Working on electrical installations in California poses significant risks for those involved. An electrical accident can have serious consequences for property, as well as for people, and can even lead to death. Electrical risk prevention is based on two main areas: ensuring the safety of installations and following safety rules during work.
The Dangers of Electricity
Electricity is an energy composed of free electrons moving through a conductive material (metal, graphite, water, but also the human body, etc.). An electric current is defined by three main quantities:
- Intensity, measured in amperes (A), which corresponds to the amount of electricity delivered per second by the current generator;
- Power, measured in watts (W), corresponds to its energy consumption per unit of time;
- Electric voltage corresponds to the flow of the electric field and is measured in volts (V) AC (or AC) for alternating current and DC (or DC) for direct current. There are very low voltage (ELV) below 50 V AC / 120 V DC, low voltage (LV) below 1000 V AC / 1500 V DC, high voltage A (HVA) below 50,000 V AC / 75,000 V DC, and high voltage B (HVB) above 50,000 V AC / 75,000 V DC.
What are the effects of electricity on the body
The effects of electricity on the body are of several kinds. They depend on the type of contact:
- Direct contact occurs with a live, bare electrical element (connection terminal, bare electrical wire, etc.);
- Indirect contact occurs with a conductive part that is accidentally energized, for example, a metal cabinet placed in contact with a live, bare electrical wire;
- An electric arc can occur when an electrical circuit is opened or closed. Direct or indirect contact causes tetanization of the heart or respiratory muscles, ventricular fibrillation, and inhibition of the nervous system. These phenomena can lead to cardiac arrest. Electrocution occurs when an electric current passes through the human body without causing death, and electrocution occurs when the electric current causes death.
Electric arcs can cause burns of varying severity to the human body. They can also cause fires or explosions if they occur near flammable or explosive materials.
What are the risks associated with working on electrical installations
There are several factors that contribute to electrical accidents in Fresno and elsewhere in California. Failure to comply with safety regulations of California during the design of electrical installations or poor condition of the equipment is a very common factor: this is why standards and regulations concerning the design and inspection of installations have been established. Improper use of equipment by untrained or poorly trained personnel regarding electrical hazards, as well as failure to comply with safety rules during work, are the second risk factor for electrical accidents.
Ensuring the safety of installations
The first step in protecting people is to ensure the safety of electrical installations. To achieve this, companies must comply with certain obligations and standards.
What are companies’ obligations regarding the safety of electrical installations
Electrical installations must be designed and maintained in accordance with current electrical standards, depending on the voltage supplied. The employer must also monitor electrical installations and ensure maintenance as necessary. Compliance checks must be carried out before powering up, before commissioning, and at least once a year (periodic inspection).
What are the requirements? Electrical equipment and installations must first protect people from direct contact, in particular by keeping the installations away and providing them with a barrier or protective enclosure (electrical cabinet, housing, screen, etc.) that can only be opened with a key or a tool. Live parts are also insulated with a material that can only be removed by destruction.
To protect against indirect contact, the electrical installation must be connected to ground with an automatic disconnection of the installation in the event of a current leak (this requirement is defined in the state standards). Double insulation can also be implemented.
Against overcurrents (overloads and short circuits), the best protection remains the installation of a circuit breaker which cuts the circuit by opening it when a given value is exceeded (for example 30 mA in a domestic installation).