Electrical workers remain among Australia\'s most dangerous jobs. Despite the low fatality rate of 2.0 per hundred thousand, that includes only fatalities and does not include serious or debilitating injuries.
It\'s important to ensure that you have a Safe Work Method Statement Template (SWMS) up and running before working on anything involving electricity.
What is an electrical risk?
Most electrical hazards at work sites in Australia can be attributed to three main factors:
If an electric shock occurs, a burn might occur if a person comes into contact with an exposed live part. These include metal floors, roofs, leads, etc.
A fire may be caused by a fault - i.e. when there is electrical power and flammables in the presence of each other.
A spark could occur within the environment due to many factors, including static charge buildup, high voltage power lines, lightning strikes, or arc flash.
Additionally, electricity provides a greater risk in the following two environmental circumstances:
When outside, especially in damp conditions. There are greater chances of harm everywhere that wire or equipment might become wet.
In confined areas with corroded metals. If an electrical shock happens in certain conditions, it can be challenging to prevent.
How can I avoid these risks?
As previously stated, the Safe Work Method Statement template is a vital document in protecting workers on the job site since it identifies all areas of electrical danger and recommends practices for mitigating those hazards. The danger on-site will be reduced as long as the entire worksite is motivated to comply with the Safe Work Method Statement template.
Other significant procedures in risk mitigation on-site include:
1. Assume that everything is "alive."
Always treat every conductor and piece of equipment as though it were alive. At no point should you touch any conductor? This may be practiced even when stripping cable ends. Strip and twist cable using pliers rather than your fingers. Before touching metallic covers, such as those on switchboards and light fixtures, always presume they are \'live.\'
2. Separate yourself from Earth
Check your surroundings and equipment before doing any electrical work. Voltages between phases and Earth (including metals, damp conditions, other conductive surfaces, and people close) are only a few of the numerous potential causes of electric shock.
Always be certain that you are not creating a path for electrical current. Use insulated barriers or mats, sparky safe footwear, insulated equipment, and fiberglass ladders, and keep an eye out for weak cable connections. If isolation from Earth is not practicable, establish the presence of a safety observer/rescuer.
3. Always test for dead:
Remember that checking for the dead is seen as "energized work.". All electrical wires and components, including neutral and earthing conductors, should be considered energized until proven otherwise.
Always adhere to proper testing and isolation protocols and the Safe Work Method Statement template. De-energized exposed wires and parts should not be worked on or near unless an electrical worker has:
a. Identified the relevant electrical equipment and conductors, as well as all their energy sources and isolation points.
a. Isolated all electrical equipment and conductors from all sources of energy.
c. Protected the isolation.
d. Discharged any stored energy, such as capacitors, as needed.
e. Demonstrated that all relevant electrical equipment and cables were de-energized.
c. Determined the boundaries of the safe working area.