1. -Electrical Safety
-ES Global Developments
P.G. Sreejith
Cholamandalam MS Risk Services Ltd.
www.cholarisk.com

2. In this presentation……
Section I
Electrical hazards
Electrical accidents – Statistics
Humans & Electricity
Electrical Safety Programme elements
Section II
Global Developments in Electrical Safety

3. Electrical Accidents-Statistics
• • 25% of all fires occur due to electricity (NFPA)
• 411 deaths from job related electrical accidents
per year (NIOSH)
• Electrocution - the fifth leading cause of death
(1982 - 1990) NIOSH
•About 12 deaths due to electrocution NCRB,
(India)
•42 % of total fires occur due to electrical
sources (Source -OISD)
• 8% deaths that occur in Indian factories are due

4. ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS- 10 year Period,
Chemical Industry

6. Electrical Near-Misses &
Accidents- Major Causes
Working on live equipment w/o
authorization or PPE
Wiring mistakes coupled with failure of
safe-energy conditions
Leaving unsafe conditions

7. Electricity and People
A person usually offers a lesser resistance
for the electricity
The person forms a completed circuit when
touching the ground
Electricity always tries to travel to ground

8. ELECTRICAL FIRES ….
ELECTRICAL FAULTS (Contd.)
– STATIC DISCHARGES
– LIGHTNING
– USING ORDINARY ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IN
HAZARDOUS AREAS

9. Earthing
Most electrical equipment is designed with a
earthing system
Earth all equipment with metallic body (TVs?)
Double & Single earthing- differentiation?
Carry out ER tests annually as per NFPA 70
Take action on high ER values
Identify all earth pits, maintain a Earth Pit lay out

10. Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers
 ELCBs reduce the likelihood of fatal shocks
 Detect small amount of leakage current and
automatically switch off the power
 Can be used with extension cords and portable
tools
 Fuses and circuit breakers protect equipment,
not people
 Use the right sensitivity ELCBs (30, 100, 300
mA)

11. Static Electricity
 Created when materials rub together
 Can cause shocks or even minor skin burns
 Can damage sensitive electronic equipment
 Reduced or prevented by:
– Proper grounding
– Anti-Static rubber matting
– Bonding & earthing of equipment, pipelines

12. Electrical Fire Protection
Use Linear Heat Sensing cables in cable
cellars along with smoke detectors
Consider all major electrical fires in EMP
Install master control switches outside all
stores
Maintain PFEs for electrical rooms
Consider local flooding systems for critical
panels/ switchgear panels

13. Case Study
An electrician received a shock while trying to
replace a tube light ballast in live power
condition.
He touched a live conductor. He was not wearing
rubber gloves. Current entered his right hand
through his little finger and exited through his
left hand.
Post Accident Correction:
– Working on live circuits not permitted
– LOTO to be strictly enforced

14. Equipment Operators
Never tamper with electrical interlocks
Do not repair electrical components of
your machine
Properly shut off machinery before
operation
Obey warning signs and follow safe
procedures
Follow PTW procedures strictly

15. Electrical Preventive Maintenance
 Identification of critical Electrical Equipment
 Emergency lighting
 Fire Alarm System
 Protection Supply DC System
 UPS System, Battery Banks
 Electrical Maintenance Procedures to be aligned with NFPA 70
B

16. Planning for EPM
Personal Safety
Equipment Failure
Production Economics

17. Electrical Preventive
Maintenance
 Implement EPM without slippage
 Carry out all tests (ER, IR, transformer oil,
DGA, LP system, transformer protective
devices- simulation, FA system for electrical
rooms, etc.)
 Adopt NFPA 70 E / B for electrical maintenance
 Adopt Risk Based maintenance
 Use predictive maintenance tools (hotspot
detector, Ultrasonic detectors, Thermography)

18. ‘All electrical accidents are
preceded by rise in temperature
& sound’

19. ELECTRICAL SAFETY AUDIT
A systematic approach to critically
analyze the existing Electrical
Procedures and Practices from safety
point of view

20. Global Developments in
Electrical Safety

21. Present Status - ES-India
•ES Awareness is slowly growing
•Use of RCCBs in the rise, finer details are yet to
be understood by many
•More ES workshops / seminars are conducted in
India
•Statutory regulations are enforced strictly
(Karnataka, Delhi - Use of RCCBs mandatory in
residential buildings)
•Many industries are re-aligning their Electrical
practices based on international standards
(NFPA, IEEE, etc.)

22. Evolvement of ES Standards / organizations-
United States
•NFPA - NEC (1897)
•NESC (1913), from IEEE
•NIOSH (Research example: development of
voltage detector that will signal the person if he
gets close to live power)-1970
• OSHA (1970)
•NFPA 70 E & B (1979) -approved by OSHA
•Electrical Trauma Centre, Chicago (1990)
•NESF(1994), by UL, NFPA, NEMA, CPSC

23. ES Products...

24. ES Auditing Techniques
• Electrical Risk Assessment using Semi-
Quantitative Risk Ranking (SQRR) technique
•Emergency Lighting Risk Assessment
• Benchmarking against applicable standards:
•NFPA 780 Lightning Protection
•NFPA 70 M Electrical Preventive
Maintenance
•NFPA 70 E Personal Safety from Electrical
Safety

25. Electrical Risk Assessment (SQRR
Technique)
Risk Ranking based on severity, probability
High Risk- Statutory Non-compliance, F&E hazards,
Shock hazards, Risks that could result in immediate
threat to life & property. Immediate correction
Medium Risk - Maintenance flaws,Operational issues-
correction at the next available opportunity.
Low Risk - Mainly improvement measures, long term
implementation

26. RCCB Tripping
How do we solve this problem in
India ?
Bypass it !!!

27. ES related Information
Indian Electricity Rule, 1956 (2000 rev.):
(MoP, CEA web site,http://powermin.nic.in)
Lightning Protection Risk Assessment:www.furse.com
National Electrical Safety Foundation: www.nesf.org
Free safety Power Point presentations: http://siri.org/
Electrical Accidents: http://www.safteng.net:
 IEEE IAS ES WS –Delhi Dec. 2004

28. Standards & Codes
NFPA 70 E & B- E-Safety & Maintenance
NFPA 780- Lightning Protection
API RP 2003- Static Electricity
API RP 500- HAC
OSHA 29 CFR- part 1910- Arc Flash
NFPA 70- NEC
IEEE 1584- Arc Flash Protection
NFPA 77- Static Electricity
OSHA CFR 1926-Personnel Electrical Safety

29. Summary
 Electricity will try to reach ground even if it
means going through a person
 Earthing has an important role in ES
 Always inspect power tools and cords and do
not use them if damaged
 Do not attempt to repair electrical equipment
unless trained and qualified
 Understand effects of Lightning- it could save
your life!
 Major fires, explosions occurred due to ESD ,
lightning in flammable atmospheres