A safe working environment is occasionally not sufficient to eliminate all potential electrical risks. We must exercise extreme caution and work in a safe manner. Safety standards assist us in reducing your and others’ risk of injury (or) death as a result of workplace risks.
When working on electrical circuits (or) with electrical tools & equipment, the following golden safety guidelines must be followed:
| Â Rule Number: 1 Â |
|  Avoid contact with the energized electrical circuits  |
| To avoid electrical shocks or other catastrophic damage, it is essential to prevent contact with energized components. Before handling circuits, always check that they are properly switched off, de-energized, & tested with appropriate instruments. Utilize insulated tools & wear personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of coming into touch with live electrical circuits. |
| Rule Number: 2 Â |
| Treat all the electrical devices that are not known as if they are live (or) energized. |
| Treat an electrical component as if it were live. Electrically live parts appear identical to de-energized parts. To ensure safety, presume that any electrical component is live. Protect oneself and take concern of maintaining power ON as it flows. |
| Â Rule Number: 3 Â |
| Before maintaining or repairing electrical equipment, turn off the power. Â |
| Before undertaking any work, turn off the electricity to the affected area if possible. This can help to lessen the possibility of electrical shock. Also, verify any electrical equipment before handling it to prevent a potential shock (Ex: exposed live wires). |
| Â Rule Number: 4 Â |
| When working on electrical devices, only use tools & equipment with the non-conducting handles. |
| Tools & equipment with the non-conducting handles are essential in electrical work to avoid electric shocks or mishaps. Rubber or composite materials in handles protects from electrical current, lowering the chance of transmitting electricity through the body. When working with electricity, always prioritize safety by employing insulated tools and adhering to established procedures to reduce potential hazards. |
| Â Rule Number: 5 Â |
| When working with electrical equipment, never use the metallic pencils (or) rulers, and never wear rings or metal watchbands. |
| Metallic pencils, rulers, rings, and watchbands can conduct electricity and cause electric shock (or) short circuits if they get into touch with active circuits or exposed wires. Removing such metallic items reduces the possibility of coming into contact with the electrical components & assures the safety while handling electrical equipment. |
| Â Rule Number: 6 Â |
| When working with plugged-in equipment, keep the hands dry and, if possible, use nonconductive gloves, protective clothing, and shoes with insulated soles. |
| This reduces the risk of electrical shock by adding another layer of insulation between the user and the electrical equipment. |
| Â Rule Number: 7 Â |
| If it’s safe, use just one hand while working, keeping the other one at your side or in the pocket and away from any conductive objects. |
| This technique reduces the possibility that current may travel across the heart and transfer from one hand to the other, opening a conduit for electricity to enter your heart. It is essential to prioritize safety and adhere to these procedures when handling electrical equipment in order to reduce the risk of accidents or harm. |
| Â Rule Number: 8 Â |
| In cold rooms and other places where condensation is likely, utilise electrical equipment as minimally as possible. |
| Electrical equipment malfunctions due to moisture and can result in electric shocks or short circuits. If equipment needs to be utilized in these conditions, make sure it’s well insulated or sealed against moisture to avoid any risks. In order to ensure safety and avoid damage from moisture exposure, it is also essential to perform routine maintenance and inspections on equipment utilized in such conditions. |
| Â Rule Number: 9 Â |
| If a chemical or drop of water gets on the equipment, unplug it and turn off the power at the electrical main switch (or) circuit breaker. |
| When water or chemicals come into touch with live electrical components, they can result in electrical fires or short circuits. Switching off the power quickly can stop additional damage and lower the chance of electrical risks. |
| Â Rule Number: 10 Â |
| Avoid contacting the person, equipment, or cord if they come into contact with the live electrical conductor. Remove the plug with a leather belt or unplug the power supply from the circuit breaker. |
| It’s important not to contact the person, equipment, (or) cord directly if they come into contact with a live electrical conductor. The first priority is to cut off the power supply right away to stop the electricity supply. Pulling out the plug or turning off the circuit breaker may be done with a rubber-insulated tool or a dry wooden stick, which are non-conductive materials. |
| Â Rule Number: 11 Â |
| Devices generating a “tingle” should be disconnected & reported for repair as soon as possible. |
| When equipment gives off a “tingle,” there may be an electrical hazard present. To avoid safety hazards, disconnect it right away & report for immediate service. |
| Â Rule Number: 12 Â |
| Avoid using grounding to cover up a malfunctioning circuit or trying to fix a problem by adding another fuse or breaker. |
| A malfunctioning circuit cannot be concealed by grounding, and changing the fuse (or) breaker won’t resolve the problem. For reasons of safety, address the issue head-on rather than depending on band-aid fixes. |
| Â Rule Number: 13 Â |
| To avoid electrical shock, drain capacitors prior to working close to them and maintain the short circuit on the connections while working. |
| To reduce the risk of electrical shock, fully discharge capacitors before working near them and keep a short circuit on each terminal at all times. |
| Â Rule Number: 14 Â |
| Unless directed to do so, never handle another person’s machinery or electrical control devices. |
| Interact with someone else’s equipment (or) electrical controls only when specifically instructed to do so, to ensure safety and avoid potential issues or hazards. |
| Â Rule Number: 15 Â |
| Cover all electric contacts & wires so that no one comes into contact with them by accident. |
| To avoid the danger of accidental contact and to maintain a safe atmosphere, keep all electric contacts & conductors enclosed. |
| Â Rule Number: 16 Â |
| Handle electrical equipment with caution if your hands, feet, (or)Â body are wet (or)Â sweaty or)Â if they are standing on a wet floor. |
| When moist or perspiring, never contact electrical equipment. Maintain a dry environment & stay away from moist surfaces. Before handling, use insulated equipment and switch off the power. Prioritize safety to avoid electric shock threats. |
| Â Rule Number: 17 Â |
| When it is required to touch electrical equipment, use the back of the hand. |
| Through the reduction of contact points with active circuits, this technique lowers the danger of severe harm. |
| Â Rule Number: 18 Â |
| Keep highly combustible liquids away from electrical equipment. |
| Prevent fire hazards by keeping highly flammable liquids away from the electrical equipment. Keep them away from any potential sparks or heat from the equipment by storing them in approved locations and at a safe distance. |
| Â Rule Number: 19 Â |
| Be advised that although equipment interlocks may cut off the high voltage supply when a cabinet door is open, control circuit power may still be present. |
| When the cabinet door opens, equipment interlocks cut the high voltage, but control circuit power may still be present. When doing maintenance or inspections, exercise caution since control circuits could remain operational even after high voltage is withdrawn to ensure safety precautions. |
| Â Rule Number: 20 Â |
| Switch off any open experimental circuits & equipment that will be left undisturbed. |
| In order to avoid potential risks and maintain workplace safety, open experimental circuits & equipment should always be turned off before being left alone. |
| Â Rule Number: 21 Â |
| Wearing loose garments or ties close to electrical equipment is not recommended. |
| Wearing loose garments (or) ties near the electrical equipment increases the chance of entanglement. Dress snugly, with no loose ends (or) dangling accessories, to reduce the possibility of contact with machinery or active circuits. This precaution prevents complications and lowers the risk of injury in the workplace. |
