Page 45 - OHS, June 2020

dangerous because they can cause wires to heat up excessively and lead to a workplace fire.
Similarly, poor wiring is a significant electrical safety hazard. Companies must ensure that the wires being used can handle the amount of electrical current that will regularly be flowing through. Otherwise, wires will be subject to over-heating and will become a fire hazard.
Exposed electrical. Parts of electrical work that are exposed can also present an additional electrical hazard. These may in- clude detached insulation components or temporary lighting. Burns and shocks are the most common injury suffered from these hazards that are likely to come about if a worker comes in contact with an open fuse or power unit. Similar injuries can oc- cur as a result of contact with damaged equipment or tools, such as broken wires or faulty cables. Improper insulation also under- mines the safety of many workspaces, as it exposes workers more to electrical currents.
Water. One of the best conductors of electricity is water itself. Thus, wet conditions pose a huge electrical safety risk for workers. Even if an employee is well-grounded, if that employee touches a live wire and he or she is standing in even the smallest puddle of water, they will get shocked. Workers should know that standing in a puddle is not the only criteria for getting shocked—moisture or wet clothing will also increase the risk of electrocution.
Improperly grounded systems. Electrical systems must also be grounded adequately. There are numerous components of an elec- trical wiring system that workers are required to touch, many of which are composed of metal. If these conductors are not grounded properly, they could be carrying an unknown number of volts and could be extremely hazardous if workers come in contact. Thus, improperly grounded systems are unable to manage unwanted voltage and the metal components of that system could shock or even kill an unsuspecting worker.
Temporary electrical. Another extremely common factor that plagues many workplaces is the usage of temporary wiring systems. While not hazardous if set up properly, temporary wiring is often faulty because it is prone to damage and wear. Unlike fixed wiring, temporary wiring is often supported by staples, put up near stairs or doorways, and exposed to the footpaths of workers. This makes it much more likely to become frayed or broken and become an electrical hazard.
Slips, trips and falls. If a worker is burned or shocked, his or her reaction may be erratic and unpredictable which can cause any- thing in their immediate environment to also become a safety haz- ard. Slips, trips, and falls make up a large portion of injuries suffered from electrical accidents. Employees who work with overhead pow- erlines are often also required to work at heights. Thus, if something goes wrong, the worker will not only be electrocuted, but he or she
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