Designated Path

 

Overview
All buildings must have a way of allowing occupants fast exit to the outside or a safe place of refuge in case of an emergency. These exits can be hallways, corridors, balconies, ramps, stairs, or lobbies.

The designated paths of exit must be arranged and maintained to provide a free and unob¬structed means to exit all parts of the building at all times. Employers must also ensure that these paths are accessible to occupants who have impaired mobility.

Exits must lead directly outside, to a refuge area, or to an open space with access to the outside. The area beyond the exit has to have enough room to accommodate the people who are likely to use the exit.

Exit doors:
• must be able to be readily opened without having to use keys, tools, or special knowledge.
• cannot have any alarm or device that would restrict emergency use of the exit if the device fails.

What must my employer do?
Your employer will explain how to locate exits in your facility, and what you should do if you are required to exit the building in an emergency

What must I do?
You must become aware of at least two exits from your area of the workplace.
You have the duty to not block exits or paths of exits, and alert your employer if you notice exits that are blocked.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Electrical: Extension Cord Safety

 

Electrical safety is often taken for granted.  During the course of the workday damaged cords may be placed in use without thinking about it.  It is extremely important to verify that all electrical equipment is in good condition before being placed into use.  Approximately, 17% of all construction fatalities are caused by electrical shock, therefore the health and safety of all employees on site can be affected by the use of faulty electrical equipment.  Safe electrical work practices will help guarantee the health and safety of all employees.  

The following can be used as a basis for establishing safe electrical work practices. When rolling out cords at the beginning of the day, always visually inspect the extension cord or electrical tool for damage.  Some things to check are: missing ground pins, insulation fraying and strain relief pulling out of plug ends.  When a cord is damaged, do not use it, have the cord repaired or replaced.  If any copper wire is showing, the cord CANNOT be repaired and must be removed from service immediately.  If just the outer insulation is cut, the cord can only be repaired with electrical tape.  As a rule of thumb any cords with more than 3 repairs per 25ft should be removed from service.  Only heavy duty multiple outlets are allowed to be used.  The multi outlets that should be used are solid molded rubber style only.  Computer strips and homemade electrician boxes are NOT to be used.

Additionally, to ensure that all extension cords and electrical tools are protected and in good condition it is important that they are plugged into a GFCI protected outlet and/or updated with the Assured Grounding Program.  

What is a GFCI?  A GFCI is a fast-acting circuit breaker which senses small imbalances in a circuit caused by leakage to ground and, in a fraction of a second, shuts off the electrical supply.  The GFCI continually matches the amount of current being supplied to an electrical device with the amount of current returning from the device.  When the amount supplied differs from the returning amount by approximately 5 milliamps, the GFCI will disconnect the electrical supply.

Remember to keep in mind that a circuit breaker is not a GFCI; a circuit breaker protects equipment and property - not people.

What is an Assured Grounding Program?  The Assured Grounding Program requires testing of all equipment to verify adequate grounding and a visual inspection to guarantee safe equipment is being used.  Testing is verified by the use of a Quarterly Color Coding Schedule which is identified as follows; 1st quarter (January-March) – White, 2nd quarter (April-June) – Green, 3rd quarter (July-September) – Red, 4th quarter (October-December) – Orange. The following are two methods of testing to be used when using the Assured Grounding Program.

Method 1: Plug a continuity tester into the female end of the extension cord.  The tester will light up.  You will then need to look up the color code provided in your continuity tester manual.  If the adequate lights are lit the tester is indicating proper grounding. It is important to remember that this method will not give an accurate reading if the electricity is provided by a generator.

Method 2: THIS IS TO BE DONE WHEN THE CORD IS UNPLUGGED! This method should be used if the electrical power is generator provided and to test NON-double insulated tools.  Attach the clip end of the tester to the ground prong and insert the probe into the ground hole of the UNPLUGGED cord.  A light will indicate that the ground is continuous.

Don’t take electricity for granted - Check all of your cords.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Deenergizing Lines & Equipment

 

Before starting work on power transmission/distribution systems, crews must determine existing conditions by inspection or test. One critical condition that must be determined is whether lines and equipment are energized or deenergized.

Deenergizing lines and equipment

When deenergizing lines/equipment operated in excess of 600 volts, and the means of disconnecting from electric energy is not visibly open or visibly locked out, the following rules apply:

• The particular section of line or equipment to be deenergized must be clearly identified, and it must be isolated from all sources of voltage.

• Notification and assurance from a designated employee must be obtained that:
   - All switches/disconnectors through which electrical energy may be supplied to the particular section of line or equipment to be worked on have been deenergized.
   - All switches/disconnectors are plainly tagged indicating that employees are at work.
   - Where the design of the switches and disconnectors permits, they have been rendered inoperable.

• After all designated switches and disconnectors have been opened, rendered inoperable, and tagged, visual inspection or tests must be conducted to ensure that equipment or lines have been deenergized.

• Protective grounds must be applied on the disconnected lines/equipment to be worked on.

• Guards or barriers must be erected as necessary to adjacent energized lines.

• When more than one independent crew requires the same line or equipment to be deenergized, a prominent tag for each crew must be placed on the line or equipment by the designated employee in charge.

• When completed with work on deenergized lines or equipment, designated employees in charge must determine that all employees in their crew are clear, that protective grounds installed by their crew have been removed, and they report to the designated authority that all tags protecting their crew may be removed.

When a crew working on a line or equipment can clearly see that the means of disconnecting from electric energy are visibly open or visibly locked-out, the following provisions will apply:

• Guards or barriers must be erected as necessary to adjacent lines.

• Upon completion of work on deenergized lines or equipment, each designated employee in charge must determine that all employees in their crew are clear, that protective grounds installed by their crew have been removed, and they must report to the designated authority that all tags protecting their crew may be removed.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Arc Flash & Blast

 

Arc flashes are caused by an electrical equipment failure (like a short circuit) or human error (such as holding a metal object too close to energized equipment). If you have two energized points which are not contacting each other solidly, the current can jump from one point to the other. This is called an electric arc or arc flash.

One-second duration
Unlike a flash fire, an electric arc can begin and end in less than a second. Bystanders see a flash and hear an extremely loud boom and it is over.

Electric arc
A person can be severely injured or killed by the huge amount of heat generated by this arc. Temperature of the arc can range from 15,000 to 35,000 degrees F. You can imagine what this heat can do to the human body. (Heat in excess of 122 degrees F. can cause third degree burns, which do not heal.)

Flying molten metal
The arc also immediately turns the electrical conductors into molten metal droplets that fly away from the source at near the speed of sound. These projectiles can travel quite a distance, starting clothing and other materials on fire.

Arc blast
Not only does the electric arc generate an excessive amount of heat, this heat causes an intense pressure wave that usually throws the employees working nearby away from the arc. This wave is so strong it can break ear drums and cause concussions and broken bones.

Explosions and/or fire
The heat from electric arcs can ignite combustible or flammable vapors in the air causing an explosion. Materials stored nearby can also start on fire.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Whenever electrical workers have the chance to be exposed to an electric arc they must wear clothing and eye protection resistant to the flash. Make sure your employer provides you with the necessary PPE. (Part II, Chapter 3 of NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces covers the standards for PPE.)

Cost of an electric arc accident
The monetary cost of an electric arc accident can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Damage to equipment and facility, lost production time, increased insurance expense, medical bills, worker’s compensation, and legal costs can all be the result of one electric arc accident.

Questions?
Talk to your supervisor if you have any questions or concerns about working around energized electrical equipment

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com