Electrically operated devices can have
the potential to be lethal, it is necessary to use safe working methods
to avoid electrical shock, fires, mechanical or electrical damage to equipment
and injuries to yourself or others.Current legislation holds you responsible for any work
done by yourself.
- If you should have noticed a potential
hazard and fail to act properly; You could face criminal charges and
possibly have a prison sentence imposed by the legal system.
- Where it can be proved that you have
been negligent you will be held legaly responsible and could be charged with manslaughter should anyone
be killed due to your negligent actions.
When working with electrically powered equipment the most obvious threat
is that of getting an electric shock.
The danger is electric current overcomes the electrical signals sent
by your brain to control muscle movement, this can cause the muscles affected
to go into spasm. You should bear in mind that the heart is a large muscle which can
be stopped by the electrical surge.
A current in excess of 10mA (10 milliamps) flowing through the body can
paralyse the person receiving it, The person would be unable to get free
from a live power source.
Dry skin has several hundred thousand ohms resistance
to electrical current flow. When your skin is wet, cut or pierced by a
strand of wire the resistance is very much less; possibly as low as a
few hundred ohms. Under these conditions it is possible to receive a fatal
shock from voltages as low 30 volts.
|
