Electrical risk assessments are required in all workplaces that have electricity. The Electricity at Work Regulations gives guidance on all workplaces and activities. We explore some electrical risk assessments to be aware of in the workplace.
A shock risk assessment, and an arc-flash risk assessment are the two main components of an electrical risk assessment.
Table of Contents
Who are the risks?
How is risk defined first? NFPA 70E, the standard of the National Fire Protection Association for electrical safety at work, defines risk as a combination of the likelihood of occurrence of a hazard and the severity of the injury or damage caused to health. Electricity has two main hazards: shocks and arc flashes. Each hazard needs an independent assessment for every situation and task. Risk assessments should answer the following:
- Is there a danger present?
- Are injuries likely to occur in the future?
- What is the severity of the injury?
- How does the risk hierarchy control the risk?
Shock hazard
A shock hazard can be defined as an injury source that could occur from contact or approach to exposed and energized circuit components or electrical conductors. The 70E defines the limit approach boundary as the distance between exposed and energized components where a shock risk exists. Answer the following question: A) Will we be crossing the limited approach boundary if exposed and energized (above 50-volt) parts are present? There’s a danger if so. B)
Is it likely that an injury will occur? Injury is more likely to occur at the restricted approach boundary. Injury is possible if this distance is crossed. The voltage determines the severity. A voltage above 50 can cause fatal or permanent injuries. The higher the voltage the more severe the injury, but 120 volts is still deadly.
Determine a mitigation strategy based on the hierarchy of controls. This is a simplified example for illustration purposes: Can we create a safe electrical work environment following our procedure to control hazardous energy (or lockout/tagout)? Can we leave if not? If not, is it possible to substitute another voltage? Can we place something between us, and the danger? If none of these are true, then we may need to use personal protective equipment.
Arc flash hazard
Injury is more likely to occur if you are inside the arc-flash boundary. The severity of the injury can be determined by using either the tables for PPE categories in 70E or incident energy analysis. The final question is: Can I create a safe electrical risk work environment? Can I leave? Can I substitute for you? Can I substitute? If not, then PPE can reduce the severity of an injury to a level that is manageable.
Both risk assessments must be performed to ensure employee safety against electrical hazards. Remember that the results of both assessments can be greatly affected by factors such as equipment design and maintenance. Once we know the type of dangers we face, we can take steps to reduce the risk.
Electrical Risk Assessment: Identifying the main hazards
Electricity poses a number of hazards, including the risk that a person could be electrocuted if they come into contact with live electrical parts or faulty equipment. Electricity can also be a source of ignition for flammable materials, which could lead to fires.
Arcing is a common electrical hazard, and it’s often caused by frayed wires or exposed ones. Electrical hazards can also be caused by overloading sockets. If not managed properly, loose wires and cable can be a trip risk.
Electrical Risk Assessment: Precautions that can help manage risks
By ensuring that appliances are not misused, good workplace practices can eliminate electrical hazards. You can minimize electrical risks by ensuring that the equipment is used only for its intended purpose and is suitable for it. You should also communicate the correct usage of electrical appliances to your workers.
Management should require contractors to check all electrical appliances prior to use. This is an element of individual accountability. By incorporating these checks into an ongoing schedule, they will become a routine for workers and make it easier to check compliance. The management should also make sure that contractors do not bring on site equipment that is unfit for use or that could increase electrical hazards.
A system is the best way to start any electrical work, including maintenance. If you follow the instructions and do not diverge from them, a permit-to-work can help with completing electrical work in a safe way. If possible, avoid working with live electrical equipment. It may be necessary to use isolation and locking procedures in some cases for safe electrical risk work.
If an electrical emergency occurs, having a standard procedure that is known by all workers will reduce the risk of electrical hazards on the site. In these situations, the machinery should be equipped with an easily accessible switch or isolator.
Signage about the dangers associated with working with electricity can help reinforce workers’ vigilance and indicate the most dangerous areas of the workplace. Visual checks can also be used to detect any increases in risk. This includes looking for damaged appliances, cables, or badly executed repairs.
It is possible to reduce risk by storing cables in a safe manner. For example, you can box them up or place them above the ground. There are risks that depend on the weather, e.g. Outdoor work outdoors, where appliances can get wet from rain, should take precautions to use only appropriate equipment to prevent electrical equipment from becoming live. If possible, fuse boxes should be kept closed and locked. Storage of flammable materials should be kept away from electrical points to prevent explosions.
Who is responsible for implementing changes and when?
Training and maintenance are key factors in managing electrical risks. The work, including inspection and testing, should be performed by a competent individual, in this case, an electrician. If the person performing these checks is qualified to deal with any electrical hazards that may have been identified by your electrical risk assessment, then they should be able to do so. Consult additional guidance on electrical risk assessments specific to your workplace. For example, the Maintenance of Portable Electrical Equipment.
Include in your electrical risk assessment a commitment that you will fully understand and implement the best practices. For example, adhere to the Institute of Engineering and Technology’s IET Wiring Regulations BS7671, a code of conduct for installations up to 1500V DC or 1000V AC.
As part of your risk assessment, you must hold everyone accountable for spotting potential electrical hazards and reporting them. You will have a greater awareness of safety if workers are confident about identifying hazards and know how to report them. Fitters, contractors, and management should discuss electrical safety prior to the start of the job to ensure workers have the appropriate machinery to complete the task.
You must also recognize when you have to escalate the situation to a third-party. Consult local companies before excavating the ground or digging in areas where there could be underground cables and services. If you are working around or near overhead power lines, it is important to check with cable owners about the clearance distances required and the precautions that should be taken.
It is important to check the competence of third-party contractors for electrical testing and installation if your team does not have any qualified electricians. This is something you should include in your risk assessment. You can also ask contractors to provide specific risk assessments and verify their suitability.
There is no set deadline to complete actions in many of your electrical risk assessment examples because the reduction and elimination of risks are ongoing. To prevent injuries, any electrical components or installations that are unsafe should be isolated or made safe.
By ensuring that high safety standards and communication are met in the workplace as part of daily and weekly routines, you can reduce electrical hazards and set a good example to everyone.
Electric Safety: A Vital Risk Management Strategy
It is therefore crucial to manage risk by securing your company with effective electrical safety procedures. We will examine some crucial strategies in this article to protect your business from electrical risk hazards.
Let’s first understand the importance of electrical safety. These facts and figures highlight the importance of protecting your business.
- A report from the National Fire Protection Association shows that electrical risk failures and malfunctions are the second most common cause of fires outside the home between 2014 and 201
- Electrical hazards are responsible for thousands of injuries and fatalities each year, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
- Electrical accidents can cause significant financial losses for businesses, due to the property damage, equipment downtime and possible legal liability.
Electricians need to invest in the best insurance for them.
You’ll be tempting fate if you are an electrician without proper insurance every time you enter a house or business to perform electrical risk work. One accident can put your business in a bad situation and even force it to close.
BizInsure will help you find the best electrical contractor insurance. The wide selection of insurance policies can provide your business and you with the protection that it needs.
