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Electrical SafetyRonald Porep, Chicago Coresspondent |
Volume 2 Issue 15February 2003 |
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, some 300 workers per year die from electrical shock on the job. Every year, about 4,000 workers lose time from work because of electrical injuries. There is no question that electricity is essential to the operation of a modern automated office. Electrical equipment, though, used in an office is potentially hazardous and can cause serious shock and burn injuries if improperly used or maintained. Hazards of Electricity Electricity flows through what is know as conductors. A conductor can be a wire (the safe path for electrical power) or it can be a part of the human body (an unsafe path for electrical power). |
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| If a part of the body comes in contact with the electrical circuit, a shock will occur. The electrical current will enter the body at one point and leave at another. The passage of electricity through the body can cause great pain, burns, destruction of tissue, nerves, and muscles and even death. Factors influencing the effects of electrical shock include the type of current, voltage, resistance, amperage, pathway through the body, and the duration of contact. The longer the current flows through the body, the more serious the injury. Injuries are less severe when the current does not pass through or near nerve centers and vital organs. | |
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Other substances such as dry wood, porcelain, or pottery offer a high
resistance and can be used to prevent the flow of electrical current. High
resistance items can be used to disconnect the human body from a power
source. Your own hand or any part of your body though will just get you
electrocuted as well. Follow standard first aid procedures to help an
electrocution victim. Of course, the best way to save someone from electric shock is to prevent it. Electrical accidents usually occur as a result of faulty or defective equipment, unsafe installation, or misuse of equipment on the part of office workers. |
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Ground Electrical Equipment
Grounding is a method of protecting employees from electric shock. By grounding an electrical system, a low-resistance path to earth through a ground connection is intentionally created. When properly done, this path offers sufficiently low resistance and has sufficient current-carrying capacity to prevent the build-up of hazardous voltages. Most fixed equipment such as large, stationary machines must be grounded. Cord and plug connected equipment must be grounded if it is located in hazardous or wet locations, if operated at more than 150 volts to ground, or if it is of a certain type of equipment (such as refrigerators and air conditioners). Smaller office equipment, such as typewriters and coffee pots, would generally not fall into these categories and therefore would not have to be grounded. However much of the newer office equipment is manufactured with grounded plugs as a precaution (three prong plugs). In such cases, the equipment should be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Never remove the third (grounding) prong from any three-prong piece of equipment. Do not use an adapter to connect a device with a third (grounding) plug to an outlet with two openings. Either is a severe electric shock hazard. Unsafe Equipment The cords of equipment you use should also be regularly checked for damage. When the outer jacket of a cord is damaged, the cord may no longer be water-resistant. The insulation can absorb moisture, which may then result in a short circuit or excessive current leakage to ground. If wires are exposed, they may cause a shock. Damaged cords should be replaced by professionals or the unit the cord is attached to discarded. Of course, you should only use electrical devices approved by a national inspection laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Frequently, employees bring in potentially dangerous electrical devices such as coffee makers, lights and even radios. These should be banished from the office and, if such devices are needed, replaced with UL approved devices. Unapproved or just old devices can develop electrical shorts creating fire and/or shock hazards. |
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Working on Electrical Equipment
Disconnect electrical machines before cleaning, adjusting, or applying flammable solutions. If a guard is removed to clean or repair parts, replace it before testing the equipment and returning the machine to service. |
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This means that no one should work on an open electrical device while it is plugged in. To remove a plug from an outlet, take a firm grip on and pull the plug itself. Never pull a plug out by the cord. If you are just turning off power because you are closing the office for the day or no longer need to use the electrical device then use the switch that is on the machine or the cord of the machine. Why? You could get injured or shocked while working inside a machine still connected to power but are unlikely to be harmed if your hands are not in a machine even if the machine accidentally turns on or shorts out. Keep Panels Clear Due to space shortages, office managers tend to put things like file cabinets wherever they can find space. Well, in front of an electrical panel box is not a good place to put anything. Why? If an electrical malfunction should occur, the panel door, and anything else in front of the door, will become very hot. Electrical panel doors should always be kept closed, to prevent "electrical flashover" in the event of an electrical malfunction. Conclusion We need electricity to power our modern offices. We need, though, to use electrical power safely so it helps and does not harm us. |
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