Agsafe, Coalition for Health and Safety in Agriculture
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The
following safety module is intended to be used as a refresher
safety awareness session and is in no way to be used as a
substitute for job training or proper equipment use.
The
safety modules may be used by anyone with the understanding
that credit be given to AgSafe.
Electricity is a strong
invisible force that gives power to machinery, lights, heaters, air conditioners,
and many other forms of equipment that we have come to depend upon. However, electricity
can be very dangerous, too. Accidental contact with electrical currents can cause
injury, fire, extensive damage and even death. It is very important to remember
that working with and around electricity requires your full attention and respect.
(See Figure 1.)
Contact with electricity
does not have to happen if you follow a few simple guidelines. It is very important
that you immediately inform your supervisor of any faulty equipment so it can
get repaired or replaced. (See Figure 2.) Don't attempt
to repair the tool yourself. Lock out the equipment or, at the very least, tag
it so others are aware that the equipment is damaged.
You should make it part
of your routine to wear rubber gloves and rubber-soled shoes or boots, especially
if you are working around electricity in a damp environment. (See Figure
3.) Of course, you know that water and electricity do not mix, but how often
do you think about other liquids, such as grease, oil or solvents? Operating a
drill with sweaty hands can also be a potential for electrical shock. However,
do not make the mistake of believing that, regardless of your action, protective
articles alone will protect you. Remember to do your best to avoid making any
contact with electricity.
Inspect your electrical
tools on a regular basis (see Figure 4), including the
large tools such as table saws, drill presses and bench grinders. Test your equipment
first before starting to work. If any tool gives you a slight shock or smokes
and sparks when the power is turned on, don't use it, but notify your supervisor
immediately.
Check the insulation around
the power cord to make sure it is in good condition. (See Figure
5.) You should not see any exposed wires or frayed ends. Power cords in poor
condition should be replaced, never taped or spliced. Check the plug at the end
of the cord to make sure the prongs are secure in the plug and none are missing.
If one of the prongs is missing, do not use the tool. If you notice one of the
tongs on the plug is slightly larger than the other, do not attempt to trim the
tong down to match the smaller one. These tongs are polarized to prevent you from
shock. When you unplug cords from the outlet, remember to pull on the plug and
not the cord.
Properly grounded electrical
equipment can offer you protection if the equipment should malfunction electrically.
If your electric tool states that it's doubly insulated on the manufacturer's
tag, this means there is insulation on the inside of the tool to protect you from
shock. This type of tool will only have a two prong plug. If the tool doesn't
state that it is doubly insulated, then you must have a third prong on the plug.
(See Figure 6.) This third prong, or ground prong, plugs
your tool into ground or earth so that in the event of a malfunction, the electricity
will go through this ground prong to earth and bypass your body. If the prong
is broken off, you have no protection and all the electricity will go through
your body. A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter should be used where there is a
chance you could make contact with the moisture on the ground, such as working
outside.
It is very important to
keep your distance from overhead power lines. (See Figure
7.) Each year, construction and farm workers are injured or killed because
they have accidentally made contact with the high voltage lines that pass overhead.
To prevent this from happening to you, preplan your job. Go out to the area you
plan to move large equipment into, stack bales within, or where irrigation pipe
will be laid, and look around for overhead wires and electric poles. Then plan
your job around them. Remember, high voltage power lines are not insulated. Also,
be aware that there are laws that prohibit any work within six feet of lines that
carry between 600 and 50,000 volts, and require a minimum distance of 10 feet
from these lines when operating boom-type lifting equipment.
Extension cords appear
harmless, but they can do quite a bit of damage if they are misused. No extension
cord can be kinked, tied in a knot, crushed, cut, or bent and still insulate the
electrical current safely. An extension cord that is misused in this manner may
cause a short circuit, fire or even electrical shock. Don't use extension cords
in areas that receive a lot of traffic because not only will it cause someone
to trip, but constant traffic will wear out the insulating rubber cover. If you
have no choice and must use cords in high traffic areas, make sure the cords are
taped securely to the flooring (see Figure 8) or are
hanging high overhead. Extension cords are to be used temporarily and never as
a permanent source of power to equipment.
As mentioned, water and
electricity do not mix. In fact, water is an excellent conductor of electricity,
and if water is thrown on an electrical fire, it will only spread the fire. Instead,
use a chemical fire extinguisher. (See Figure 9.) Make
sure you know how to operate a chemical fire extinguisher and where the nearest
one is in case of emergency. If you have questions or have difficulty locating
an extinguisher, ask your supervisor for help.
Electrical safety involves
more than just ensuring that electrical equipment is in good working order, it
also involves ensuring that you can get to the main power source as quickly as
possible without climbing over obstructions in the event of an emergency. Keep
the aisles and walkways clean and clear of garbage, and make sure all flammable
liquid, such as gases or chemicals, is stored away from the area where any electric
tool will be operated. (See Figure 10.) Many electric
tools produce sparks, which could ignite the flammable liquid's fumes and cause
extensive damage.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
publication is compiled from various reference sources and
is designed to provide current and authoritative information
on the subject matter covered. It is provided with the understanding
that the publishers are not engaged in rendering medical,
legal, accounting or other professional service. AgSafe, the
Safety Center, Inc., and FELS believe the information provided
to be correct, but assume no liability for consequential or
other damages attendant to the use of this material. In no
event shall the liability of AgSafe, the Safety Center, Inc.,
or FELS for any claim, however designated, exceed the purchase
price, if any, for this publication. No claim may be maintained
against AgSafe, the Safety Center, Inc., or FELS in any tribunal
unless written notice of the claim is delivered to the applicable
entity within 30 days of its discovery. Information about
the Agsafe Project can be obtained by writing to Agsafe, 140
Warren Hall, University of California, Berkeley,
CA
94720
.
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