22 Common Causes of Electrical Accidents and Electrical Safety Tips

Electrical safety is the ongoing practice and process of identifying electrical hazards, assessing risk, and implementing controls to prevent electrocution, burns, or other injuries. Formulates guidelines to prevent, mitigate electrical hazards and minimize the severity of the consequences.

 

Causes of Electrical Accidents

22 Common Causes of Electrical Accidents and Electrical Safety Tips

Overheating, ground leaks, overloads, and electrical arcs due to loose accessories are the main causes of electrical fires. A dust explosion or flammable vapor cloud explosion may also occur due to ignition by electrical sparks. In addition to this dynamic electricity (the uniform movement of electrons through a conductor), static electricity is also one of the main causes of fires and explosions in oil and gas facilities.

Here are the 22 common causes of electrical accidents that will help you to decide the adequate and effective controls.

 

22 common causes of electrical accidents

Cause Nos-1: Inadequate examination, identification, installation and use of equipment

Cause Nos-2: Improper or no grounding (earthing) of equipment

Cause Nos-3: Inadequate or no guarding of liveparts

Cause Nos-4: Inadequate isolation of electrical equipment due to by-passing of standard procedures

Cause Nos-5: Insecure mounting of electrical equipment

Cause Nos-6: Loose or improperly tightened terminal connections

Cause Nos-7: Unused openings in the junction boxes and electrical equipment

Cause Nos-8: Improper installations of flexible cord and cables

Cause Nos-9: Use of flexible cord and cable as a substitute for fixed wiring

Cause Nos-10: Pulling of cables at joints and terminals

Cause Nos-11: Inadequate or damaged insulation of cables

Cause Nos-12: Layout of cables nearby hot surfaces, furnaces etc.

Cause Nos-13: Ingress of chemical compounds in the cable trenches or buried underground cables

Cause Nos-14: Improper splicing

Cause Nos-15: Inadequate working space around electrical equipment

Cause Nos-16: Wet and/or damp locations

Cause Nos-17: Poor workplace illumination

Cause Nos-18: Metal objects such as watch necklaces, rings etc.

Cause Nos-19: Improper use of portable power tools

Cause Nos-20: Lack of proper inspection system for tools and equipment

Cause Nos-21: Employment of untrained workers for electrical jobs

Cause Nos-22: Failure to use adequate personal protective equipment

 

Safety Tips to prevent cause of electrical accidents

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-1: Develop and implement Electrical safety procedure for examination, identification, installation and use of electrical equipment in workplace.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos -2: Ensure proper grounding (earthing) of equipment including electrical motors, transformers, pumps, compressors, electrical panels, metal structures, hydrocarbon piping, etc.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos -3: Ensure adequate guarding of live parts to avoid contact.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos -4: Develop, implement and maintain LOTO procedure for adequate isolation of electrical equipment.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos -5: Ensure secured mounting of electrical equipment

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-6: Make sure the terminal connections are tight to prevent sparking or short circuit.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-7: Seal properly the unused openings in the junction boxes and electrical equipment.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-8: Make sure that all flexible cord and cables are properly installed or laid. Make arrangement to prevent mechanical damage.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-9: Avoid using flexible cord and cable, use fixed wiring instead.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-10: Don’t pull the cables at joints and terminals.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-11: Ensure proper insulation of cables as inadequate or damaged insulation may cause fire. Damaged cable insulation must be repair immediately.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-12: Avoid layout of cables nearby hot surfaces, furnaces etc. All Electrical fitting must be according to electrical area classification.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-13: Make adequate arrangement to prevent ingress of chemical compounds in the cable trenches or buried underground cables.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-14: Improper splicing is major cause of electrical fire or shock and must be place in a Junction Box or in the fixture to avoid hazards.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-15: Ensure adequate working space around electrical equipment.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-16: Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) to avoid the risk of electric shock when working near a wet or damp area.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-17: Ensure adequate illumination in workplace.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-18: Do not wear metal objects such as watch, necklaces, rings, etc. while working on electrical equipment.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-19: Before each use of portable power tools, it must be inspected properly for any defects. Damaged cord of portable power tools must be repair or replace immediately.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-20: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and inspection checklist must be developed for proper inspection of electrical tools and equipment.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-21: All electrical work must be performed by competent electrician.

Electrical Safety Tips Nos-22: Always use appropriate personal protective equipment while performing electrical work. 

All these 22 common causes of electrical accidents and electrical safety tips will help you to decide the adequate and effective controls.

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