Modern
man is in need of electricity, this is no secret. Whether he is at home or
working, electrical power is essential to his existence. Yet with the use of
this great power comes electric hazards.
Many have only realized electrical power as a force to reckon with once they
start encountering hazards. If this is so dangerous, what then would happen to
people who need to work constantly with the dangerous electrical currents?
Engineers,
electronic technicians, electricians and power line workers all need to work
directly with electricity. To handle their jobs safely, it is important to
understand how it behaves, how it can be directed, and what hazards it can
bring about. The simple operation of an electric switch can be considered
dangerous where water or any other conductor gets involved.
Electrical
resistance is gauged in ohms. There are three determining factors which are –
- The nature of the substance
- The length of the substance (size of the cross-sectional area)
- The substance temperature
A
few substances like metals offer the lowest resistance to electrical current.
These are called conductors. Other stuff such as pottery, dry wood and plastic
offer high resistance, on the other hand. In fact, things that have the highest
resistance to electricity can be used to prevent electrocution. They are what’s
known as insulators.
Some
of the insulators can also serve as conductors when saturated with water. This
is the case with wet wood with its resistance dropping to the lowest point and
it readily becomes a conductor. This is also the case with the human skin.
Human
skin can be fairly resistant to electric current when it is dry but when it is
moist, its resistance can radically drop. Pure water is considered a poor
conductor but the smallest amounts of impurities like acid and salt can make it
a ready conductor. Wherever water is present on the skin or in the environment,
expect electricity to be conducted.
Electric Shock
Electricity
can travel only in closed circuits. Electric shocks occur when the human body
becomes a component of the electric circuit. The current enters the body at one
point and leaves at another.
There
are three factors that affect the severity of the electric shock. The first is
the amount of current that is flowing, the path of the current passing through
the human body, and lastly, the length of time that the body has been exposed
to the circuit.
Burns and Injuries
The
most common electric hazards include
burns and other electrical accidents. Kinds of burns include electrical burns,
thermal contact burns and arc burns.
Tissues
or bones that became conductors of electricity are what’s known as electrical
burns. The tissue damage is brought about by the heat that was generated.
Thermal
contact burns occur when the skin comes in contact with overheated conduits,
conductors, and any energized equipment. Flash or arc burns occur when high
temperatures are produced by an arcing or explosion.
Prevention Is Key
Electrical
accidents can be prevented by safe work practices and some protective devices.
The use of insulation, for instance, makes man highly resistant to electric
current. Use mica, glass, rubber or plastic when handling or whenever near
electricity.
Guarding
is yet another way to keep hazards at bay. Live parts of electrical equipment
that operate at 50 or more volts have to be placed in enclosures or handled by
qualified professionals. Partitions may also be used in the absence of
enclosure units. Elevation can also keep your loved ones from being
electrocuted (especially in the case of younger children).
Grounding
Protect
your loved ones or employees from electric shocks by grounding an electrical
system or tool. When this is done, a low-resistance path is created to the
earth. When done professionally, this can prevent voltage buildup.
Safe Work Practices
No comments:
Post a Comment