Definition of electrical hazards
To be sure, electricity poses a risk since it could hurt someone, but if it is handled safely, that risk is much reduced. When things go wrong with electricity, however, the repercussions could be lethal or permanently altered. According to the Health and Safety Executive, electric shock fatalities are an infrequent occurrence, but even one is too many when considering risk. The possibility of injury is cited as one of the dangers of electricity in Regulation 2 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Death or serious injury can be caused by electrical risks due to:
Shocking electric current
Many deaths or injury associated with the generation, provision, transmission, transformation, rectification, conversion, conduction, distribution, control, storage, measurement, or use of electrical energy, including but not limited to electric burns, electrical explosions, arcing, fires, and explosions.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 cover any job that puts workers near live electrical installations. Therefore, the scope of the law is not limited to electricians and electrical engineers, but rather includes mechanical engineers, construction workers, manufacturing staff, and office employees where the risks of electricity are present in the course of their work.
Some potential dangers posed by electricity are:
- Contact with live wires can cause electric shock and burns.
- Circuit overloading
- A lack of insulation on exposed wires
- Lack of personal protective equipment (PPE)-related electrocution or burns.
- Caused by explosive or combustible materials.
- Accidental connection to power lines
- Wet electrical wiring
It is safe to say that not all electrical fires are reported. Almost everyone has a story about a close call with electricity. Electric shock and arc flash (flash over) are two of the most common electrical risks. In other cases, electrical energy is not properly identified as the cause of a disastrous event. But efficient electrical safety management systems are responsible for the extremely low frequency of deaths caused by contact with electricity. Although many of the United Kingdom’s electrical standards are voluntary, they are nonetheless strictly enforced.
This is a good condition to be in, yet it can create complacency. People get complacent and businesses look to electrical management to save money as electrical hazard regulations have improved over the years and the level of safety supplied reduces incidence levels, putting us all in danger.
How to Avoid Dangerous Electrical Situations
The solution for public safety is in establishing secure systems, individuals, and locations. The first step in creating a safe system of work, which we refer to as Safe Systems is to identify who is responsible for what in terms of electrical wiring and equipment. This is the Duty Holder structure, and it varies in complexity from firm to company based on the tasks it does and the size of its workforce. According to Rule 4(3) of the 1989 Electricity at Work Regulations, this is mandatory.
Those in charge of electrical safety management will require some sort of regulation, again, pertinent to the firm and its endeavors. Many businesses will be required to implement Electrical Safety Rules, and with that mandate comes the responsibility to provide adequate training and documentation to employees so that they can comply with the regulations in a risk-free manner. If they are required, safety documents such electrical Permit to Work, Sanction for Test, or Limitation of Access will regulate certain work activities.
Method statements, SOPs, and risk assessments all play critical roles in ensuring a safe work environment. For individuals working on high energy systems, be it at high voltage or low voltage, the risk of arc flash and arc blast is a major problem and should be considered properly. Work involving live wiring or working within electrical panels requires a special risk assessment. Always keep in mind that the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require all safety devices to meet the standards outlined in Regulation 4(4).
