Electrical Hazard

Electricity

Electricity is the movement of negatively charged particles called electrons along a closed path called a circuit. Three commonly used terms when referring to electricity are Voltage, Resistance, and Current. Voltage is the force that pushes electricity along a current and is measured in volts. Resistance is anything that impedes the flow and is measured in ohms, and current is the flow of electrons along the path which is measured in amperes or Amps.

Conductivity refers to ease of which a current can flow through an object. Rubber has next to no conductivity which is the opposite of water, which has very high conductivity. The human body majoritively composed of water which in turn makes it highly conductive. Electrical energy has the potential to cause serious harm and can be potentially fatal due to the process of electrocution. Electricity can also lead to other hazards, an example is it being the ignition source for a fire or explosion.

How a circuit works

Measuring Electricity

Electricity is measured in Watts and was named after its discoverer, inventor John Watts. A watt is defined as one ampere under the pressure of one volt. All simple devices around the home that comprise of a simple circuit can use hundreds of watts during use. The commercial and industrial use of electricity is measured in kilowatts/hour, or Kw/h.

Electrocution

Electrocution, which can be fatal to all organic life forms, is defined by the website, Explore Forensics (2016), as the "sudden and involuntary introduction of large, or persistent, amounts of electricity into the human body."

Electrical hazards are the cause of approximately twenty deaths each year in Australia and the Journal of injury prevention (2002, P.308) clearly states that, it is the fifth leading cause of occupational injury death in the United States.

All industries and occupations expose workers to some degree of electricity, most of which is safe unless there is a fault within the circuit/system. The industries with the most fatalities due to electrical hazards are as follows; Construction, Transport, Manufacturing, and Communications.

Electrical Safety

There are several ways to lessen the chance of exposing workers to electrical hazards. The best way is to have all electrical equipment checked and test regularly and to either repair or replace any faults in the system. Personal Protective Equipment may be used to lessen the chance of exposure. These would be in the form of clothing or footwear that have a low conductivity. Ensuring proper distances are observed via the use of barricades is also a useful way to limit exposure. If the hazard is due to a fault or breakdown in the system then elimination can be achieved by removing the supply of electrical energy. This removes any further chance of an electrical hazard. If a workers duties put him or her in close proximity to electricity, such as a line worker, the Australian safety regulation (2013, s24) dictate a worker must be appropriately trained to do the work involved. They must also be assessed on their competence and acquire written permission before commencing work.

References

Claridge, J. (2016), Explore forensics: electrocution, viewed 7 June 2016, http://www.exploreforensics.co.uk/electrocution.html

Electrical Safety Act 2002 (QLD), Electrical safety regulation, s.24, viewed 10 June 2016, https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/E/ElectricalSA02.pdf

ScienceOnline (poster) 2006, Introduction to electricity, video, viewed 7 June 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJeAuQ7pkpc

Taylor, A, McGwin, G & Valent, F 2002 ‘Fatal occupational electrocutions in the United States’, Journal of Injury Prevention, vol.8, p.308, viewed 7 June 2016, http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/8/4/306.full.html

How does an electric toaster work? 2017, viewed 22 February 2017, http://www.explainthatstuff.com/electrictoasters.html

Team, B 2017, What are Watt, Kilowatt and a unit of electricity, in , Bijli Bachao, viewed 22 February 2017, https://www.bijlibachao.com/electricity-bill/what-are-watt-kilowatt-and-a-unit-of-electricity.html

Electrocution Injuries Medical Exhibit Medivisuals 2017, viewed 22 February 2017, http://medivisuals1.com/electrocution-injuries-40204101x.aspx

Electrical Safety Archives - Electrical Contractor 2017, viewed 22 February 2017, http://www.goodielelectric.com/electrical-safety/