Hazard Analysis — Electrical shocks, burns and/or electrocution

Problem:

Workers that work with or remove old wiring may face hazards from electrical shocks, burns and/or electrocution.

Risk Description:

An electric shock is the passage of an external electrical current between parts of the body or through the body which can cause injury or death. Coming in contact with electrical currents may result in shocks and electrical burns, and potentially cause death if a worker is exposed to a lethal amount of electrical energy.

Assessment Info:

An energized, or "live," conductor may not appear any different than a dead conductor. For that reason, electrical hazards are usually not apparent. Assessment of electrical contact hazards should be an integral part of the site safety planning process. If someone contacts a source of electricity, the extent of injury depends on these factors:

The magnitude of the current (affected by the voltage and resistance)
The pathway of the current through the body
The flow duration of the electrical current
The confinement or pathway followed by the plasma in case of an arc

To assess the exposure to potential electrical contacts and arc flashes, it is important to determine:

If electrical tools are free from wears and tears or any other defects due to normal use and the rugged nature of construction tasks; double-insulated tools usually add more protection.
If there are warning or danger signs posted when electrical hazards are present; some signs will specifically indicate the approximate voltages.

Here is an example of an electrical hazard checklist.

Regulations & Standards:

Under 29 CFR, Part 1926 in the Safety and Health Regulations for Construction, Subpart K of 29 CFR 1926.402 through 1926.408contain installation safety requirements for electrical equipment and installations used to provide electric power and light at the jobsite. These sections apply to both temporary and permanent installations used on the jobsite. These OSHA standards originated from the National Fire Protection Association Standards NFPA 70 and 70E.

The NFPA 70, also known as the National Electrical Code (NEC), and the NFPA 70E, also known as the Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces, comprehensively address electrical safety regulations. The purpose of the NEC is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity. The NEC contains provisions considered necessary for safety and applies to the installation of electric conductors and equipment within or on public or private buildings or other structures, including mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and floating buildings; and other premises such as yards; carnival, parking, and other lots; and industrial substations. The NEC serves as the basis for electrical building codes across the United States.

The NFPA 70E contains rules necessary for the practical safeguarding of persons during the installation, operation, or maintenance of electric supply and communication lines and associated equipment. These rules contain the basic provisions that are considered necessary for the safety of employees and the public under the specified conditions. Unlike the NFPA 70, the NFPA 70E contains work rules in addition to installation requirements.

For determining the danger zone of arc flash hazard conditions, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard 1584, Guide for Performing Arc Flash Hazard Calculations, provides guidelines to calculate the hazards of arc flash for different pieces of equipment in various power systems.

Federal OSHA Standards are enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor in 26 states. There are currently 22 states and jurisdictions operating complete State plans (covering both the private sector and state and local government employees) and 5 - Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and the Virgin Islands - which cover public employees only. If you are working in one of those states or jurisdictions you should ensure that you are complying with their requirements.

Other Considerations:

Assessing Effectiveness of Electrical Safety Programs

In order to assess whether electrical safety programs are effective , here are some important elements that employers should keep into consideration to better reduce the risk of electrical contacts. The programs should:

Be comprehensive; when necessary, revise existing programs to thoroughly address the area of electrical safety in the workplace.
Be in compliance with existing OSHA regulations (see below "Regulations & Standards").
Be in compliance with the National Electrical Code and the National Electrical Safety Code (see below "Regulations & Standards").
Provide adequate training in the identification and control of the hazards associated with electrical energy in their workplace for the employees.
Provide additional specialized electrical safety training to the employees working with or around exposed components of electric circuits. This training should include, but not be limited to, training in basic electrical theory, proper safe work procedures, hazard awareness and identification, proper use of PPE, proper lockout/tagout procedures, first aid including CPR, and proper rescue procedures. Provisions should be made for periodic retraining as necessary.
Have proper procedures to control hazardous electrical energy which include lockout and tagout procedures and ensure that employees follow these procedures.
Have safety meetings at regular intervals.
Have scheduled and unscheduled safety inspections at work sites.
Actively encourage all workers to participate in workplace safety.
Have jobsite surveys before starting any work in order to identify any electrical hazards, implement appropriate control measures, and provide training to employees specific to all identified hazards.
Ensure that proper personal protective equipments are available and worn by employees where required (this includes fall protection equipment).
Have job hazard analyses of all tasks that might expose workers to the hazards associated with electrical energy and implement control measures that will adequately insulate and isolate workers from electrical energy.
Have Identify potential electrical hazards and appropriate safety interventions during the planning phase of construction or maintenance projects. This planning should address the project from start to finish to ensure workers have the safest possible work environment.

Statistical Information:

Fatalities from Contact with Electricity in Construction
Leading Causes of Fatal and Nonfatal Injuries in Construction

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Select Solution:

Engineering control

Grounding Mat

Grounding mats, connected to a grounded object, can protect workers from electrocution by providing an equipotential zone.

Using Non-conductive Ladders

These ladders prevent the current from the live power lines to reach the worker if the ladder contacts an overhead power line.

Work practice

Using Insulating Blankets

Insulating blankets cover the live powerlines and protect workers from the accidental contacts with energized conductors.

Lockout Tagout

LOTO devices reduce the risk of an unexpected equipment start-up by ensuring that an unauthorized worker cannot energize that equipment.

Administrative control

Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Safety Planning

BIM is a concept that offers software technology application (app) that integrates digital building information for hazard identification and safety planning. It can virtual map a project lifecycle from design through procurement, construction, operation, and maintenance.

Construction Safety and Health Virtual Reality Training

Virtual reality technology has the potential to improve health and safety outcomes for construction workers by providing an immersive and interactive form of training that allows them to learn and practice safety procedures in a safe and controlled virtual environment.

Job Hazard Analysis

Job hazard analysis (JHA), also known as job safety analysis and activity hazard analysis, is a process in construction project planning that aims to proactively identify the steps in a task, assess the risk level of each step, and assign appropriate action to control the risk.

Last Planner® System

The Last Planner® System is a production planning and control system designed to produce predictable work flow and improve project performance across the design, construction and commissioning stages of construction projects.

Lean Construction

Lean construction processes are streamlined to eliminate operational inefficiencies and enhance the value on projects.

Lockout Tagout Automation Software with Real-time Monitoring

Cloud-based automation software that provides real-time lockout/tagout processes and information to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.

Smart Lockout Tagout Padlock

A smart lockout tagout padlock utilizes Bluetooth and multiple access codes for efficient management of lockout/tagout authorizations with remote capabilities.

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