RISKS

ELECTRICAL
Hygiene and Safety.
Alvarez Barrientos Thania G
ELECTRICAL RISK.
■ Electricity is used in almost all work environments and is
tends to forget that it is very dangerous. The tasks that may
assume exposure to electrical risk, whether it is from the technicians
electricians or by 'accidental' contact, need to be identified
to apply specific preventive measures.
For example:

■ A person can
is part of a
electric circuit. When being
exposed to a shock
electric, of magnitude and
variable intensity.
■ The elements of a circuit
unprotected electric, yes
there is an overload
electric, when heated,
they can end up producing a
fire, reaching
ignition temperatures of
the materials close to
the hot surfaces.
■ The production of bows or
sparks, due to the jump of
electricity from a conductor to
another, when opening or closing a
electrical contact. This occurs
when operating switches or to
download electricity
static. They can originate a
fire, when the stowage or
crackling, occurs in
an atmosphere and does any exist
mixture of some substance
inflammable.
 Most of the risks can be
minimized by:

■ Proper installation for the

needs, and maintenance
adequate and regular.
■ Safe electrical equipment and
perfect understanding of the use
correct of the teams.
Main factors influencing the effect
electric

■ Current intensity.
It is the factor that affects
effects and injuries
caused by the accident
electric. In relation to the
current intensity, are
relevant concepts that
are indicated below.
■Threshold of perception
It is the minimum value of electric current, that
it creates a sensation when electricity flows
through the body of an individual. In the case of
the alternating current has this sensation of passage of
the current is perceived all the time
by the same token; however, with
Direct current is only perceived when
The intensity varies, which is why they are fundamental.
the beginning and the interruption of the passage of the
current, since between those moments, there is no
he perceives the passage of the current, except for the
thermal effects of it.
■ In some places they are used
high voltage and high equipment
consumption. Those who
they face in their tasks
directly with electricity
(especially, electricians)
they have specific risks and
preventive measures are required
special cases. In these cases, the
risk assessment is more
complex.
Physiological effects of electric shocks

■ The effects can be a slight

annoyance (the classic 'touches')
hasta una lesión severa o incluso
instant death.
severity of the injuries
it depends on the type of current
direct current or current
alternating); for the duration of
contact with the electric agent;
by the voltage and the area of the body
exposed to contact, what
will determine the route of the
electric current, when passing through the
organism. If the current crosses
through the heart or the brain of
injured, it can cause your
instant death (due to cardiac arrest
cardiac or respiratory.
 The domestic current of 110V,
■ Generally, it is accepted despite being a low voltage
a value of 0.5 mA in intensity tends to produce stops
alternating current and 2 mA in cardiac, reason that makes it
extremely dangerous.
direct current manifestations
whatever the weather
of exposure, it is the value Main causes of electric shock are:
maximum exposure to the ■ Intense muscle pain.
electric current. ■ Headache and/or ringing in the ears
ears.
■ Irritability and confusion.
■ Loss of consciousness.
■ Cardiac arrest and/or arrest
respiratory.
General principles

Any repair work and

calibration of electrical equipment
it must be carried out by personnel
trained for it. Before
install, modify or perform
any repair, the equipment
deben ser desconectados y su
energy must be discharged or
dissipated (including the
capacitors), and checking
that they really remain like this.
■ Everypersonwhoparticipatesin
a task that involves the
use of equipment
electricians must know everything
the security implications
electric and will be informed by
written about any danger
potential.
All workers can contribute to reducing
the risks and dangerous behaviors if they are known and
they follow some basic principles and techniques related to:

■ Power supply and wiring.

■ Plugs and sockets.
■ General recommendations.
■ Securitytechniques
personal.
 Power supply and wiring

■ The wiring must provide the

possibility of grounding
the teams. The teams in
Generally, they should have the possibility to
ground connection; only the equipment
marked as Class II (double
isolation) they do not need them.

■ It should be prohibited to use 'thieves' ■ Users will be prohibited from

Little Devils replace the plugs that come
with a team, for example, to
adapt them to the size of the
plug, because they could leave without
effect of the ground connection, e
they may even be putting a
inadequate amperage. These are
work for qualified personnel.
 ■ The cables should not be mixed
data signals with energy signals
electric.
■ Special care must be taken
when water is used so that it does not
leaks occur or
condensations that may
moisten the electrical wiring. If
an electrical team, still of type
double insulation, gets wet or falls to
water, the impulse must be controlled
natural to grab the team without
before disconnecting it from the source of
■ The use of extension cords must
energy.
to be limited to provisions
punctual, for a day, at most. In
in this case, a must be used
appropriate extender, with connection
to the ground. The wiring must be
appropriate even if temporary.
should avoid aisles and other areas
of traveled. If anyway
they would have to go through this
areas, the cables must be
properly protected.
■ Connected devices must include a fuse or other device for the
protection against overloads, which disconnects the circuit if it fails
Separate or overload. This protection is especially important
when the team is going to be left unattended for an extended period,
like drying ovens or electronic equipment. The equipment that
do not have them, they can be modified to include it or replaced by
others.
Protection of live electrical elements

Methods can be used from

protection for personnel against a
accidental contact with elements
live electricals. In general, the equipment
exposed electric, must be
protected, by means of fences and/or by
his position:
■ Locate it out of reach (2.4
meters or more in height above the
floor level.
■ Locate it in a room or place
■ Locate it on a balcony, platform
closed, (with restricted access to
the gallery situated at such height, (for
personal
prevent people from not
authorized, cannot enter).
■ The equipment that works with
voltages of 600V or less, it may be
protected by a railing, they must
include danger signals.
Basic recommendations for proper handling of
electrical elements

■ Allinteriorwiringmustbe
being enclosed in tubes or
similar protection.

■ The switches, fuses,

circuit protectors and others
control devices, must
to be identified, to facilitate
his/her recognition of being
open or closed circuits.

■ Apply the procedure of

grounding in a way
adequate.
 ■ The generating equipment or
energy conductors
electric, invariably,
■ The workplaces around they must be operated by personnel
of the supply teams of authorized and trained.
electricity, must be
suitable for working as
safely and comfortably,
during the operation, and the
maintenance of the equipment. ■ Avoid the combination of
electric agents, with vapors
flammables, gases, powders or
explosive substances
The working conditions, regarding the premises, the
installations and management of power systems are
regulated by the Official Mexican Norms:

■ NOM-004-STPS-1999, Protection systems and safety devices

of the machinery and equipment used in the workplaces.

■ NOM-022-STPS-1999, Static electricity in the workplace:

Safety and hygiene conditions.

■ NOM-027-STPS-2000, Welding and cutting: Safety conditions and

hygiene.

■ NOM-029-STPS-2005, Maintenance of electrical installations in the

workplaces: Safety conditions.