Overview
Electricity is a long recognized serious workplace hazard for engineers, electricians and others that work with and around electricity including powerlines, electrical circuits, equipment and other electrical assemblies.
Safe Work Practices
- Wear appropriate electrical protective equipment for the task being conducted and ensure that it is in a safe and reliable condition.
- Ensure that you are properly trained and qualified for the work to be done.
- Follow all established safety-related work practices including lockout/tagout procedures.
- Be alert to and aware of your surroundings when working with and around electricity.
- Be alert to warning signs for high voltage.
- Assume all overhead powerlines are energized.
- Stay at least ten feet away from overhead powerlines.
- Contact utilities for buried power line locations.
- Use non-conductive wood or fiberglass ladders when working near power lines.
- Use GFCI on all 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles.
- Use tools and equipment according to the instructions included in their listing, labeling or certification.
- Visually inspect all electrical equipment before use.
- Remove any equipment with frayed cords, missing ground prongs, cracked tool casings or otherwise damaged from service.
- Use all equipment according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Qualified person is one who has received training in and has demonstrated skills and knowledge in the construction and operation of electric equipment and installations and the hazards involved.