Why Hazard Communication Is So Important Common Electrical Hazards From 1992 through 2002, there were 3,378 workers who died from on-the-job electrical injuries. Watch out for areas in your workplace that could present these common electrical hazards. Shock Electric shock occurs when the body becomes part of an electrical circuit. The human body conducts electricity well, which means direct contact with an electrical current can be deadly. Dangers • Cardiac arrest • Muscle, nerve, and tissue destruction • Thermal burns • Immediate death Possible Causes • Contact with exposed wiring • Poking metal objects into electrical outlets • Lightning strikes • Contact with live power lines Arc Flash An arc flash happens when electric current flows through an air gap between conductors. Arc flashes can expel large amounts of deadly energy causing a great deal of damage to personnel and equipment. Dangers • Severe skin burns • Damage to eye sight • Thermal burns • Immediate death Possible Causes • Sparks due to breaks or gaps in the insulation • Equipment failure • Dust, corrosion, or other impurities on the conductor • Voltage transients/spikes Arc Blast During an arc flash, the rapidly expanding gases and heated air may cause dangerous blasts, pressure waves, or explosions rivaling that of dynamite. This is known as an arc blast. Dangers •Concussion or injury from being blown off your feet • Ruptured eardrums and hearing loss • Exposure to flying debris • Severe skin burns Prevention • Never work on a “hot” device • Test voltage to be sure it is off • Apply lockout/tagout devices •Apply grounding devices where applicable Talk Date:______________________________ Supervisor/Facilitator:_______________________________________ Location:_______________________________ Department:______________________________________________ SAFETY FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT CONTACT: SAFETYQUESTIONS@FASTENAL.COM OR 1-833-FNL-SAFE WF_297852 JP 06/21 20.4
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