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Electrical Hazard Safety in Labs

An electrical hazard occurs when a worker comes into contact with energized equipment or conductors, which can cause shock, arc flash burns, or other injuries. Resistive heating from electric current passing through the body can also cause immediate and long-term tissue damage. Sparks from carbon brushes in series-wound motors can ignite vapors, so non-sparking induction motors are safer for use in laboratories. To prevent electrical hazards, workers should inspect equipment wiring, use safe work practices, know how to operate shut-off devices, and limit extension cord use.

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2 views1 page

Electrical Hazard Safety in Labs

An electrical hazard occurs when a worker comes into contact with energized equipment or conductors, which can cause shock, arc flash burns, or other injuries. Resistive heating from electric current passing through the body can also cause immediate and long-term tissue damage. Sparks from carbon brushes in series-wound motors can ignite vapors, so non-sparking induction motors are safer for use in laboratories. To prevent electrical hazards, workers should inspect equipment wiring, use safe work practices, know how to operate shut-off devices, and limit extension cord use.

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Yanahcute Wattpad
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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DALENA, ALYANA PATRISHA S. HOMEWORK NO.

AR 433A FACILITIES/BUILDING ADMINISTRATION 4:30PM-6:30PM

ELECTRICAL HAZARD

An electrical hazard is a dangerous condition where a worker can or does make electrical contact
with energized equipment or a conductor. From that contact, the person may sustain an injury from
shock, and there is a potential for the worker to receive an arc flash (electrical explosion) burn, thermal
burn or blast injury.

Resistive heating

Even if an individual survives a shock episode, there may be immediate and long-term harm on
tissue, nerves, and muscle due to heat generated by the current flowing through the body. The heat
generated is basically resistive heating such as would be generated in heating coils in a small space heater.

Spark ignition sources

Induction motors should be used in most laboratory applications instead of series-wound electric
motors, which generate sparks from the contacts of the carbon brushes. It is vital to use non-sparking
motors in pieces of equipment which result in considerable amounts of vapor, such as blenders,
evaporators, or stirrers. Equivalent ordinary equipment or other items such as vacuum cleaners, drills,
rotary saws, or other power equipment are not suitable for use in laboratories where solvents are in use.
Blowers used in fume exhaust systems should at least have non-sparking fan blades, but in critical
situations with easily ignitable vapors being exhausted, it may be worth the additional cost of a fully
explosion-proof blower unit.

Preventative Steps and Safe Work

Preventative steps

 There are various ways of protecting people from the hazards caused by electricity, including
insulation, guarding, grounding, and electrical protective devices. Laboratory users can
significantly reduce electrical hazards by following some basic precautions:
 Inspect wiring of equipment before each use. Replace damaged or frayed electrical cords
immediately.
 Use safe work practices every time electrical equipment is used.
 Know the location and how to operate shut-off switches and/or circuit breaker panels. Use
these devices to shut off equipment in the event of a fire or electrocution.
 Limit the use of extension cords. Use only for temporary operations and then only for short
periods of time. In all other cases, request installation of a new electrical outlet.

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