Chapter 1a - OSHA Electricity Safety

A. Electrical Hazards – What is Electricity?
1. Improper Grounding
2. Exposed Electrical Parts
3. Inadequate Wiring
4. Damaged Insulation
5. Overloaded Circuits
6. Damaged Tools & Equipment
7. Wet Conditions
8. Overhead Power Lines
B. Accident Prevention:
1. Personal Protective Equipment
2. Inspect Tools & Cords
3. GFCIs
4. Lock-Out/Tag-Out
CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

 Electrocutions are one of the
greatest hazards on construction
sites.
Safe
 This program will help you
recognize common fall hazards.
 The symbols will tell you if the
situation in the picture is either
safe or not safe.
Not safe

 Electricity flows
through conductors.
 Conductors include
metals, water, the
Earth and the
human body.
 Electricity must have
a complete circuit or
path to flow.

The following is a list of a common electrical
hazards found on construction sites:
 Improper grounding  Damaged insulation
 Exposed electrical  Overloaded circuits
parts  Wet conditions
 Inadequate wiring  Damaged tools and
 Overhead power lines equipment

 Grounding is the
process used to
eliminate unwanted
voltage.
 A ground is a
physical electrical
connection to the
earth.

 Electrical equipment
must be properly
grounded.
 Grounding reduces
the risk of being
shocked or
electrocuted.

 The ground pin
safely returns
leakage current to
ground.
 Never remove the

ground pin.

 Removing the
ground pin removes
an important safety
feature.
 You can get

shocked!

 Exposed wires or
terminals are
hazardous.
 Report these
conditions to your
supervisor.

 This electrical panel
has missing circuit
breakers.
 Never use a panel

that has exposed
wires.

 All openings
must be
closed.

 Outer insulation
on electrical cords
must be intact.

 On construction sites, temporary lighting
must be properly guarded and protected to
avoid contact with broken bulbs and avoid
potential shocks.

 Use properly
rated extension
cords.
 Make sure your

power tools are
being used with
a properly rated
xtension cord.

Inadequate Wiring
DIFFERENT TYPES OF WIRES WITH THEIR
ELECTRICAL CURRENT RATING

 Defective or
inadequate
insulation is a
hazard.
 Insulation prevents
conductors from
contacting each
other or you.

 Never attempt to repair a damaged cord with
tape.

 Never use tools or
extension cords
with damaged
insulation.

 Never hang extension cords from nails or
sharp objects.

 Do not run
extension cords
through doors or
windows.

 Overloaded circuits
can cause fires.
 Use proper circuit

breakers.

 Never overload
an outlet.

 Do not use power
strips or surge
protectors on
construction sites.
 Use a 3-way
extension with a
GFCI instead.

 Do not use
electric tools
that are
damaged.
 You may
receive a
shock or be
electrocuted.

 Double insulated tools are labeled.
 It will be marked “Double Insulated”.
 It will have the following symbol:

 Wet conditions
are hazardous.
 Damaged
insulation
increases the
hazard.

 Always avoid using
tools in wet
locations.
 Water increases the

risk of electric
shock.

 Survey the site for
overhead power
lines.
 Never store materials

or equipment under
overhead power
lines.

 Maintain a distance of
at least 10 feet
between tools and
equipment and
overhead power lines.
 Shocks and
electrocutions occur
where physical
barriers are not in
place to prevent
contact with the wires.

 Maintain safe
distances between
scaffolding and
overhead power
lines.

 Overhead power
lines are very
dangerous.
 Never attempt to
contact an overhead
power line.

The process of grounding is:
A. Falling to the ground

B. Standing in one place
C. Making a physical connection to Earth
D. None of the above

You should remove the ground pin from
electrical cords because it is not
necessary.
A. True
B. False

It is acceptable to have missing breakers
from an electrical panel box.
A. True
B. False

When working under overhead power lines,
the minimum safe distance between
equipment and the overhead lines is:
A. 8 feet
B. 20 feet
C. 10 feet
D. 12 feet
Note: 1 feet = 0.3048 meter

When the insulation on a cord is damaged,
you should:
A. Use duct tape to repair it

B. Do nothing
C. Remove it from service immediately
D. Touch the conductors to see it they are
energized

When the insulation on a cord is
damaged, you should:
The correct answer is:
C – Remove it from service

immediately

 A willing,
positive
attitude
towards safety
will help make
a safer work
environment.

 Always consider
these safety
precautions:
◦ Personal protective
equipment (PPE),
◦ Inspect tools,
◦ Ground fault circuit
interrupters (GFCIs),
◦ Lock-out/tag-out.

