Recognizing Safety Hazards

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# ―RECOGNIZING HAZARDS Extension cords may have damaged insulation. Sometimes the insu- lation inside an electrical tool or appliance is damaged. When insula- tion is damaged, exposed metal parts may become energized if a live wire inside touches them. Electric hand tools that are old, damaged, or misused may have damaged insulation inside. If you touch damaged power tools or other equipment, you will receive a shock. You are more likely to receive a shock if the tool is not grounded or double- insulated. (Double-insulated tools have two insulation barri- ers and no exposed metal parts.) You need to recognize that defective insulation is a hazard. This extension cord is damaged and should not be used. ## Improper grounding hazards When an electrical system is not grounded properly, a hazard exists. The most common OSHA electrical violation is improper grounding of equipment and circuitry. The metal parts of an electrical wiring system that we touch (switch plates, ceiling light fixtures, conduit, etc.) should be grounded and at 0 volts. If the system is not grounded properly, these parts may become energized. Metal parts of motors, appliances, or electronics that are plugged into improperly grounded circuits may be energized. When a circuit is not grounded properly, a hazard exists because unwanted voltage cannot be safely eliminated. If there is no safe path to ground for fault currents, exposed metal parts in damaged appliances can become energized. Extension cords may not provide a continuous path to ground because of a broken ground wire or plug. If you contact a defective ■If you touch a damaged live power tool, you will be shocked! ■ A damaged live power tool that is not grounded or double-insulated is very dangerous! ■fault current-any current that is not in its intended path ■ ground potential-the voltage a grounded part should have; 0 volts relative to ground Section 5 Page 27

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# -RECOGNIZING HAZARDS terminals in motors, appliances, and electronic equipment may be exposed. Older equipment may have exposed electrical parts. If you contact exposed live electrical parts, you will be shocked. You need to recognize that an exposed electrical component is a hazard. ## Overhead powerline hazards Most people do not realize that overhead powerlines are usually not insulated. More than half of all electrocutions are caused by direct worker contact with energized powerlines. Powerline workers must be especially aware of the dangers of overhead lines. In the past, 80% of all lineman deaths were caused by contacting a live wire with a bare hand. Due to such incidents, all linemen now wear spe- cial rubber gloves that protect them up to 34,500 volts. Today, most electrocutions involving overhead powerlines are caused by failure to maintain proper work distances. DANGER DANGER EECOROA ROUMENT ATSHOVES Watch out for exposed electrical wires around electronic equipment. ## ■ Overhead powerlines kill many workers! Electrical line workers need special training and equipment to work safely. Section 5 Page 25

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# ―RECOGNIZING HAZARDS (cont.) SAFETY MODEL STAGE 1 Lift with your legs, not your back! - Low back pain can result from lifting objects the wrong way or carrying heavy loads of wire or other material. Back pain can also occur as a result of injury from poor working surfaces such as wet or slippery floors. Back pain is common, but it can be dis- abling and can affect young individuals. - Chips and particles flying from tools can injure your eyes. Wear eye protection. - Falling objects can hit you. Wear a hard hat. - Sharp tools and power equipment can cause cuts and other injuries. If you receive a shock, you may react and be hurt by a tool. - You can be injured or killed by falling from a ladder or scaffold- ing. If you receive a shock-even a mild one-you may lose your balance and fall. Even without being shocked, you could fall from a ladder or scaffolding. - You expose yourself to hazards when you do not wear PPE. All of these situations need to be recognized as hazards. You need to be especially careful when working on scaffolding or ladders. Page 32 Section 5

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# ―RECOGNIZING HAZARDS (cont.) ## Wet conditions hazards (cont.) SAFETY MODEL STAGE 1 ■ An electrical circuit in a damp place without a GFCI is dangerous! A GFCI reduces the danger. ■ There are non-electrical hazards at job sites, too. Damaged insulation, equipment, or tools can expose you to live electrical parts. A damaged tool may not be grounded properly, so the housing of the tool may be energized, causing you to receive a shock. Improperly grounded metal switch plates and ceiling lights are especially hazardous in wet conditions. If you touch a live elec- trical component with an uninsulated hand tool, you are more likely to receive a shock when standing in water. But remember: you don't have to be standing in water to be electro- cuted. Wet clothing, high humidity, and perspiration also increase your chances of being electrocuted. You need to recognize that all wet conditions are hazards. ## Additional hazards In addition to electrical hazards, other types of hazards are present at job sites. Remember that all of these hazards can be controlled. - There may be chemical hazards. Solvents and other substances may be poisonous or cause disease. - Frequent overhead work can cause tendinitis (inflammation) in your shoulders. Overhead work can cause long-term shoulder pain. Page 30 Section 5

