One of the biggest dangers on any construction site is electricity. Electrical hazards can cause fires, explosions, or they can cause an electric shock. Not only can a shock in itself be harmful, but it can also cause a worker to lose their balance and fall. By taking steps to minimize electrical hazards, you can drastically reduce the risk of worker injury and keep your employees safe on the job.
Let’s take a look at the hazards you should be aware of as a business owner, and what you can do to protect your workers from electrical hazards with a lockout procedure.
Why Electricity Is a Threat to Construction Workers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2018, 160 fatal occupational injuries were caused by exposure to electricity.[1] Electricity on a worksite can also lead to fires and explosions, as well as serious fall accidents.
Electricity is dangerous on a construction site because it can flow from one material to another easily, and there are so many sources of high-voltage electrical currents present on a typical site.
When electricity passes through a good conductor, it will keep flowing. If one of your workers is on the receiving end of an electric current from a conductor such as metal, impure water, or soil, the energy can shock their body.
If any part of a worker’s body gets between two wires of a current or a live wire and the ground, the current will flow through their body. In this case, the human body acts as the conducting material to close the electrical circuit.
Depending on the strength of the current, the shock can cause anything from a painful sensation to respiratory arrest or a heart attack. If the shock leads to a fall from a great height, it can be fatal as well.
Lockout Steps for Electrical Hazards
Electricity causes hundreds of occupational deaths and injuries each year. But a lot of these injuries and fatalities are preventable. The key is to have a stringent lockout system and to make sure your employees know how to work safely.
Here are the lockout steps you should take to keep your workers safe.
- First, create a written lockout policy to ensure every risk is accounted for. Then, your construction manager or electrical contractor can go through the lockout policy document to check that all devices are locked or tagged and all procedures are being followed.
- Next, mark and lock all breakers, plugs, valves, and other energy control points with durable tags. Tag your equipment too. This makes it easier to have control over where electricity is flowing, what devices and tools are dangerous, and who can be near them.
- Before locking a device, a qualified worker should always check to ensure the circuit or the equipment is de-energized. Likewise, when it’s time to re-energize equipment and circuits, an electrical contractor or another qualified professional should be there to verify it’s safe to remove the locks.
- Be consistent about using lockout hardware. Keep equipment that’s not in use locked with padlocks or other lockout devices. Post warning signs where necessary so all workers understand exactly where electrical hazards are located.
- For extra safety, check all cords for signs of damage. Look for frayed cores or worn-out insulation. Replace any cords or equipment that are damaged. Also, make sure all equipment that needs to be is properly grounded to prevent voltage buildups.
- Train your workers. According to OSHA, all employees should be familiar with basic safety procedures that can reduce the risk of electrocution or electric shock. This includes making sure they know how to de-energize equipment, use lockout and tag procedures, use insulating protective equipment, and maintain safe distances from power lines and equipment.[2]
- And finally, use the right protective equipment. Rubber insulating gloves and sleeves, industrial helmets, and other equipment can reduce the risk of an electrical accident.
Prevention Is the Best Way to Keep Workers Safe
By tagging all equipment and circuits, you can prevent serious accidents and on-the-job fatalities. It’s also important to make worker safety and the dangerous reality of electrical hazards a focus through regular training, warning signs, and by having strict safety procedures in place.
The reality is, all it takes is one mistake from an experienced employee, or even a seasoned contractor, for an accident to happen. A good lockout policy can reduce the chance that an accident will ever occur.
Product Compliance and Suitability
The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand and follow all manufacturer instructions.