Element 6 - Electrical Safety Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Element 6 - Electrical Safety Deck (43)
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1
Q

Identify the basic parameters of an electrical system?

A
  • Voltage.
  • Current.
  • Resistance.
2
Q

What is the relationship called, that links Voltage, Current and Resistance?

A
  • Ohm’s Law
3
Q

List the hazards of electricity?

A
  • Electric shock.
  • Burns (direct and indirect).
  • Fire and explosion.
  • Arcing and secondary effects.
4
Q

Identify some effects when somebody receives an electric shock?

A
  • Mild discomfort.
  • Muscle tremor.
  • Uncontrollable muscle contractions.
  • Respiratory failure.
  • Ventricular fibrillation.
  • Cardiac arrest.
  • Severe burns.
5
Q

Outline the factors that will influence the severity of any injury sustained from electricity?

A
  • System voltage.
  • Duration of contact.
  • Pathway through the body.
  • Body resistance.
  • Contact surface area.
  • Environmental factors.
  • Frequency.
6
Q

List the reasons why portable electrical equipment is often involved in electrical accidents?

A
  • Frequently unsuitable for the job being done.
  • Misuse.
  • Not inspected.
  • Not maintained.
7
Q

Outline some high-risk work activities involving electricity?

A
  • Using poorly maintained electrical equipment.
  • Working near overhead power lines.
  • Contact with underground power cables.
  • Working on live supplies.
  • Using electrical equipment in wet environments.
8
Q

Draw a simple equation to illustrate Ohm’s Law?

A
Voltage = Current x Resistance
Volts = Amps x Ohms
V = I x R
9
Q

Identify the 2 types of current ?

A
  • Direct Current (DC).

- Alternating Current (AC).

10
Q

What is the mains electricity supply in the UK?

A
  • 230 volts (50 hertz).
11
Q

Explain the meaning of “Live” and “Dead”?

A
  • When a system is connected to an electrical power source it is described as “Live” (in some countries it is described as “Hot”).
    Once it has been disconnected from its power source it might be described as “Dead”.
12
Q

Define “Direct” electrical burns?

A

Where a CURRENT causes overheating as it passes through the skin and internal tissues of the body.

13
Q

Define “Indirect” electrical burns?

A

Does not occur as a result of a current passing through the body, but when an electrical accident causes something to overheat and explode.

14
Q

Outline how electricity can causes fires?

A
  • Electrical equipment may be faulty, then overheat and results in a fire.
  • The system may be overloaded as too much current passes through it, resulting in overheating and fire.
  • Equipment may be misused (bare wires into socket rather than plug).
  • A flammable atmosphere may be present.
  • Electrical equipment may produce heat or sparks as a natural function (a fan heater produces heat).
  • Poor internal connections.
15
Q

List the main risks associated with “Arcing”?

A
  • Electric shock as a result of being struck by the arc.
  • Direct burns as a result of being struck by the arc.
  • Indirect burns from the radiant heat given off by the arc and from the melting of any equipment.
  • Damage to the eye as a result of the ultraviolet (UV) light that is emitted from the arc.
16
Q

Identify conditions and practices likely to lead to accidents involving electrical equipment?

A
  • Using unsuitable equipment (I.e using non intrinsically safe equipment in a flammable atmosphere).
  • Using equipment in wet, damp or humid conditions.
  • Misuse.
  • Physical abuse.
  • Repairs carried out by unauthorised personnel.
  • Continued use of damaged or faulty equipment.
  • Chemical damage to the flex.
  • Lack of routine inspection, testing or maintenance.
17
Q

Outline some control measures to be considered when selecting portable electrical equipment for use on a construction site?

A
  • Consider the use of battery powered equipment.
  • Consider the use of reduced and low voltage (110v) equipment centre tapped to earth.
  • Provide increased protection through the use of RCD.
  • Locate cables carefully, away from hazards.
  • Consider the use of double insulated equipment.
  • Carry out pre-use checks of the equipment for signs of damage.
  • Train operators in safe use of equipment.
  • Avoid using in wet conditions.
  • Implement a programme of routine visual inspection and thorough testing of electrical equipment and cables.
18
Q

Identify the various protective systems that can be used for electrical equipment?

A
  • Fuses.
  • Earthing.
  • Isolation.
  • Double insulation.
  • Residual current devices.
  • Reduced low voltage.
19
Q

Outline the advantages of fuses?

A
  • They are cheap and reliable.

- They offer a good level of protection for electrical equipment against current overload.

20
Q

Outline the hazardous environments that you may protect electrical equipment against?

A
  • Weather.
  • Natural hazards (solar radiation, plants, animals).
  • Extremes of temperature (heat from motors).
  • Dirty conditions.
  • Corrosive conditions.
  • Liquids and vapours (splashing, immersion).
  • Flammable substances.
21
Q

Outline the limitations of fuse?

