Electrical safety: basic concepts, technical measures, types of electrical injuries

Today it is impossible to imagine our life without electricity. Every day, everyone has to repeatedly use various electrical appliances. Therefore, all of us, young and old, need to familiarize ourselves with the rules of electrical safety, otherwise what should serve for our good may cause our trouble.

Briefly about electrical safety

Organizational and technical measures that are systematized to ensure human safety from the dangerous effects of electric current are called electrical safety. Such a system includes the following activities:

1. Drawing up rules for organizing and applying proven work methods that have proven to be safe in practice.
2. Conducting training activities, as well as organizing the training process for personnel.
3. Establishment of control checks to supervise the implementation in practice of the established rules and recommendations.
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4. Automation and mechanization of those production processes that are associated with the greatest potential danger.

Technical activities

Technical measures for electrical safety include:

1. Creation of normal meteorological conditions at the workplace.
2. Providing illumination in accordance with established standards.
3. Implementation of the necessary methods and tools for greater security.
4. Use in work of safe hand-held power tools and accessories.
5. Manufacturing and equipping workplaces with special fences.
6. Installation of interlocks of switching devices.
7. Application of measuring and control devices.
8. Use of special protective clothing and footwear.

Electrical injuries: types

An injury that occurs after exposure to an electric current on the human body is usually called an electrical injury. They can arise as a result of direct contact with objects that conduct electricity, and from touching devices or their parts with broken insulation or having a short circuit to the body of current carrying parts.

Such injuries are classified into two types:

• two-phase (two-pole);
• single-phase (single-pole).

Electrical circuits

Spontaneous contact of a live part with the ground, non-energized parts or non-insulated parts are called electrical circuit.

When a fault occurs, a concept such as a fault zone is used. What it is? This is a place beyond which the electrical potential of the circuit is absent or close to a conditional zero. When signs of a short circuit appear, the difference between the electric potentials of this event and the potential of zero is determined. This difference is called voltage to ground.

Additional concepts and terms

By simultaneously touching two different points that form an electric circuit, it is determined touch voltage. If such a chain is formed at the place where a person is standing, then it is determined by the voltage of the step.

The deliberate electrical connection of any point in the network, electrical installation or equipment to a grounding device is called grounding.

You also need to know what low voltage is. This voltage is used for safety when working with electrical equipment. It should not be higher than 42 V.

Effects of electric current on the body

The values ​​of the current according to the sensations of a person are divided into:

1. Tangible;
2. Unreleasing;
3. Fibrillation.

They are all called the threshold current.

Electric current can produce chemical, biological and thermal effects on the human body. In this case, the normal functioning of the body is disrupted.

Consequences of chemical exposure: electrolysis of blood, as well as other fluids inside, transformation of the chemical structure, the usual possibilities are disrupted.

Consequences of biological effects: excitement of the affected cells of the nervous system, which can cause convulsions and even paralysis. A particular danger is paralysis of the heart muscles and the respiratory system, which can be fatal. The heart can stop working both from the direct passage of an electric current through it, and from damage to the parts of the nervous system responsible for its work. Of great importance on the degree of damage to the body is the value of the current strength, as well as the path of passage of the current and the time spent under its influence.

Thermal exposure is accompanied by internal and external burns due to a strong increase in body temperature with electrical impact on it.

Classification of premises for electrical safety

All electrical safety rooms are divided into several categories:

1. With increased danger. These are rooms where there are conditions that increase the risk of electric shock: high humidity, dust, conductive coatings, high temperatures, the ability to touch metal structures and electrical equipment simultaneously.
2. Particularly dangerous premises. These include such premises that must combine at least two components of the previous paragraph at the same time. Also, buildings with special dampness belong to this type. Another factor contributing to identification in this category is the active chemical environment.
3. No increased danger. These are buildings that do not have the conditions given in the previous paragraphs.

This is a small fraction of what you need to know about electrical safety, but even a little knowledge in this industry can save the life of you and your loved ones. Remember that caution when handling electrical appliances is never superfluous!