Page 36 - OHS, September 2021

PPE: ELECTRICAL SAFETY
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Electrification has been a source of clean energy and more jobs in America.
BY KEVIN PIETRAS
Over the past several months, the term “electrification” has made its way into national conversation. Simply put, electrification means converting the way a machine or system operates to the use of electrical power. As the
term gains traction across industries, it has been acclaimed by many as a key pathway to combatting climate change by supplying a cleaner energy source and a foundation for more American jobs.
The increase in electric vehicle manufacturing is one example of the rise of electrification. In 2021, many leading auto manufacturers have already made significant commitments to producing electric vehicles that will substantially alter their
portfolio of cars on the market. General Motors announced in January 2021 that it would phase out gas-powered cars and trucks and fully move to electric vehicles by 2035. Ford also made a multi-billion-dollar investment in electric vehicles earlier this year and expects 40 percent of its global sales to be from electric vehicles by 2030.
With this large influx of electric vehicles on the roads, it means that work will need to be done to strengthen America’s electric grid to support electric vehicle charging stations across the country. It also means that more auto mechanics will need to learn the safety precautions of servicing engines in close proximity
32 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2021
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