A
  • They primarily protect equipment rather than people.
  • A fuse does not stop current flow quickly enough to prevent ventricular fibrillation (fatal injury).
  • They are easy to bypass.
22
Q

Outline some advantages of earthing?

A
  • Protects the person from fatal electric shock.

- Often provides secondary protection to the equipment

23
Q

Outline the limitations of earthing?

A
  • A poor or broken earth connection will prevent the earth from working properly, and go completely undetected.
  • It is easy to disconnect and disable.
24
Q

What is the advantage of isolation?

A

It is a very effective method of ensuring that people cannot be injured by electrical energy when working on an electrical system.

25
Q

What is the advantage of Double insulation?

A
  • It relies on insulation rather than the electrical system itself for safety.
26
Q

What is the limitation of Double insulation?

A
  • The insulation must be routinely visually inspected because there is no earth protection.
27
Q

What does RCD stand for?

A

Residual Current Device

28
Q

Define the principle of an RCD?

A
  • It constantly compares the amount of current flowing down the live and neutral lines. If an imbalance is detected, it trips the circuit.
29
Q

Give an advantages of RCDs?

A
  • Excellent protection for people in the event of electric shock.
30
Q

Give some limitations of RCDs?

A
  • They do not provide over-current protection.
  • They have to be tested periodically to ensure that they are still working effectively.
  • They can cause repeated circuit tripping if there is a fault, which can encourage people not to use them or to disable them.
31
Q

List the emergency procedures which should be followed, when dealing with an electric shock casualty?

A
  • Do not touch them.
  • Call for help.
  • Turn off the power supply.
  • Call for an ambulance.
  • If the power supply cannot be switched off then carefully push or pull the casualty away from the live part using non-conducting material such as timber or dry clothing.
  • Check breathing: if breathing place in recovery position, if not, then apply CPR.
  • Treat any obvious burns.
  • Treat for physiological shock.
  • Make sure they get professional medical treatment.
32
Q

Identify the things to check during a routine visual inspection of a portable appliance?

A
  • The body of the plug is intact and secure.
  • The outer sheath of flex covers inner cores into body of plug.
  • The plug cable clamp appears to be tight.
  • The flex appears fully insulated, with no splits or severe kinks/pinches.
  • The body of the appliance is intact.
  • The outer sheath of flex covers inner cores into body of appliance.
  • The appliance cable clamp appears to be tight.
  • No obvious scorch marks to plug or appliance body.
  • The plug and appliance are not excessively soiled.
  • The plug and appliance are not wet.
33
Q

Outline the factors that influence the frequency of inspection and testing of electrical appliances?

A
  • Legal standards and codes of practice.
  • Type of equipment and whether or not it is hand-held.
  • Manufacturers recommendations.
  • Initial integrity and soundness of the equipment.
  • Age of equipment.
  • Working environment in which the equipment is used or the likelihood of mechanical damage.
  • Frequency and duration of use.
  • Foreseeable abuse of the equipment.
  • Effects of any modifications or repairs to the equipment.
  • Analysis of previous records of maintenance, including both formal inspection and combined inspection and testing.
34
Q

What does PAT stand for?

A
  • Portable Appliance Testing
35
Q

Give the advantages of PAT?

A
  • Detection of faults not visible to the eye.
  • Early removal/repair of unsafe equipment.
  • Demonstration of legal compliance.
  • Trends or patterns of faults that may be spotted.
36
Q

Give some limitations of PAT?

A
  • It provides proof of safety at one moment in time only.
  • It does not ensure safe use or prevent misuse.
  • Items may be missed and then remain untested.
  • It cannot be applied to all equipment (computers).
37
Q

Define OVERLOAD?

A

Is a current (usually continuous) above the design current (the load) of the circuit.

38
Q

Define FAULT?

A

Is a current with little or no resistance, such as an earth leak.

39
Q

Explain the factors to consider when evaluating the suitability of the construction of an electrical system?

A
  • The manufacturers recommendations.
  • The likely load and fault conditions.
  • The probable use of the system.
  • The need for protection devices (overload protection).
  • Environmental conditions likely to affect mechanical strength and protection required.
40
Q

Define SWITCHING OFF?

A

Refers to depriving the equipment of electric power, but still leaving it connected.

41
Q

Identify some PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS which can be used for electrical equipment?

A
  • Fuses.
  • Circuit breaker.
  • Earthing.
  • Isolation.
  • Reduced low voltage.
  • RCDs.
  • Double insulation.
42
Q

Define a COMPETENT PERSON?

A

A person that has had sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable him to properly do the task in question.

43
Q

Define ISOLATION?

A

The disconnection and separation of the electrical equipment from every source of electrical energy in such a way that this disconnection and separation is secure.