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# ―RECOGNIZING HAZARDS (cont.) ## Improper grounding hazards (cont.) SAFETY MODEL STAGE 1 ■If you touch a defective live component that is not grounded, you will be shocked. ■ GFCI-ground fault circuit interrupter a device that detects current leakage from a circuit to ground and shuts the current off ■ leakage current-current that does not return through the intended path but instead "leaks" to ground ■ ground fault-a loss of current from a circuit to a ground connection - I overload—too much current in a circuit ■ An overload can lead to a fire or electrical shock. electrical device that is not grounded (or grounded improperly), you will be shocked. You need to recognize that an improperly grounded electrical system is a hazard. Electrical systems are often grounded to metal water pipes that serve as a continuous path to ground. If plumbing is used as a path to ground for fault current, all pipes must be made of conductive material (a type of metal). Many electrocutions and fires occur because (during renova- tion or repair) parts of metal plumbing are replaced with plastic pipe, which does not conduct electricity. In these cases, the path to ground is interrupted by nonconductive material. A ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is an inexpensive life- saver. GFCI's detect any difference in current between the two circuit wires (the black wires and white wires). This differ- ence in current could happen when electrical equipment is not working correctly, causing leakage current. If leakage current (a ground fault) is detected in a GFCI-protected circuit, the GFCI switches off the current in the circuit, protecting you from a dangerous shock. GFCI's are set at about 5 mA and are designed to protect workers from electrocution. GFCI's are able to detect the loss of current resulting from leakage through a person who is beginning to be shocked. If this situation occurs, the GFCI switches off the current in the circuit. GFCI's are different from circui…

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# Summary of Section 4 (cont.) ■ Workers face many hazards on the job. SAFETY MODEL STAGE 1 # Section 5 Safety Model Stage 1— Recognizing Hazards ## How Do You Recognize Hazards? The first step toward protecting yourself is recognizing the many hazards you face on the job. To do this, you must know which situa- tions can place you in danger. Knowing where to look helps you to recognize hazards. - Inadequate wiring is dangerous. - Exposed electrical parts are dangerous. - Overhead powerlines are dangerous. - Wires with bad insulation can give you a shock. - Electrical systems and tools that are not grounded or double-insu- lated are dangerous. - Overloaded circuits are dangerous. - Damaged power tools and equipment are electrical hazards. □ Using the wrong PPE is dangerous. - Using the wrong tool is dangerous. - Some on-site chemicals are harmful. - Defective ladders and scaffolding are dangerous. - Ladders that conduct electricity are dangerous. - Electrical hazards can be made worse if the worker, location, or equipment is wet. Page 22 Section 5

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# -RECOGNIZING HAZARDS (cont.) ## ■ Overhead powerlines kill many workers! (cont.) SAFETY MODEL STAGE 1 Operating a crane near overhead wires is very hazardous. live workers were constructing a chain-link fence in front of a F house, directly below a 7,200-volt energized powerline. As they prepared to install 21-foot sections of metal top rail on the fence, one of the workers picked up a section of rail and held it up vertically. The rail contacted the 7,200-volt line, and the worker was electrocuted. Following inspection, OSHA determined that the employee who was killed had never received any safety training from his employer and no specific instruction on how to avoid the hazards associated with overhead powerlines. In this case, the company failed to obey these regulations: . Employers must train their workers to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions on the job. - Employers must not allow their workers to work near any part of an electrical circuit UNLESS the circuit is de-energized (shut off) and grounded, or guarded in such a way that it cannot be con- tacted. • Ground-fault protection must be provided at construction sites to guard against electrical shock. Shocks and electrocutions occur where physical barriers are not in place to prevent contact with the wires. When dump trucks, cranes, work platforms, or other conductive materials (such as pipes and ladders) contact overhead wires, the equipment operator or other workers can be killed. If you do not maintain required clearance distances from powerlines, you can be shocked and killed. (The minimum distance for voltages up to 50kV is 10 feet. For voltages over 50kV, the minimum distance is 10 feet plus 4 inches for every 10 kV over 50kV.) Never store materials and equipment under or near over- head powerlines. You need to recognize that overhead powerlines are a hazard. ■ insulation-material that does not conduct electricity easily ## Defective insulation hazards Insulation that is defective o…

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# What Should I Do If a Co-Worker Is Shocked or Burned by Electricity? (cont.) OVERVIEW OF THE ■Use the safety model to recognize, evaluate, and control hazards. # Section 4: Overview of the Safety Model ## What Must Be Done to Be Safe? Use the three-stage safety model: recognize, evaluate, and control hazards. To be safe, you must think about your job and plan for hazards. To avoid injury or death, you must understand and recognize hazards. You need to evaluate the situation you are in and assess your risks. You need to control haz- ards by creating a safe work environment, by using safe work practices, and by report- ing hazards to a supervisor or teacher. If you do not recognize, evalu- ate, and control hazards, you may be injured or killed by the electricity itself, electrical fires, or falls. If you use the safety model to recognize, evaluate, and control hazards, you are much safer. Report hazards to your supervisor or teacher. ■ Identify electrical hazards. ## (1) Recognize hazards ■ Don't listen to reckless, dangerous people. The first part of the safety model is recognizing the hazards around you. Only then can you avoid or control the hazards. It is best to discuss and plan hazard recognition tasks with your co-workers. Sometimes we take risks ourselves, but when we are responsible for others, we are more careful. Sometimes others see hazards that we overlook. Of course, it is possible to be talked out of our concerns Page 18 Section 4

