Each year, hundreds of construction workers suffer shock when handling electrical tools and equipment.

One of the big problems in understanding the dangers of electrical shock is the mistaken belief that only high voltages kill. It’s not the voltage that’s lethal, but the amount of current that passes through the body. The condition and placement of the body has a lot to do with the chance of getting a shock.

It’s important that employers train their workers about the basic facts regarding the causes of electrical shock when using these tools.

 

Water and electricity

Damp areas and metal objects can offer good shortcuts for electricity to reach the ground. If a worker’s hands are sweaty, if socks and shoes are moist or damp, if the floor is wet or they are standing in a puddle of water, the moisture may allow more current to pass through the body.

If work is to be done with metal objects or in damp areas, workers should recognize the hazards and take necessary precautions. These include:

• Rubber gloves and boots,
• Rubber mats,
• Insulated tools, and
• Rubber sheets that can be used to cover exposed metal.

 

Also, during times of rain, extra caution should be taken when working with electrical equipment or working near grounded objects.

 

Other precautions

It’s not just the presence of water that can cause a worker to be electrocuted. Electricity is always a danger, and workers should take all precautions necessary to avoid injury or death.

It’s important that you teach them the following:

• Treat every electric wire as if it were a live one.
• Inspect equipment and extension cords before each use.
• Take faulty equipment or plugs with bent or missing prongs out of service for repair.
• Only qualified electricians should repair electrical equipment or work on energized lines.
• If a plug doesn’t have three prongs or if the receptacle doesn’t have three openings, make sure the tool is grounded in some other way before use.
• Never try to bypass an electrical system by cutting off the third prong of a plug.
• Turn off the power and report the smell of hot or burning plastic, smoke or sparks, or the presence of flickering lights.
• Stop using a tool or appliance if a slight shock or tingling is felt.
• Never disconnect an electrical plug by pulling on the cord.
• Whenever working on an electric circuit, the circuit should be turned off and locked out at the circuit breaker or fuse box to ensure that it cannot be accidentally turned on.
• Those who regularly work on or around energized electrical equipment should be trained in emergency response and CPR.

 

The takeaway

The use of electrical tools requires additional precautions on the part of your workers. It’s important that you train them in proper usage and how to spot potential dangers of electrocution.

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