Understanding key safety concerns for pre-lit artificial trees is equally important because these trees can also be a significant source of fuel if ignited.
More than 90% of electrical fatalities among US workers are due to electrical shock. This number does not even account for the large proportion of injuries and fatalities that are often misclassified under a different cause of death.
As we honor National Electrical Safety Month this May, it’s a reminder that the same level of commitment to safety from electrical hazards is important every day. After all, lives are depending on our commitment to safety at work and home.
Most, if not all of us, have some type of familiarity with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). But how familiar are you with the background of OSHA? Why was it established? What are the regulations associated with the electrical industry? Are they involved with NFPA 70E, Electrical Safety in the Workplace? Continue reading for the answers to these and other construction industry-related safety questions.
ESFI is currently reviewing OSHA reports to provide a definitive narrative of what occupations and actions are causing the electrical fatalities. By studying the occupations with the most electrical injuries and fatalities, ESFI is able to focus its efforts on creating materials targeted to those industries.
Based on real-world test data and investigation results from on-the-job safety-related incidents, we have found low-voltage arc flash energy can be underestimated. “Low voltage” in the NESC is defined as 50 volts (V) to 600V (ac). Specifically, one area of concern is 480V equipment, because 480V, three-phase related arc flash incidents can have severe consequences.
The CSA Z462 Workplace Electrical Safety Standard has been published for over 10 years now in Canada. It is widely adopted voluntarily by all industry sectors across Canada.
![Understanding the 3 [Main] Types of Electrical Hazards](https://iaeimagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020_05_Cheatsheet_3_Types_of_Electrical_Hazards.jpg)
There are three main types of electrical hazards: electric shock, electrical burns, and arc blasts (the effect of blasts). Understanding the basics of these hazards is critical in enforcing electrical safety in the workplace.
Arc flashes are unseen dangers that can occur without any direct contact between a worker’s body and an energized wire or piece of equipment. They’re often accidentally initiated by workers that are unaware that they are in a potentially life-threatening situation.