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# -RECOGNIZING HAZARDS Worker was electrocuted while removing energized fish tape. A n electrician was removing a metal fish tape from a hole at the base of a metal light pole. (A fish tape is used to pull wire through a conduit run.) The fish tape became energized, electro- the agency's construction standards. If the following OSHA requirements had been followed, this death could have been prevented. • De-energize all circuits before beginning work. - Always lock out and tag out de-energized equipment. - Companies must train workers to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions associ- ated with their work. Fish tape. Section 5 Page 23

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# ―RECOGNIZING HAZARDS (cont.) ## Summary of Section 5 (cont.) SAFETY MODEL STAGE ■ risk-the chance that injury or death will occur ■ Make the right decisions. # Section 6 Safety Model Stage 2— Evaluating Hazards ## How Do You Evaluate Your Risk? After you recognize a hazard, your next step is to evaluate your risk from the hazard. Obviously, exposed wires should be recognized as a hazard. If the exposed wires are 15 feet off the ground, your risk is low. However, if you are going to be working on a roof near those same wires, your risk is high. The risk of shock is greater if you will be carrying metal conduit that could touch the exposed wires. You must constantly evaluate your risk. Combinations of hazards increase risk. I short-a low-resistance path between a live wire and the ground, or between wires at different voltages (called a fault if the current is unintended) Combinations of hazards increase your risk. Improper grounding and a damaged tool greatly increase your risk. Wet conditions com- bined with other hazards also increase your risk. You will need to make decisions about the nature of hazards in order to evaluate your risk and do the right thing to remain safe. There are "clues" that electrical hazards exist. For example, if a GFCI keeps tripping while you are using a power tool, there is a problem. Don't keep resetting the GFCI and continue to work. You must evaluate the “clue" and decide what action should be taken to control the hazard. There are a number of other conditions that indi- cate a hazard. - Tripped circuit breakers and blown fuses show that too much current is flowing in a circuit. This condition could be due to sev- eral factors, such as malfunctioning equipment or a short between conductors. You need to determine the cause in order to control the hazard. - An electrical tool, appliance, wire, or connection that feels warm may indicate too much current in the circuit or equipment. You need to evaluate the situation and…

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# How Harmful Is Lead? Lead damages nervous and reproductive systems. (cont.) ## Lead (cont.) BEGIN Health Hazards INSTRUCTION ZONE ROADWAY SAFETY 6 # Are There Other Health Hazards? Most can be avoided with basic protections. ## Other hazards include - Common substances such as solvents and CO - Special products such as sealants, paints ## Avoiding health hazards means MSDS • Reviewing the product Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) - Limiting exposure as much as possible - Staying upwind of hazardous exposures - Making sure that hazard controls such as fans are working - Wearing protective equipment such as respirators, skin coverings • Promptly reporting any health complaints to your supervisor

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# Article 2 Inspections Citations and Proposed Penalties (cont.) ## 8 AAC 61.845. Training course requirements. (cont.) body without the need to use solvents. (c) Each trainee must become familiar with (1) Alaska occupational safety and health standards regulations, subch. 1, para. 0105(c)(4), sec. 0403, and sec. 0501; subch. 4, sec. 0101 and 0103; and subch. 5, sec. 250, as adopted by reference in 8 AAC 61.010; (2) the requirements of subch. 15, Hazard Communications Code, Alaska occupational safety and health standards, as adopted - by reference in 8 AAC 61.010; and (3) the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's certification requirements for persons who apply and handle wood preservative chemicals. (d) The operator of a training program may require that a trainee have medical approval before being provided with hands-on training in the use of a self-contained breathing apparatus. (e) The operator of a training program shall provide the following materials to each trainee, to be kept by the trainee future reference: for (1) - A copy of the Alaska occupational safety and health regulations listed in (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section; (2) a copy of 8 AAC 61.800 - 8 AAC 61.890; (3) an example of an MSDS for a typical paint containing hazardous materials; (4) a brochure, available from the department, on the health effects of paints and coatings; (5) a list of substances that should not be spray-applied; (6) a list of substances that are known to absorb through the skin. ## 8 AAC 61.850. Examinations. (a) An examination shall be given to each trainee to test the trainee's knowledge and skill in the subjects and procedures covered by a training course. (b) The examination under this section shall include a written examination that tests a trainee's knowledge of the material covered in the training course, including (1) the requirements of 8 AAC 61.800 - 8 AAC 61.890, including the requirement that the required certificate must be in the work…