Electrical Safety
Electrical Safety – the basics of electricity By ALBERT SMITH, Lifting Matters Chief Sponsor Electricity is such a central part of everyday life that we forget how dangerous it can be. We interact with electricity from the moment we turn our alarm off in the morning until we switch off the lights at night. The ever-present role of electricity in our lives can make us complacent when it comes to the risk it poses. The risk of injury and death by electrocution is present with voltages as low as 230 volts, so it is important to always be aware of electrical hazards, especially in high-risk environments like construction sites. Electrical injuries are caused by the flow of electricity through the body and the heat this generates. Electric shocks occur when the current is given an opportunity to ground itself. If a person touches a power source, the electricity will try to travel through their body to the ground. The path the current takes through the body heats up and burns the body from the inside. In this issue of Lifting Matters we are looking specifically at overhead power lines, but it’s important to remember contact with electricity is 18
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a significant risk in the construction industry even outside overhead lines. Sites are full of machinery and tools that can cause electrical shocks. To mitigate risks, it is vital to make sure all equipment is well maintained. When it comes to overhead power lines, all lines should be treated as active. Above all else, the most important thing to do when controlling potential electrical hazards is contact the electrical entity for your site. The electrical entity in charge of the area you are working in can provide all of the necessary information about risks, voltages, underground utilities, exclusion zones and any other potential hazards.
Work Zones in the vicinity of overhead electric line poles (Image provided by Safe Work Australia)
DECEMBER 2018