 PPE for electrical
hazards include:
◦ hardhats
◦ rubber or insulating
gloves
◦ insulating clothing
 NEVER use damaged

PPE!

 Use appropriate rubber
insulating gloves.
 Make sure the gloves fit
properly.
 Make sure the glove rating
matches with the work to be
performed.
 Not all gloves can be used to
prevent electric shock.

 Hard hats offer
protection.
 Hard hats are
rated for certain
uses.
 Metal hard hats
SHOULD NOT be
used when
working close to
electrical lines.

 Inspect tools and
cords completely
before using for:
◦ cracks
◦ damaged insulation
◦ broken ground pins
◦ frayed line cord
◦ loose parts
◦ any other damage

 OSHA requires
the use of GFCIs
on all
construction
sites.
 Also called as
Ground Fault
Interrupter (GFI)
or Residual
Current Device
(RCD)

 is a device that shuts off an electric power
circuit when it detects that current is
flowing along an unintended path, such as
through water or a person.
 It is used to reduce the risk of electric
shock, which can cause the heart to stop
or cause burns.
 They can also prevent some fires, like
when a live wire touches a metal conduit.

 A GFCI is a fast-
acting circuit
breaker.
 It senses small
imbalances in the
circuit caused by
current leakage to
ground.

 It continually matches
the amount of current
coming and going to
an electrical device.
 The GFCI looks for a

difference of
approximately 5
milliamps.

 Workers must
ensure
electricity is off
and “locked-
out” before
work is
performed.

 The switch must be
tagged.
 The tag lets others

know why the switch
is off.

 Locks and tags are
warning signs.
 You must be trained

in lock-out/tag-out
procedures.

GFCIs should be used in the following
conditions:
A. Wet or damp locations

B. On construction sites
C. Both A & B
D. Neither A & B

Which of the following PPE should be worn
when working with electricity?
A. Metal hard hat and insulated gloves &

clothing
B. Non-metallic hard hat and insulated
gloves & clothing
C. Non-metallic hard hat and non-insulated
gloves & clothing
D. Metal hard hat and non-insulated gloves
& clothing

When inspecting tools to see if they are
damaged, what should you look for?
A. Cracks
B. Damaged insulation
C. Broken/removed ground pins
D. All the above

A “Lock-out/Tag-out” system is used to:
A. Keep people from stealing your tools

B. Prevent accidental contact with
electrical current
C. Keep you from completing your work
D. Add another step to your work

 Photos shown in this presentation may depict situations that are not in compliance with applicable OSHA
requirements.
 It is not the intent of the content developers to provide compliance-based training in this presentation, the intent
is more to address hazard awareness in the construction industry, and to recognize the overlapping hazards
present in many construction workplaces.
 It should NOT be assumed that the suggestions, comments, or recommendations contained herein constitute a
thorough review of the applicable standards, nor should discussion of “issues” or “concerns” be construed as a
prioritization of hazards or possible controls. Where opinions (“best practices”) have been expressed, it is
important to remember that safety issues in general and construction jobsites specifically will require a great
deal of site - or hazard-specificity - a “one size fits all” approach is not recommended, nor will it likely be very
effective.
 It is assumed that individuals using this presentation, or content, to augment their training programs will be
“qualified” to do so, and that said presenters will be otherwise prepared to answer questions, solve problems,
and discuss issues with their audiences.
 No representation is made as to the thoroughness of the presentation, nor to the exact methods of
recommendation to be taken. It is understood that site conditions vary constantly, and that the developers of this
content cannot be held responsible for safety problems they did not address or could not anticipate, nor those
which have been discussed herein or during physical presentation. It is the responsibility of each employer
contractor and their employees to comply with all pertinent rules and regulations in the jurisdiction in which they
work. Copies of all OSHA regulations are available form your local OSHA office. This presentation is intended to
discuss Federal Regulations only – your individual State requirements may be more stringent.
 As a presenter, you should be prepared to discuss all of the potential issues/concerns, or problems inherent in
those photos particularly.

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A. Electrical Hazards – What is Electricity?

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

 Never remove the

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

 You can get

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

 Never use a panel

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

 Make sure your

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

 Use proper circuit

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

 It will be marked “Double Insulated”.

 It will have the following symbol:

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

 Water increases the

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

 Never store materials

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

A. Falling to the ground

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

Note: 1 feet = 0.3048 meter

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

A. Use duct tape to repair it

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

The correct answer is:

C – Remove it from service

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

 NEVER use damaged

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical

CW202 The Big Four Construction Hazards: Electrical