Annual Refresher Electrical Safety

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Annual RefresherElectrical Safety
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Electrical Safety Precautions

• Inspect equipment periodically.
• Make sure it is properly grounded. Replace any
  frayed or damaged wires and cords

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Electrical Safety Precautions, cont.

• Keep all equipment far away from water
• If necessary, tape or secure the cord in place.
  Many outlets near sinks and other water sources
  are now GFI (ground fault interrupt). They will
  automatically shut off if there is a sudden power
  surge

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Electrical Safety Precautions, cont.

• Remove all metal or conductive jewelry when
  working with electrical devices
• If they make contact with a live wire, you may be
  included in the circuit

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Electrical Safety Precautions, cont.

• Dont bury wires under carpeting or cover them
  with other objects
• Dont cover vents on equipment, or place
  equipment too close to a wall or in cabinets that
  could block ventilation

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Electrical Safety Precautions, cont.

• Use spark-free devices near flammable and
  combustible liquids
• Avoid conventional hot plates
• Refrigerators and freezers used to store
  chemicals should have external control switches,
  so that sparks are kept outside and away from
  fumes

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Electrical Safety Precautions, cont
Dont overload electrical outlets or extension
cords, can cause fires.

• If a cord feels warm, disconnect it and dont use
  it.
• Many operating instructions for large appliances
  warn against using an extension cord, which can
  overload.

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Electrical Safety Precautions, cont

• Ever wonder why at gas stations the signs tell
  you to turn off cell phones while pumping gas?
• On May 14, 2004 at a Mobile Gas Station in New
  Paltz, New York, flames shot up around a
  21-year-old college student whose cell phone rang
  while he was pumping gas. Firefighters said
  Matthew Erhorn received minor burns when the cell
  phone ignited vapors coming from the car's fuel
  tank as it was being filled. It doesn't take
  much of a charge to ignite gasoline vapors, New
  Paltz fire chief Patrick Koch explained.
  "Anything, really. Women's nylon stockings when
  they get out of a vehicle, that can cause a
  spark, too." It has been advised in the past to
  ground yourself before handling the gas pump.
  Electrical Equipments remain the number one
  cause of fires in offices and laboratories. If
  you see a frayed wiring do not attempt to fix it
  yourself but inform your supervisor or the
  facility coordinator to replace the wiring.

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Electrical Fires

• Use the C fire extinguishers.
• Never throw water onto an electrical water, hence
  never use an A extinguisher which is
  water-based.

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Electrical Safety Precautions, cont

• Let only authorized or competent electricians
  repair electrical equipments
• If you dont know how to fix something, dont try
  it. Some devices store electricity, and you may
  get a shock

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Lockout/Tagout

• 29 CRF 1910.147 and 1910.333 apply to machines
  and equipment where there may be an unexpected
  startup or release of energy stored in various
  forms. These include fume hoods, hydraulic,
  x-ray machines, and other equipment connected
  directly to electrical lines and other energy
  sources.

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Lockout/Tagout

• All switches, valves, or other connections must
  be either locked or tagged in such a way that
  they cannot be turned on when being serviced or
  repaired.

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Lockout/Tagout

• Only the authorized repair people can put on or
  remove the lock or tag.
• If you turn on the electricity, you could cause
  serious injury, or death, to the person repairing
  the equipment

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Lockout/Tagout

• The laws do not apply to bench top devices and
  appliances, such as computers, refrigerators, or
  instruments, that are connected to an electrical
  outlet by a plug or cord. Once disconnected,
  these units no longer are a risk

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Electric Shock

• First Protect Yourself
• Don't touch the person. That person might be
  energized, so take time to protect yourself
• Don't try to use a conductive tool to free the
  person
• Don't touch anyone who has become grounded.
• Call 911 for help, IF the person
• is obviously injured such as loss of
  consciousness, significant trauma, etc.
• has an altered mental status i.e.confusion, slow
  and/or slurred speech, etc.
• has other obvious injury i.s. laceration, burns,
  etc.
• or at the discretion of the shocked victim or
  supervisor

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In conclusion

• Electricity is used everywhere in the laboratory.
  Some are more common ones include balances, fume
  hoods, biological safety cabinets, light
  fixtures, telephones, centrifuges, refrigerators,
  heating mantles, autoclaves, computers,
  chromatographs....

You can probably name more. With all this
apparatus lying around, you must remember to
respect electricity.
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All Done!

• Make sure you fill out the quiz, sign it, and
  drop it off in my mailbox for record keeping.
• Remember This is an annual requirement.
  
• SEE YOU NEXT YEAR

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Any Questions?

• Contact Kathie Moh
• 255-8849 kcm25_at_cornell.edu