RECOMMENDATIONS
In spite of the numerous cases of burns from construction, electrical
installations, and maintenance, there are existing codes inteded for mainly
electrical standards and safety. Based on the statistical assessment of the overall
electrical burns admitted at PGH-ATR Burns Center, majority of the patients were
males who got their injury from the workplace. Therefore, the following solutions
are recommended to deal with and minimize the issue:
1. Promote electrical safety in educational courses.
2. Implement more safety trainings in workplaces.
3. Ensure hiring professionals in handling engineering work.
4. Mark areas with high voltage present.
5. Installing electrical wirings distant to residences.
(1) The hazards involved when dealing with electricity does not choose their
victims regardless of their age. According to the study, electrical safety is being
overlooked. It is recommended that education regarding electrical safety must be
promoted and taught starting from early levels of education, especially that
children tend to have a curious personality. More knowledge about electrical safety
from having a yearly subject or course leads to more familiarized and informed
people at a young age to know the do's and don'ts in dealing with electricity.
(2) As per RA 11058 or the Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and
Health Standards Act, workers must be practiced to identify possible hazards within
the workplace, including the solutions on how to deal with them. The worker must be
taught about the course of actions to be done in cases of electrical injuries,
especially if the environment of the field involves construction or electrical
installation and repairs. However, preventive measures must be highly prioritized
to avoid any major or minor accidents in the first place.
(3) One of the major causes of electrical burns include having improperly or
illegally installed connections, and repair work done on the electrical grid by
non-professionals. As a solution for preventing accidents leading to electrical
burns, it must be ensured that only engineers must do the engineering work. RA 7920
or the New Electrical Engineering Law states the details about the work in which
only registered or professional electrical engineers and electricians have the
right to handle. In support, RA 7832 or the Anti-Pilferage Act of 1994 controls and
punishes by law those who interfere and modify the installed electrical connections
by actual electrical professionals.
(4) Not all the time people are aware of the factors present in their environment,
especially when they are in a place new to them. There are areas or posts may have
high voltage present on them, therefore it is crucial to display more warning signs
that are simple and easy to read or interpret. Signage specifications for general
environmental control are further stated under OSHA 1910.14.
(5) According to the study, electrical wirings are installed in a low level for
easier access here in the Philippines. However, this case got to the point where it
reaches close to the homes. It is recommended to install these wirings at a certain
distance to houses to avoid any electrical fires and accidents. The component
requirements and standards based on the Philippine Electrical Code (PEC) and
National Electrical Code (NEC) must be accurately followed. Additionally, NFPA 70E
imposes further fire preventive actions which is crucial when handling electricity.
CONCLUSION
The rising cases of electrical burns from workplaces is a consequence of the
constant progress of industrialization, having a low mortality rate of 2.41% from
the statistical results in the study. Since it is developing, more infrastructures
are built, more institutions are established, and more branches of companies are
created. The construction process of these facitlities must adhere to the safety
standards and guidelines of codes from the law. In the number of general burn cases
admitted in the Philippine General Hospital, about 64% are classified as electrical
burns. Based on the overall review, the highlighted causes of these electrical
burns include lack of knowledge and training in terms of electrical safety, having
electrical wirings and repairs handled by non-professionals or people whose
expertise is not for that field, unsafe electrical installations near the houses,
and presence of high voltage from different areas.
As a result, it is proposed that the concept of electrical safety is promoted and
taught at early levels of education to inform a wider range of age, implement
workplace trainings that imposes the importance of electrical safety especially if
the field involves managing electrical components and machineries, ensure that
electrical installations and maintenance are handled by registered engineers and
electricians, provide signages for dangerous areas with high voltage present, and
place electrical wirings and posts in a manner where it is easily accessed but not
to the point where it touches or reaches the houses. Revisions and improvement in
terms of electrical rules and practices must also be done if possible. These
measures are supported by RA 11058, RA 7920, RA 7832, OSHA, PEC, NEC, and NFPA 70E.
Not only these measures serve as solutions for dealing with electrical burns, but
they are also classified as preventive courses of actions to avoid life-threatening
injuries. Besides electrical burns taking a long time to fully recover, the healing
and treatment process from hospitals also becomes costly. With the recommendations,
safety and productivity will highly foster within the engineering workplace.