Top Five Electrical Hazards At Construction Sites
Imagine a construction site without electrical power. Nothing would get done. Today, electricity is often taken for granted as part of the job. So much so, it is often treated without the respect it deserves. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), safety and health programs must address electrical incidents and the variety of ways electricity can become a hazard.
OSHA has identified five hazards as the most frequent cause of electrical injuries at construction sites.
Contact With Power Lines
Overhead and buried power lines at your site are especially hazardous because they carry extremely high voltage. Fatal electrocution is the main risk, but burns and falls from elevation are also hazards. Using tools and equipment that can contact power lines increases the risk.
Lack of Ground-Fault Protection
Due to the dynamic, rugged nature of construction work, normal use of electrical equipment at your site causes wear and tear that results in insulation breaks, short-circuits, and exposed wires. If there is no ground-fault protection, these can cause a ground-fault that sends current through the worker’s body, resulting in electrical burns, explosions, fire, or death.
Path To Ground Missing Or Disconnected
If the power supply to the electrical equipment at your site is not grounded or the path has been broken, faulty current may travel through a worker's body, causing electrical burns or death. Even when the power system is properly grounded, electrical equipment can instantly change from safe to hazardous because of extreme conditions and rough treatment.
Equipment Not Used In The Manner Prescribed
If electrical equipment is used in ways for which it is not designed, you can no longer depend on safety features built in by the manufacturer. This may damage your equipment and cause employee injuries. Common examples of misused equipment include: using multi-receptacle boxes designed to be mounted, fitting them with a power cord and placing them on the floor; using equipment outdoors that is labeled for use only in dry, indoor locations; and attaching ungrounded, two-prong adapter plugs to three-prong cords and tools.
Improper Use of Extension and Flexible Cords
The normal wear and tear on extension and flexible cords at your site can loosen or expose wires, creating hazardous conditions. Cords that are not three-wire type, not designed for hard-usage, or that have been modified, increase your risk of contacting electrical current.
First Aid: Electrical Accidents
- Disconnect the appliances or turn off the power if a person is undergoing electric shock.
- If you can't turn off the power, use a piece of wood, like a broom handle, dry rope or dry clothing, to separate the victim from the power source.
- Never touch a person under-going electric shock or you too could become a victim.
- Cover associated electric shock burns with a dry sterile dressing only.
- Call for emergency help. Keep the victim lying down.
- Unconscious victims should be placed on their side to allow drainage of fluids. Do not move the victim if there is a suspicion of neck or spinal injuries unless absolutely necessary.
