctly and that Permit to Work procedures are followed;
- Paying particular attention to the precautions where electrical installation or maintenance work is to be undertaken in wet surroundings, in external areas and in confined spaces;
- Examining appliances by a competent person on a regular basis, including the leads, and any extension leads used that may have become damaged;
- Implementing physical precautions, such as the erection of barriers and signs restricting access to the area; and
- Formal cancellation of the Permit to Work once the work is completed satisfactorily and return to service of the appliance, plant or system in question.
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Hazard: Significant and serious injuries may occur if cranes are not inspected before use and if they are not used properly. Often these injuries occur when a worker is struck by an overhead load or caught within the crane's swing radius. Many crane fatalities occur when the boom of a crane or its load line contact an overhead power line.
Solutions:
- Check all crane controls to insure proper operation before use.
- Inspect wire rope, chains and hook for any damage.
- Know the weight of the load that the crane is to lift.
- Ensure that the load does not exceed the crane's rated capacity.
- Raise the load a few inches to verify balance and the effectiveness of the brake system.
- Check all rigging prior to use; do not wrap hoist ropes or chains around the load.
- Fully extend outriggers.
- Do not move a load over workers.
- Barricade accessible areas within the crane's swing radius.
- Watch for overhead electrical distribution and transmission lines and maintain a safe working clearance of at least 10 feet from energized electrical lines.
Slips, trips and falls on stairways are a major source of injuries and fatalities among construction workers.
Solutions:
- Stairway treads and walkways must be free of dangerous objects, debris and materials.
- Slippery conditions on stairways and walkways must be corrected immediately.
- Make sure that treads cover the entire step and landing.
- Stairways having four or more risers or rising more than 30 inches must have at least one handrail.
HAZARDS:
Ladders and stairways are source of injuries and fatalities among construction workers. OSHA estimates that there are 24,882 injuries and as many as 36 fatalities per year due to falls on stairways and ladders used in construction. Nearly half of these injuries were serious enough to require time off the job.
Solutions:
- Use the correct ladder for the task.
- Make sure that ladders are long enough to safely reach the work area.
- Mark or tag ("Do Not Use") damaged or defective ladders for repair or replacement, or destroy them immediately.
- Never load ladders beyond the maximum intended load or beyond the manufacturer's rated capacity.
- Be sure the load rating can support the weight of the user, including materials and tools.
- Avoid using ladders with metallic components near electrical work and overhead power lines.
