Electrical Safety Basics

Bryan gives a quick overview of electrical safety basics, including the anatomy of electrocution, arc flashes, and an intro to personal protective equipment (PPE) and lockout/tagout. NOTE: We are not an official OSHA training facility!

Electrocution refers to death or severe injury caused by an electrical current flowing through the body. The electrical path through the body is an important variable in the likelihood of death by electrocution; a current moving across the heart, brain, or spine is most dangerous. Although amperage is indeed what causes death, the power supply type (limited or unlimited current) and voltage also play a role in electrocution; Ohm's law states that voltage is equivalent to amperage multiplied by resistance, and our bodies have high (typically fixed) resistance. The mere milliamps that may pass through our bodies upon electrical shock may be enough to kill or severely injure someone. The duration of the shock is another factor that will dictate the severity of the shock.

To prevent electrocution, work only on safe voltages (24v) without PPE and use proper PPE when working on live higher-voltage components.

Electrocution is not the only risk of working with electrical components. Arc flashes can cause fires, which are dangerous to people inside a building. To avoid being injured by an arc flash, keep a safe distance from the equipment; stay only as close to the equipment as necessary. If you must get close to the equipment, make sure you are wearing all of your required PPE.

Lockout/tagout is another safety strategy that requires you to lock a piece of equipment out at the disconnect while you work on it. Equipment that has been locked out can only start up again if every single person who locked the equipment out removes their lock. If locking out equipment isn't available, then you must tag it out, which alerts others that someone is working on the equipment.

Falling is one of the greatest risks of working on electrical equipment. When you get shocked in a high place, such as on a ladder, you can lose your footing, let go, or fall backward. So, you must also be properly tied off when you are working in high places.

AFCIs and GFCIs interrupt the circuit in cases of arc faults and ground faults, respectively. GFCIs look for imbalances between neutral and hot to protect human life directly, and AFCIs use a circuit board inside the breaker to detect arc risks to prevent fires, protect property, and protect human life indirectly.

The main source of electrical codes and proper installation practices is the NEC/NFPA70. These codes aim to protect human life and property by reducing the risks of electrocution and fires within buildings.

[schoepsms]

My dad is a retired union electrician and he told me stories about the old timers testing circuits by touching conductors with fingers. Thankfully he never did that. A better rule of thumb if you will, is to always have tremendous respect for electricity.

[tire]

Watching this leaving a funeral viewing for my (electrician) journeyman that was electrocuted Friday. Please take safety seriously.

RIP Carlos. IBEW 716.

[thomasdanieltucker]

Thank you for doing Safety videos. The Techs I work with here in TN. don't take safety seriously. They try to be macho, but I think it's because they dont know any better.

[kythrathesuntamer]

this stuff is important because with how much knowledge available on the web there's enough to make people to go at it without being really "qualified" legally. "Qualified" to me is just knowing what you're doing. being certified is good, but it's not necessary.

[Alex-yehu]

Contractor told me if you see the lights dim and I scream I'm okay.

He said if lights dim and you don't hear cussing check on him lol

[scotshiers]

Also be aware that > 600 volts skin will be breached allowing your iron rich salty blood to now become a very low resistive path for current flow.

[o.v.]

Also do not rely on the disconnect...look inside and verify that that line side hasn't been jumped over to the load side essential making the disconnect irrelevant...i know its dumd AF but I've seen this multiple times. Make it a habit to open that disconnect door when you use a disconnect to isolate equipment..

[amf]

Sir Q what are the criterias selection of electrical equipment in an organisation? How will inspect that area?

[rublar]

7:22 The video is dated 2018 but the Category 0 was removed in 2015. I don't know if this video is outdated but more importantly, why don't we see techs in the videos, while measuring voltage with exposed energized parts and conductors greater than 50V, wearing any shock protection? Why does the workforce treat Electrical Safety like Electrician Safety? HVAC techs are exposed to the same hazards as electricians while measuring voltage, but not wearing any electrical safety PPE. When will the HVAC industry start implementing electrical safety work practices?

[hvacprolonewolf]

I would love to have the American Electricians Guide

[sovannitc]

What are the main safety risks regarding high Voltages (>50 Volt)?

[hopolo]

have a sacrificial electrode nearby connected to ground. any arcs will go there, not you.

[unnmaed]

If you become a part of a circuit you will pop as a fuse

[TheShoo]

Watching this *after* having received a shock... sigh

[hopolo]

3:53 you mean "shorted", not "grounded"

[ItchyDingo]

I don't agree with being tied the ladder, the only reason I'm alive today is because after being stuck there
electrocuted through both arms for 3 seconds i fell off the ladder.. and thank god like those grabbing claw machines i didn't get a good grip on the suction pipe

[trteeerryfse-wyww]

When I was a kid 3 I put a car key into an outlet. I was a dumb kid. I felt it travel down my arm down my body and through my leg. I have no idea how I survived probably gfci